Broadcaster John Stapleton Dies Aged 79
John Stapleton, a familiar face on British television for decades, has died at the age of 79.StapletonS career spanned numerous prominent programmes,beginning with the BBC’s Breakfast Time in 1988,where he worked alongside Kirsty Wark and jill Dando.
he later became known for his work on GMTV, where a segment in 2002 led to an interview with police. during a report on cannabis availability in south London, stapleton displayed the drug on air. Despite clarifying that the cannabis was to be destroyed instantly after the show, he was questioned by police following viewer complaints. “I got a message down my earpiece from the producer that there had been a complaint and there was a Metropolitan police officer waiting to see me,” Stapleton recounted. “I thought she was joking at first but a charming lady inspector was waiting on the studio floor and we had a little chat.”
Stapleton also presented for Carlton Television, notably co-hosting a 1997 debate about the monarchy alongside Sir trevor McDonald and Roger Cook. The debate, filmed at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, featured vocal audience participation, including booing and heckling. Journalist Sir Robin Day described it as “the most contemptible program I have ever watched,” while Carlton’s head of factual programmes, Steve Clark, defended it, questioning if debate in the House of Commons was any more civil. A subsequent poll of 2.5 million viewers found 66% believed there should be a future for the monarchy.
In 2024, Stapleton publicly revealed his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, discussing the challenges it presented on BBC One’s Morning Live. “Speaking is how I’ve earned my living for the best part of 50 years,” he said.”It’s very frustrating sometimes…you have to repeat yourself, time and time again.” He added, “I am fairly pragmatic about the prospect of this getting worse. I try to remain positive, because what’s the point of not being?” He used singing as a coping mechanism and performed a song from the musical & Juliet for Children in Need.
Stapleton’s son, nick, also works in television, co-presenting the Bafta-winning BBC daytime series Scam Interceptors.
