Dermot Murnaghan has spoken with moving honesty about his stage 4 prostate cancer diagnosis, revealing the emotional shock of learning the disease had already spread and admitting he feels he “fell through the gaps”.
The former Sky News presenter, 68, has faced the devastating news with remarkable determination. Rather than retreating from public life, Dermot has chosen to speak openly about his illness in the hope of encouraging other men to get checked early.
“I can’t take this lying down,” he said, describing his refusal to let the diagnosis define him. He is even planning to take part in a charity bike ride with Sir Chris Hoy in Glasgow, joking that he may be moving at a slower pace than others.
But behind his brave public attitude, Dermot admitted the diagnosis has forced him to confront deeply painful thoughts about family, time and mortality. Speaking about telling his four grown-up children, he said: “It blindsides you,” adding that the news felt “like a gut punch”.
Most painfully, Dermot confessed: “I wish I had more time with my family.”
Despite the heartbreak, he said he is responding well to treatment and feeling strong, while praising the medical team and loved ones supporting him. Dermot has urged men over 50 not to delay testing, warning: “Early detection is crucial. Please, don’t wait until it’s too late.”
He also revealed how much his children have helped him through the hardest moments. “They’ve been beyond excellent to me,” he said, describing their care with both gratitude and sadness.
At times, Dermot said he has caught himself wondering, “Oh God, when did I become old?” as his daughters helped him walk during moments of pain and weakness.
For fans who grew up watching him deliver the news with calm authority, Dermot’s honesty has been both heartbreaking and inspiring. His message is clear: even in the face of frightening uncertainty, he is still choosing courage, love and life.
