VETERAN TV presenter Dermot Murnaghan has died, aged 68.
Murnaghan, who presented news programmes across the biggest names in the UK's TV network, had been battling stage four prostate cancer which he revealed last year.
He “died peacefully” at his home in north London on Saturday morning “following a period of illness with prostate cancer”, his family said in a statement.
A statement posted on X/Twitter said: “It is with great sadness that the family of Dermot Murnaghan announces that he passed away at home in north London earlier this morning (July 11) at the age of 68 following a period of illness with prostate cancer. He died peacefully with his family at his side.
“The family wish to thank the medical teams who cared for Dermot with such sensitivity and extraordinary compassion throughout his illness.
“Also, for the many, many kind messages of goodwill that he received over the last year since his diagnosis of stage 4 prostate cancer and his subsequent campaigning to raise awareness for screening programmes for the disease.
“In accordance with his wishes, the funeral will be a small family ceremony. A memorial service for friends and colleagues will follow at St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street (the Journalists’ Church) later this year.
“The family request that anyone wishing to remember him considers supporting Prostate Cancer UK, Prostate Cancer Research and North London Hospice so that others may benefit from the research and care he received.”
During his long-running career he hosted ITV Evening News and the BBC News at Six and Ten, as well as BBC Breakfast and Sky News.
After his diagnosis he became a major activist, trying to encourage more men to get screened for prostate cancer.
Other high-profile figures who have battled prostate cancer include former prime minister David Cameron and Olympic gold-medallist Chris Hoy.
"Needless to say my message to all men over 50, in high risk groups, or displaying symptoms, is get yourself tested and campaign for routine prostate screening by the NHS," he said.
"Early detection is crucial. And be aware, this disease can sometimes progress rapidly without obvious symptoms."
Alongside his news coverage Murnaghan also presented quiz show Eggheads for 11 years from 2003. He also lso hosted the documentaries Crimes That Shook Britain for Channel 5 and Killer Britain for the Crime + Investigation UK channel.
He later launched his podcast Legends of News, speaking to other seasoned journalists and correspondents about major stories they had covered.
