The presenter died peacefully at his home in Suffolk surrounded by his family on Wednesday, statement says….
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.
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.
Turnbull presented BBC Breakfast for 15 years, stepping down in 2016 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.
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.
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.”
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.He will be greatly missed.