The former BBC Breakfast host Bill Turnbull has died at the age of 66, his family has said.
They said in a statement: “Following a challenging and committed fight against prostate cancer, Bill passed away peacefully at his home in Suffolk surrounded by his family on 31 August.
“Bill was diagnosed in 2017 and has had outstanding medical care from the Royal Marsden and Ipswich hospitals, St Elizabeth hospice and his GP. He was resolutely positive and was hugely buoyed by the support he received from friends, colleagues, and messages from people wishing him luck. It was a great comfort to Bill that so many more men are now testing earlier for this disease.”
Turnbull presented BBC Breakfast for 15 years, stepping down in 2016 four years after the show moved to Salford. He was also a regular presenter of Songs of Praise, and hosted BBC One daytime quizshow, Think Tank. In 2016, he began hosting his own radio show on Classic FM, which aired on Saturday and Sunday mornings and whose broadcasts he presented until recently. He was also a contestant on the 2005 series of Strictly Come Dancing, finishing in sixth place with his partner Karen Hardy.
Turnbull announced his prostate cancer diagnosis in 2018, stating that the disease had spread to his bones. The discovery of his illness came during the recording of a celebrity edition of The Great British Bake Off – which was in aid of Cancer Research’s Stand Up to Cancer. He went on to front a documentary for Channel 4 called Bill Turnbull: Staying Alive, in which he explored the use of cannabis oil for medicinal purposes. He was also an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK.
“Our friend and ambassador Bill Turnbull has died,” the charity said via Twitter. “Bill worked tirelessly to raise awareness of prostate cancer following his diagnosis in 2017, and it was our privilege to work alongside him. Our thoughts are with Bill’s loved ones today.”
Following the announcement of his diagnosis – around the same time that Stephen Fry revealed that he had undergone surgery for prostate cancer – NHS Chief Executive Simon Stephens claimed that it had prompted a huge spike in men attending cancer screenings. It became known as the “Fry and Turnbull effect”.
In recent years, Turnbull had guest presented episodes of the One Show and Good Morning Britain alongside Susanna Reid whom he had earlier worked with on BBC Breakfast.
“Bill was the kindest, funniest, most generous man in the business. I feel lucky to have worked with him and he taught me everything,” commented Reid via Twitter. “But above all, he was devoted to his family and I am heartbroken for them. RIP Bill. We will miss you so much.”
“So sad to learn of the death of Bill Turnbull ... broadcaster and bee-keeper, extraordinaire,” said veteran broadcaster Alastair Stewart on social media. “Bill was a master of the old school: informed, charming, collegiate, competitive but ever courteous. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and many friends.
Turnbull’s love of bees were his justification for leaving BBC Breakfast, as he claimed he had been “neglecting my bees for far too long.” In 2011, he released a memoir of his time as a beekeeper, The Bad Beekeeper’s Club. When interviewed by the Guardian about the book, he said that his greatest mistake in life was a time he failed to zip up his bee suit properly, and one of his creatures snuck inside and stung him. “One half of my head swelled. Not a great look for a Breakfast TV presenter,” he said. “I had to take a day off for the Shrek-like symptoms to subside.”
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“Bill will be remembered by many as a remarkable broadcaster who brought warmth and humour into people’s homes on BBC Breakfast and Classic FM,” said his family. “He was also a devoted Wycombe Wanderers fan and an ever-aspiring beekeeper.
“Bill was a wonderful husband and father to his three children; his family and friends will miss how he always made them laugh, and the generosity and love he shared with those around him.”
BBC director general Tim Davie also paid tribute. “Bill was a much loved and respected broadcaster and journalist – not just by viewers but by all those lucky enough to have worked with him,” he said. “He always struck the right tone, no matter what the story. Warm, wise, professional and caring, he will be much missed by us all. Our thoughts go out to his family and many friends.”