Broadcaster Edward Stourton dies aged 68: Tributes to 'absolutely outstanding' Radio 4 star

Broadcaster and journalist Edward Stourton has died aged 68, the BBC has said.Mr Stourton, best known for presenting Radio 4's Today programme for more than a decade, had been living with prostate cancer since being diagnosed with the disease in 2014. He died surrounded by his family on Saturday, according to a statement released by the BBC today. Stourton's journalism career spanned more than 40 years and began at ITN, where he helped launch Channel 4 News and became the programme's first Washington correspondent during Reagan's presidency. Tributes poured in for the broadcaster, with Stourton's former Today co-host James Naughtie praising Stourton's 'warm intelligence and wit', adding that he was 'one of the best colleagues'. The Today programme's current editor described him as 'the Rolls Royce of broadcasting', writing on X: 'His sharp mind and vast knowledge of the world brought to bear on any story with zero fuss.' Stourton revealed in his 2023 memoir Confessions that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer for nearly a decade. He detailed how he had received treatment, but was later told that it had become incurable and spread. Stourton's journalism and broadcasting career spanned more than four decades Stourton reported from Khiam prison in southern Lebanon in 2000 for the BBC Stourton pictured (far left) as a student at Cambridge Univetrsity, where he read English at Trinity College The credited journalist continued to work until very recently, with his last book on Trump's presidency being published in January this year. Jonathan Munro, interim chief executive of BBC News and current affairs, said: '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.'Mohit Bakaya, controller of BBC Radio 4, said: '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.' The much-loved broadcaster revealed in his 2023 memoir that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014 Stourton pictured at the Qalandia checkpoint in the West Bank in 2005 while filming 'A Year in the Arab-Israeli Crisis' Born in Lagos, Nigeria, the broadcaster attended Cambridge University, where he read English at Trinity and was President of the Union. After graduating in 1979, he started his distinguished career at ITN, starting out as a scriptwriter. He became one of the founding members of the Channel 4 news team in 1982, and went on to cover foreign news at the broadcaster as well as a stint as Washington correspondent, where he reported on the final years of the Reagan presidency.He then joined the BBC in 1988 before returning to ITN two years later as diplomatic editor, reporting from around the world including Baghdad during the Gulf War, Bosnia during the siege of Sarajevo and from Moscow in the final days of the Soviet Union.He returned to the BBC in 1993 and fronted the One O'Clock News for six years and presented his own Radio 4 phone-in programme, Call Ed Stourton, before joining the Today programme in 1999.Stourton fronted the flagship current affairs programme for a decade. He later became a regular contributor.Stourton also worked as BBC Two's world affairs strand correspondent, presented editions of Panorama as well as a series of Radio 4 programmes including The World At One, The World This Weekend and Analysis.He was one of the first correspondents to land in New York after the 9/11 terror attacks. Along with his four-decade-long career as a broadcaster, he wrote a number of books including 2013's Cruel Crossing and his 2023 memoir Confessions – in which he revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer nearly a decade earlier.His most recent book, Made In America, explored US history and how it led to the era of Donald Trump.Stourton, who had homes in south London and south-west France, is survived by his wife Fiona, a senior TV producer, and his four children. Fellow journalists and former colleagues paid tribute to Stourton on social media. Hannah Barnes, Investigations Editor for the New Statesman, wrote: 'Deeply saddened to hear that Edward Stourton has died. 'I had the privilege of making several programmes for Radio 4 with Ed. He had an astonishing intellect and was a wonderful writer. 'He was also witty and extremely kind. My thoughts are with his family.'Diplomat and author Dr Anabel Inge wrote: 'Very sad news about Edward Stourton. I remember speaking to him on BBC Radio 4 Sunday in 2016. 'Through his broadcasting, and several books on the Catholic Church, he brought intellectual rigour, curiosity and respect to conversations on religion and public life. RIP.'Stourton's Catholic faith was important throughout his life. He wrote a book on Pope John Paul II, a biography titled 'Man of History'. He also hosted The Heaven and Earth Show and filmed documentaries including Absolute Truth, a four-part series about the Catholic Church. The well-spoken broadcaster also gained a reputation as 'posh Ed', famously getting into a row in 2022 with south London boy Amol Rajan, who criticised the BBC for a lack of diversity. Stourton, who admitted his accent was once 'way posher than the late Queen's', said it was 'clarity and authority' which mattered most, not class. On a BBC2 arts programme The Late Show, Mr Stourton said that presenter style had changed since 1989, adding that many, including himself, have 'flattened their voice'. He said: 'But this does not seem to have ended the enthusiasm for accent wars', and concluded that broadcasting should resemble a chat over a drink.This is a breaking story - refresh for updates.