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John Stapleton bravely shared his health battles with the word as he vowed to stay positive(Image: PA)<\/p>\nJohn Stapleton said he felt ‘duty bound’ to share his Parkinson’s diagnosis to let others know they were not alone<\/p>\n
12:20, 21 Sep 2025Updated 15:32, 21 Sep 2025<\/p>\n
John Stapleton bravely shared his health battles with the word as he vowed to stay positive(Image: PA)<\/p>\n
John Stapleton has sadly died at the age of 79.<\/a> The journalist and presenter had a stellar career in broadcasting stretching over 50 years that led him to the scene of global news events and fronting some of the nation’s best-loved TV shows.<\/p>\n His agent, Jackie Gill, said in a statement today: \u201cJohn had Parkinson\u2019s disease, which was complicated by pneumonia. His son Nick and daughter-in-law Lisa have been constantly at his side and John died peacefully in hospital this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n John revealed his diagnosis with Parkinson\u2019s disease in October 2024. He joked that like comedian Billy Connolly he had decided to ‘come out.’<\/p>\n Speaking to podcast Movers and Shakers<\/a>, John said he was diagnosed in April 2024 and friends noticed his famous voice had lost some of its resonance and that he was walking with what he called a ‘Joe Biden<\/a> shuffle’. However, his first symptoms were showing years prior – but were initially missed by doctors.<\/p>\n John’s son Nick, who presents the BBC’s Scam Interceptors, suggested his dad go public with his health diagnosis and John agreed in the hopes of letting others know they were ‘not alone.’<\/p>\n The father and son duo appeared on BBC<\/a> show Morning Live together in October 2024 where they shared how the disease had impacted them. John admitted that while the news was bleak, he was determined to stay as positive as possible as he adjusted to his new way of life. He also said he had not been surprised by his diagnosis after watching his mother also battle Parkinson’s later on in life.<\/p>\n John’s story attracted huge public attention and the former Watchdog campaigner found himself appearing across news channels again as he raised awareness about the condition.<\/p>\n READ MORE: John Stapleton dead: GMTV and Watchdog legend dies at 79<\/a> Speaking about his first symptoms, John said it started with a tremor in hand three years before he was officially diagnosed.<\/p>\n He explained: “About two or three years ago, I started with a tremor. I went to see a specialist, and he said he didn\u2019t think it was Parkinson\u2019s. He called it something else\u2014a benign essential tremor. I asked, “How do you get that?” and he said, “We haven\u2019t a clue.” “But the symptoms got worse, so I went back,” said John. “That was about two or three months ago. This time, he confirmed it\u2014it was indeed Parkinson\u2019s. I also started having other symptoms: difficulty swallowing, my handwriting becoming illegible because I\u2019d write in tiny letters no one could decipher, and feeling fatigued a lot of the time.<\/p>\n “And, of course, my voice\u2014it’s lost a lot of its resonance. I have to speak louder now. I\u2019m working with a speech therapist who\u2019s helping me a great deal, teaching me to project my voice. That\u2019s why I\u2019m really concentrating on what I\u2019m saying right now,” he explained.<\/p>\n Following news of his death, many of John’s peers and even his beloved Manchester<\/a> City spoke out to pay tribute to the star who has been described as a ‘good man and a top presenter.’<\/p>\n Television presenter Mark Austin said the death of broadcaster John Stapleton was \u201cincredibly sad\u201d.<\/p>\n Responding to the news in a post on X, Austin wrote: \u201cIncredibly sad. A good man and top presenter who could turn his hand to anything. Best wishes to his family.\u201d<\/p>\n Good Morning Britain<\/a> presenter Charlotte Hawkins said John Stapleton was a \u201cbrilliant broadcaster\u201d and a \u201cgenuinely lovely man\u201d.Responding to the news in a post on X, Ms Hawkins wrote: \u201cSo sad to hear John Stapleton \u2013 our \u2018Stapes\u2019 has died. He was such a brilliant broadcaster and I loved working with him on GMB<\/a>. A genuinely lovely man, it was good to see him when he came in just a few months ago to talk about his Parkinson\u2019s diagnosis. He\u2019ll be much missed.\u201d<\/p>\n Money Saving Expert mogul Martin Lewis<\/a> said he was ‘greatly saddened’ to hear ‘the great John Stapleton has passed away.’ Martin said: “He and his late wife Lynn were brilliant pioneers of consumer journalism, laying the ground for people like me. Thank you both.<\/p>\n “I had the pleasure of working with John on various incarnations of itv breakfast. Always a gent and when he found out I’m from a Man City background too, that was it, you couldn’t stop him on the subject. City was his great passion.”<\/p>\n Manchester City posted on X: \u201cManchester 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. Our thoughts are with John\u2019s family and friends at this difficult time.\u201d The club added \u201cRIP John\u201d with a blue heart.<\/p>\n Speaking to the Mirror<\/a> last year, John spoke fondly of his varied TV career.<\/p>\n![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_GMTV.jpg\")
John Stapleton hosted GMB alongside Penny Smith (Image: GMTV)<\/p>\n![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_16070576.jpg\")
John pictured with wife Lynn Faulds-Wood and their son Nick(Image: EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS)<\/p>\n![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_John-Stapleton-Parkinsons-diagnosis.jpg\")
John and Nick Stapleton as John shared his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease(Image: PA)<\/p>\n