John's final tribute to 'best mate' son

Veteran journalist spoke of pride in TV's Nick

- MARK JEFFERIES Showbiz Editor

JOHN Stapleton used his final interview to speak of his pride in his son Nick and to describe him as his “best mate”.

The veteran journalist, 79, died in hospital with Parkinson's disease complicated by pneumonia, it was announced on Sunday.

He and TV host Nick, 37, both avid Man City fans, took part in a feature discussing each other and their backgrounds.

John, who hosted the BBC's Watchdog on screen with his late wife Lynn Faulds Wood, said: "Lynn and I were both on the side of the underdog and Nick's inherited that.

"He's a genuinely decent guy who wants to help people.