Dermot Murnaghan (journalist)

Dermot John Murnaghan (; born 26 December 1957) is an English media personality, notable as a journalist, news reporter and television host. He has been a presenter for numerous networks, including at Channel 4, a news presenter at CNBC Europe, Independent Television News and BBC News. He presented news programmes in a variety of time slots from when he joined Sky News in 2007, until the end of February 2023.

Murnaghan also presented the BBC quiz show '' Eggheads'' between 2003 and 2014.

On 8 September 2022, ''Sky News'' was the first British television media outlet to report that monarch Queen Elizabeth II had died, with Murnaghan presenting the afternoon rolling coverage live.

Early life and education

Murnaghan was born in Barnstaple, Devon, in south-west England. He and his family later moved to Northern Ireland, first to Armagh, then to Newry, County Down and then to Holywood.

Murnaghan was educated at two schools in Northern Ireland: St Malachy's Primary School in Armagh and Sullivan Upper School (a grammar school) in Holywood. He later attended the University of Sussex in England, graduating with a master's degree in History in 1980. He also completed a postgraduate course in Journalism at City University London.

Journalism career

Early career

Murnaghan worked as a trainee reporter on local newspapers before joining Channel 4 as a researcher and later a reporter for ''The Business Programme''.

Murnaghan briefly presented the European Business Channel in Switzerland before returning to the UK in 1989 to present the business segments on Channel 4's new breakfast programme ''The Channel 4 Daily'', after which he became the show's main presenter in 1991, after the departure of original anchor Carol Barnes, until the programme ended in September 1992. During that same period, he was also a relief presenter on Channel 4 News when the regular host Jon Snow was unavailable, also anchoring Channel 4's weekend news summary bulletins until the end of 1992.

Presenter at ITV

Murnaghan then joined ITV, presenting programmes such as the ''ITV Lunchtime News'' and '' News at Ten''. Between 1993 and 1997, he fronted approximately 100 episodes of current affairs series ''The Big Story''. In 1997, as an ITN news presenter, Murnaghan broke the news of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales to viewers on ITV. He later presented the ''ITV Evening News'' and the ''ITV Nightly News'' when ITV relaunched their news output in 1999. He also worked on ITV's general election coverage in 2001.

BBC News

From September 2002 to December 2007, Murnaghan was a main presenter of ''BBC Breakfast'', replacing Jeremy Bowen. He presented the show alongside Sophie Raworth, Natasha Kaplinsky, Kate Silverton, Sian Williams and Susanna Reid. He was also a regular stand-in on the ''BBC Six O'Clock News'' and ''BBC Ten O'Clock News'' and co-presented the ''BBC News at Six'' on Fridays from September 2003 to summer 2007 alongside Sian Williams. His presenting style was lampooned in the impersonation sketch show '' Dead Ringers'' by Jon Culshaw, his widely spaced legs on the presenting couch mocked with the phrase "I'm Dermot Murnaghan, watch my crotch follow you round the room."

Whilst at the BBC, he co-presented BBC Two's '' Treasure Hunt'' (2002–2003), a revival of an earlier format on Channel 4 alongside Suzi Perry. He co-presented BBC Breakfast from Monday to Thursday as well as regularly fronting national BBC news bulletins until December 2007.

Sky News

In October 2007, it was announced that Murnaghan would be leaving the BBC for Sky News. Murnaghan became the second news presenter to depart the corporation in the same month – Natasha Kaplinsky also left to join Five News, produced by Sky. His last time presenting Breakfast was 20 December 2007.

From January 2011 until December 2016, Murnaghan presented his own show entitled '' Murnaghan'' on Sky News that aired on Sunday mornings from 10 am until 12 noon. Since September 2016, he has presented ''Sky News Tonight'' from Monday to Thursday. For the 2019 general election Murnaghan hosted Sky News' overnight coverage, entitled ''The Brexit Election''.

On the night of 8 September 2022, Dermot Murnaghan announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II, presenting the afternoon rolling news coverage following an announcement from Buckingham Palace earlier in the day as Sky News was the first television news organisation to report her death.

Presenting

Murnaghan presented the BBC Two daytime show '' Eggheads'' from 2003 until 2014, as well as its short-lived spin-off series ''Are You an Egghead?'' in 2008 and 2009. Following his move to Sky News, he shared this role with Jeremy Vine, who subsequently became the sole presenter in series 16. Murnaghan has guest presented reports for different travel shows including ITV's '' Wish You Were Here...?'' and BBC One's rival programme ''Holiday''. He has made cameos as a newsreader in the 2004 film ''Wimbledon'', '' Absolute Power'' and '' Midnight Man''.

Controversies

Tabloid pictures

In 2012, Murnaghan was the subject of gossip after tabloid pictures emerged of him kissing Sky make-up artist Camilla Tew in a London park.

Chuka Umunna interview

On 19 January 2015, Murnaghan was criticised for his supposedly hostile attitude towards Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna during an interview where Murnaghan asked Umunna if he agreed with the statement sent by the Communities Secretary to the Muslim community earlier in the day. Umunna acknowledged that he had not read it, though Murnaghan nonetheless continued to press the Shadow Business Secretary, resulting in an abrupt end to the interview after Murnaghan cut-off Umunna mid-speech by saying "so you are not going to speak until you get the party line right?" Umunna stormed out of the interview at this point. Viewers complained about the "poor attitude" exhibited by Murnaghan during the interview.

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves interview

On 8 February 2015, Murnaghan introduced the Estonian president, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, as Toomas Hendrik and proceeded to call him "President Hendrik". President Ilves removed his microphone and left, saying "Tell him to shut up, he can't even get my name right."

Raheem Kassam interview

On 14 February 2016, Murnaghan confronted British political activist and UKIP member Raheem Kassam on why he was not wearing a poppy in the United States. Kassam explained he forgot to place it in his new suit jacket but had donated £300 to the Royal British Legion. Murnaghan continued to press him, stating that it was "disrespectful" and that his news colleagues would be "heavily criticised" if they chose not to wear a poppy even if they donated. Kassam retorted they are "rightly criticised" for choosing not to wear one, which was "not applicable" in his case as he had simply forgotten it. Murnaghan quickly changed topic after Kassam's retort, which Kassam highlighted.

Personal life

In August 1989, Murnaghan married Maria Keegan in Camden; they have four children. They live together in North London. Murnaghan is an Arsenal fan.

In 2006, Murnaghan became president of the Television and Radio Industries Club (TRIC) and presented the TRIC Awards 2007.

On 9 March 2017, Murnaghan was involved in a hit and run accident. He was cycling through Kentish Town, north-west London, to his work at Sky News when the accident took place. Speaking to Sky News, Murnaghan said the driver of the car which hit him had been using a mobile phone when the incident occurred. The accident forced Murnaghan to be off air from his Sky News show and resulted in his having large bruise marks on the left-hand side of his face. Murnaghan thanked a "good Samaritan" who saw what had happened and told him that the car had sped off.

Health

In June 2025, Murnaghan disclosed that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer, stating that he was responding well to treatment and encouraging men over 50 to seek early screening.

References

External links

Dermot Murnaghan
KBJ Management (Official Agent) - Archived
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Murnaghan, Dermot
1957 births
Living people
Mass media people from Barnstaple
People educated at Sullivan Upper School
Alumni of City, University of London
Alumni of the University of Sussex
British reporters and correspondents
ITN newsreaders and journalists
BBC newsreaders and journalists
Sky News newsreaders and journalists
People from Camden Town
British game show hosts
English people of Irish descent