By Robert Oliver

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Susanna Reid fought back tears during a tribute to legendary broadcaster and journalist John Stapleton, following his death.

Veteran TV reporter Stapleton, who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, died on Sunday morning, aged 79, after coming down with pneumonia.

Born in the Greater Manchester town of Oldham in 1946, he became best known for appearing on the BBC’s Watchdog and GMTV’s News Hour.

A statement from his agent said his Parkinson’s had been complicated by the pneumonia diagnosis, adding: ‘His son Nick and daughter-in-law Lisa have been constantly at his side and John died peacefully in hospital.’

Tributes have poured in for the star, with Good Morning Britain hosts Reid and Richard Madeley becoming emotional over their co-star’s death during today’s installment.

‘I can’t believe he’s actually gone,’ Madeley said as the pair remembered how he shaped GMB during its launch more than 10 years ago.

Tributes have been paid to veteran broadcaster John Stapleton after his death (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

The broadcaster died aged 79 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s (Picture: PA)

Reid began: ‘We go on air this morning on GMB, holding in our hearts the family of John Stapleton.

‘He was a part of this programme’s history and a part of breakfast television history.’

Richard added: ‘He was a major figure at the BBC and a major figure at ITV. He was huge.’

Visibly fighting back tears, Reid continued: ‘We will be remembering John throughout the programme.

‘We were lucky enough to interview John last year, when he described in his own words, coming out about his Parkinson’s diagnosis. He was so incredibly positive.’

She said that the broadcasting world had ‘lost a legend’, while Madeley said it ‘seems impossible’ he was actually gone.

Stapleton presented Watchdog with his late wife, Lynn Faulds Wood (Picture: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

Stapleton revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2024 on Good Morning Britain, saying: ‘There’s no point in being miserable. It won’t ever change.’

He continued: ‘I mean, Parkinson’s is here with me now for the rest of my life. The best I can do is try and control it and take the advice of all the experts.’

Stapleton began his career at the Oldham Evening Chronicle before forging a career on TV in the early 1970s, starting at Thames TV.

Following the announcement of Stapleton’s death, tributes have poured in from both viewers and those he worked with, celebrating his journalistic integrity and vast experience of working in TV reporting.

GMB’s Kate Garraway wrote on Instagram that she is ‘absolutely devastated’, hailing Stapleton as a ‘rock solid broadcaster and the ultimate gentleman’.

‘Others will pay testimony to his incredible career better than I, and I hope they do but all I can say is he was most generous co partner, always lifting who was along side him up , never crushing or ramming that he knew better ( which he did!) down their throat, never taking over and always always fair , truthful and honourable’, her caption read.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DO3B9pbDPR-/

‘Huge fun too – no one told a story down the pub better than John. We will not see his like again . Thinking of his son Nick and all who knew and loved him. 🖤’

Meanwhile, Piers Morgan wrote on X: ‘Very sorry to hear about the death of John Stapleton. He was a great journalist, superb broadcaster, and a top bloke. His only flaw was he was a ⁦@ManCity⁩ fan, and as he would expect, I hope Arsenal beat them today by way of a tribute. RIP John.’

Indeed, Manchester City also paid their respects, taking to X with: ‘Manchester City are saddened to learn that John Stapleton has passed away at the age of 79. John was a passionate City supporter and a regular at the Etihad Stadium. He will be missed.’

‘I feel so sad,’ penned Nicky Campbell. ‘I worked with John Stapleton on Central Weekend Live for many years.

‘He was a good friend, a kind, wise and very funny man and he was a broadcasting giant. Effortless, relaxed and incisive. A steel hand in a velvet glove. My condolences to all who loved him. There are many. Rest in peace my friend.’

‘Devastated to hear the news about our brilliant friend + colleague John Stapleton. A few of us old brekkie gang had lunch just a few weeks ago. It was so so special, even more so now we lost him. John was everything you’ve read and more. All my thoughts with Nick + his family’, Ben Shephard tweeted.

Stapleton (centre) worked in journalism and broadcasting for more than 40 years (Picture: PA Wire)

He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2024 (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Declaring Stapleton a ‘broadcasting great’, Sky News’ Kay Burley added: ‘John Stapleton was a true gentlemen, always generous with his time and hugely supportive when I began my career at TVam.’

‘Saddened to hear the great John Stapleton has passed away, he and his late wife Lynn were brilliant pioneers of consumer journalism, laying the ground for people like me. Thank you both’, honoured Martin Lewis.

As for fans, they remembered Stapleton as someone who was ‘never afraid to stand up’ and speak his mind, especially politically.

Tributes were also paid to Stapleton’s wife of 43 years, Lynn Faulds Wood, who was also a broadcaster and journalist – they presented BBC’s Watchdog together.

Faulds Wood – who survived two bouts of cancer in the 1990s – died in 2020 at the age of 72 after suffering a stroke, following a career in journalism and TV presenting that had lasted almost 50 years.

Stapleton’s first job in TV was working behind the scenes on This Is Your Life, before getting his first job in front of the camera on the Today programme.

He was named presenter of the year by the Royal Television Society in 2004 (Picture: PA)

He then became known for his work on the current affairs show Nationwide, before moving over to the BBC’s Newsnight, on which he covered the Falklands War in the 1980s.

From there, he worked on Good Morning Britain, Watchdog, and Breakfast Time, taking his career in the 1990s when he began working on The Time, The Place for ITV.

By the end of the 1990s, he was a regular presenter on GMTV and was named as presenter of the year in 2004 by the Royal Television Society for his reporting on the Iraq War.

Away from TV, Stapleton became a Manchester City fan in the 1950s after being taken by his father to watch football matches at their old Maine Road stadium.

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