Broadcasters and former colleagues gathered at St Bride’s Church in the City of London on Thursday for a memorial service honouring veteran journalist Dermot Murnaghan.
Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid, Sky News political editor Beth Rigby and presenter Mark Austin were among those attending the service for Murnaghan, who died aged 68 on July 11 after a period of illness with prostate cancer.
Other familiar faces from Sky News included Matt Barbet and Anna Jones, while Sky Sports presenter Jacquie Beltrao and former Sky News broadcaster Adam Boulton also paid their respects.
Former 5 News presenter Sian Williams was among those seen leaving St Bride’s Church, where mourners were handed an order of service.
Murnaghan announced in 2025 that he had been diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer. He described the disease as “incurable but it’s not untreatable” and subsequently became a prominent campaigner for greater awareness.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast last November, he urged men in high-risk groups to get checked, saying he had delayed testing “because I felt fine”.
Prostate Cancer UK said it was “heartbroken” by his death, describing Murnaghan as a “passionate and dedicated supporter” whose work had made a major impact on men affected by the disease.
Reid previously shared a photograph of herself with Murnaghan, describing his death as “utterly devastating news” and remembering him as a “legendary news journalist and presenter”.
She also recalled the “sheer pleasure of presenting with Dermot at BBC Breakfast”, adding: “Dermot was a serious journalist who never took himself too seriously.
“He was intelligent and charming and viewers and guests loved him.”
Dermot Murnaghan’s broadcasting career
Murnaghan began his presenting career in 1989, hosting Channel 4’s breakfast programme and its business segments before becoming one of the broadcaster’s lead presenters.
He later presented ITV’s Lunchtime News and News at Ten, including the channel’s coverage of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997.
He became a main presenter of BBC Breakfast in 2002, remaining with the programme until 2007, before joining Sky News, where he hosted a programme focused on politics and current affairs.
Murnaghan spent 15 years as a lead anchor at Sky News and also presented news bulletins for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. He left Sky in 2023, having covered the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
