Former Sky News anchor Dermot Murnaghan dies aged 68

TV presenter and former Sky News anchor Dermot Murnaghan has died aged 68 “following a period of illness with prostate cancer”, his family said in a statement.

The media personality was a long-term news presenter, best known for his 15-year tenure as a lead anchor for Sky News.

He also presented the news for Channel 4, as well as flagship programmes such as the ITV Evening News and the BBC News at Six and Ten during his five-decades career as a journalist and broadcaster.

In a statement published to his X account on Saturday, his family 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 four 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.”

Murnaghan announced his “incurable but it’s not untreatable” prostate cancer diagnosis last year and, following this, he became a vocal advocate and campaigner in raising awareness for the disease.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast last November, the broadcaster urged men in high-risk groups to get themselves checked for prostate cancer, as he admitted he delayed getting tested “because I felt fine”.

Journalist and Sky News political editor Beth Rigby said she was “deeply saddened” by the death of Murnaghan – whom she worked with during coverage of the 2019 general election on Sky.

She wrote on X: “Am deeply saddened to hear Dermot has died. He was peerless in the presenter chair, as sharp as a tack, and hugely charismatic – always with a ready smile and a twinkly eye.

“I loved being on set, or in Downing Street, with Dermot because he was always in absolute command but so cool too. He made handling the most high pressure moments look effortless.”

Ms Rigby said she was “devastated” to learn of Murnaghan’s prostate cancer diagnosis but reflected on how admirable his campaign work had been, adding: “I was very fortunate to have worked with him and learnt from him.”

Radio DJ Liz Kershaw, whose brother Andy Kershaw died of cancer in April, also paid tribute on X and urged her followers to get their prostate checked to “honour his memory”.

“This is so sad. Dermot was a lovely, friendly, funny, clever bloke and so generous of spirit whenever I had the pleasure of working with him over the decades,” the radio broadcaster wrote.

Murnaghan started his presenting career in 1989, hosting Channel 4’s breakfast programme and its business segments before becoming one of its lead presenters.

He later joined ITV and hosted programmes such as the ITV Lunchtime News and News at Ten, and led the coverage of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

He moved to ITV’s Evening News and Nightly News shows from 1999, and joined the BBC in the early 2000s where he hosted their flagship breakfast programme.

He was a main presenter of BBC Breakfast until 2007, and also hosted the popular quiz show Eggheads from 2003 until 2014.

Murnaghan also worked for Sky News, where he presented his own show, discussing politics and current affairs.

The award-winning journalist later became a lead anchor for the broadcaster, and was the face their 2019 general election coverage and the death of Queen Elizabeth II, until his exit in 2023.

Murnaghan also hosted the documentaries Crimes That Shook Britain for Channel 5 and Killer Britain for the Crime + Investigation UK channel.