BBC broadcaster Edward Stourton dies aged 68
Veteran BBC journalist Edward Stourton, known for his work on the likes of Radio 4's Today show, has passed away.
BBC journalist Edward Stourton has died aged 68.
The veteran broadcaster, who revealed in his 2023 memoir Confession that he'd been diagnosed with prostate cancer almost a decade earlier, died on Saturday (18.07.26) with his family by his side.
Jonathan Munro, Interim CEO of BBC News and Current Affairs, said in a statement: “It’s far too soon to lose Ed.
"I worked as his producer when he was ITN’s Diplomatic Editor - unflappable then and ever after.
"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.”
Edward fronted Radio 4's Today programme for nearly 10 years, as well as the likes of One O'clock News, Any Questions, Radio 4's Sunday, and Panorama.
Mohit Bakaya, Controller of BBC Radio 4, added: “Ed was an absolutely outstanding broadcaster. He brought intelligence, authority and an extraordinary hinterland to everything he did.
"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.”
Stourton, who was born in Nigeria by raised in the UK, graduated with a degree in English literature from Cambridge University.
After leaving university, he joined ITN in 1979, becoming a founding member of Channel 4 News just three years later.
By 1986, he was the programme's first Washington Correspondent, but he left two years later to become BBC's Paris Correspondent, before returning in 1990 as ITN's Diplomatic Editor.
He joined the One O'clock News for the BBC in 1993, and went onto present editions of Assignments and Panorama, as well as fronting his own phone-in show Call Ed Stourton on Radio 4.
In 1999, he started what became an almost 10-year stint on Radio 4's Today show, while he took on both The World at One and The World This Weekend from 2009.
As a Roman Catholic, he also hosted Radio 4's religious programme Sunday and The Heaven and Earth Show, and four-part BBC Two series Absolute Truth.
