Veteran UK broadcaster Dermot Murnaghan has died at the age of 68 after a period of illness with stage four prostate cancer. His family announced his passing on Saturday, 11 July 2026, stating he died peacefully at home in North London with his loved ones by his side. Murnaghan, known for his distinguished career across ITV, BBC, Channel 4, and most notably Sky News, had revealed his diagnosis in June 2025, telling the public he was 'responding positively' to treatment at the time.
In their statement, Murnaghan’s family expressed gratitude to the medical teams who provided 'such sensitivity and extraordinary compassion' throughout his illness, as well as to those who sent messages of goodwill since his diagnosis became public. They confirmed that a small, private family funeral would take place in accordance with his wishes, with a memorial service for friends and colleagues planned for later this year at St Bride's Church, Fleet Street, often referred to as 'the Journalists’ Church.'
Following his diagnosis, Murnaghan became a dedicated ambassador for Prostate Cancer Research. He openly shared his regret over delaying a routine PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test, a decision he described as 'silly.' He recounted to The Telegraph his immediate thought upon diagnosis: 'What a fool I am,' despite having reported on health stories and being aware of the importance of such screenings throughout his career. He admitted to thinking, 'Oh, I’ll get round to it,' only to face 'horrendous' test results when he finally sought medical attention, with his PSA levels 'off the scale.'
Murnaghan cited Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy’s own stage four prostate cancer diagnosis as an inspiration to go public, noting how Hoy's openness prompted thousands of men to seek checks. His advocacy aimed to increase public awareness, particularly among high-risk groups, about the critical need for early detection. Prostate cancer, if caught early through routine screening, is often entirely curable; however, Murnaghan’s cancer was too advanced for localised treatment.
The family has requested that those wishing to remember Dermot consider supporting Prostate Cancer UK, Prostate Cancer Research, and North London Hospice. This gesture aims to ensure others can benefit from the research and care he received, continuing his legacy of raising awareness for a disease that affects thousands of men across the UK annually. According to Prostate Cancer UK, one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, with this figure rising to one in four for Black men.