Tributes paid to veteran broadcaster Stapleton

VETERAN broadcaster John Stapleton has died at the age of 79. Stapleton, who presented on programmes including the BBC's Watchdog and GMTV's News Hour, died in hospital yesterday morning.

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His agent, Jackie Gill, said: "John had Parkinson's 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."

Good Morning Britain (GMB) presenter Charlotte Hawkins said Stapleton, who had presented on the ITV show, was a "brilliant broadcaster" and a "genuinely lovely man".

Responding to the news in a post on X, Hawkins wrote: "So sad to hear John Stapleton our 'Stapes' has died.

"He was such a brilliant broadcaster and I loved working with him on GMB.