Bill Turnbull, a TV host and journalist, passed away today at the age of 66, his family said.
Turnbull’s family said that the former BBC Breakfast host passed away quietly at home in Suffolk yesterday after a “tough and devoted struggle against prostate cancer,” which was discovered in November 2017.
During this morning’s BBC Breakfast, his heartbroken former coworkers Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt also broke the news live on air.
The pair, who were both clearly in tears, described their predecessor as “our friend and former colleague” and a “great” journalist with a “smart mind” on the BBC One morning programme.
Turnbull confirmed the illness in March 2018 and described his treatment in a Staying Alive series for Channel 4, appearing on the show from 2001 to 2016.
He made the announcement that he will be taking a leave of absence from his Classic FM programme due to health concerns in October of last year.
Today on BBC Breakfast, Stayt said: “Welcome back. We now need to break some bad news to you. Bill Turnbull, a former breakfast host and one of our old coworkers, has passed away. In 2017, he received a cancer diagnosis.
A statement from Billy’s wife Sesi was then read out by Munchetty. It said, “Our dear Billy died last evening, over five years after being diagnosed with severe prostate cancer.
His whole family was with him throughout his last week, and we were able to enjoy some lovely moments.
Stayt said, “She says even though he was often in agony, Bill was dignified and gallant throughout and he was his usual stubborn self right up to the death. Every day, Billy made us giggle, and we are very proud of him.
“Our buddy, our old colleague Breakfast presenter,” Munchetty said. Many of you will be acquainted with Bill Turnbull, who just passed away after battling prostate cancer, as we recently learned.