Fiona Phillips’ husband, Martin Frizell, has paid an emotional tribute to late broadcaster John Stapleton by sharing a rare throwback photo of him alongside Fiona and Kate Garraway.
The 66-year-old TV producer described John as “a constant presence” throughout his career, recalling the many stories they covered together, from Kosovo to Iraq. “What fun we had,” Martin wrote. “Such sad news to hear that Stapes, as we called him, has passed away. He was a colleague and friend… we laughed and lunched a lot. He never lost his thirst for digging out a story.”
Frizell fondly remembered John’s sense of humour, even teasing about football banter: “We’ll miss him – even the ribbing when Chelsea lost to City, which was quite often!”
John Stapleton passed away peacefully in hospital at the age of 79 after complications from Parkinson’s disease and pneumonia. His agent confirmed that his son Nick and daughter-in-law Lisa were by his side in his final moments.
The legendary presenter, who worked on shows like Watchdog, GMTV’s News Hour, Panorama and Newsnight, had shared his Parkinson’s diagnosis last year. Despite the challenges, John remained optimistic, saying he refused to be “miserable” and was “learning to live with it.”
In a poignant interview, John said: “Speaking is how I’ve earned my living for the best part of 50 years. It’s frustrating, but I try to stay positive. Parkinson’s is here with me for life. Best I can do is try to control it and take the advice of the experts.”
His son Nick had recently revealed that his father had “taken a turn for the worse” due to a chest infection, just days before John’s passing. The touching tributes from colleagues and family reflect the deep respect for a man many considered one of the greats of his generation.
