Following the death of veteran broadcaster John Stapleton at 79, Anne Diamond delivered a heartfelt remembrance on GB News, characterising him as someone whose off-screen kindness exceeded even his on-air warmth.
"John was even nicer off screen than he was on. He was a real gentleman, combined with being a very good journalist — and you didn't often get that," Anne stated during her tribute.
The broadcasting veteran passed away peacefully in hospital this morning after battling Parkinson's disease that had been complicated by pneumonia, according to his agent Jackie Gill.
Anne's tribute painted a portrait of a broadcaster who successfully merged journalistic rigour with genuine warmth, qualities she said were rare in their profession.
Anne Diamond paid an emotional tribute on GB News
|GB NEWS / PA
Mr Stapleton made the leap to TV-am in 1983, arriving from the BBC where he had established himself as a respected serious journalist. Diamond recalled how the transition initially challenged him.
"At first, he probably felt a little out of place, expected to sit on a sofa next to Roland Rat and have a laugh as well as conduct serious interviews," she remembered.
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The shift from heavyweight current affairs programmes to breakfast television's more relaxed atmosphere represented a significant change. Yet Anne noted how quickly Mr Stapleton embraced this new broadcasting style.
"But he warmed to the challenge almost immediately, because he was such a warm person himself," she explained.
His ability to adapt demonstrated the versatility that would define his career, moving seamlessly between hard news and lighter entertainment segments.
Anne highlighted Mr Stapleton's remarkable range, recalling how he could shift effortlessly between confrontational political interviews and light-hearted banter.
"I remember him having a fiery exchange one morning with Enoch Powell — both of them highly intelligent, both unafraid to argue their corner," she recounted.
Yet moments later, the same broadcaster would be sharing laughs with the station's puppet mascot.
"And then, just as easily, he'd share a joke with Roland Rat," she added.
This adaptability showcased what Anne described as Mr Stapleton's foundation in traditional journalism combined with an ability to embrace modern broadcasting demands.
"He came from that old-fashioned school of journalism: serious, thorough, able to interview anyone. And yet, in breakfast television, he also showed his relaxed, funny side," she reflected.
Anne spoke movingly about Mr Stapleton's marriage to fellow broadcaster Lynn Faulds Wood, who also worked at TV-am. The couple's deep bond was evident to all their colleagues.
Iconic broadcaster John Stapleton died aged 79 after a Parkinson's and pneumonia battle
|GB NEWS
"They adored each other," Anne said, describing their relationship. The loss of Lynn particularly affected her, who revealed the additional pain of being unable to offer comfort during the pandemic.
"It was heartbreaking to hear him speak about losing her, because we were all devastated when she died. And during lockdown, no one could even go and comfort him," she shared.
Anne first encountered Lynn through her bowel cancer awareness work, which led to meeting John. She admitted to being charmed by his supportive nature.
"I fell a little bit in love with him — he was so warm, charming, helpful, and approachable," she confessed.
Anne concluded her tribute by positioning Mr Stapleton as representing a vanished golden age of broadcasting, expressing doubt that his calibre of journalist would emerge again.
"It really does feel like the end of an era. He was one of the originals," she stated, before adding: "I don't think we'll ever see his like again."
She emphasised how he made her early career easier through his approachable nature. "For a young journalist, he made everything easy. He was one of the greats," she recalled.
Despite her grief, Anne found solace in Mr Stapleton's fulfilled life. "But John had a wonderful life, a great marriage, and a son who can be proud. And what more can you hope for?" she concluded.
She noted that Nicholas, Mr Stapleton's son, could take pride in both his parents' broadcasting legacy.