Veteran broadcaster Edward Stourton has died at the age of 68 after living with incurable prostate cancer.
The acclaimed journalist, whose career spanned more than four decades, died on Saturday surrounded by his family, the BBC confirmed.
Stourton – who spent 10 years presenting Radio 4’s Today programme – revealed in his 2023 memoir Confessions that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer back in 2014.
After initially undergoing treatment, he was later told that the disease had spread and become incurable. Despite his diagnosis, he continued working until very recently.
Paying tribute to Stourton, his friend and former Today co-host James Naughtie praised his ‘warm intelligence and wit’, describing him as ‘one of the best colleagues’.
‘As a friend, he was always a rock of support and kindness. His dignity and courage through his illness were an inspiration to everyone who knew him. He was, simply, much-loved,’ he added.
Radio 4 controller Mohit Bakaya also called him ‘an absolutely outstanding broadcaster’.
He said: ‘When Ed was behind the mic, whether on Sunday or the various news programmes he regularly presented for Radio 4, you felt you understood the world that little bit better. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.’
Meanwhile, the BBC’s interim news chief Jonathan Munro said it was ‘far too soon to lose Ed’.
‘I worked as his producer when he was ITN’s diplomatic editor – unflappable then and ever after,’ he said.
‘Many years later, I was listening to his superb analysis of the new Pope for the BBC – another of his many areas of expertise. Not many broadcasters can present Today, BBC One’s One O’clock News, The World at One and Sunday – but he did. He leaves a huge gap.’
Stourton is survived by his wife Fiona, a senior television producer, their two sons, daughter and a stepdaughter.
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