Dermot Murnaghan’s death hit friend and fellow broadcaster ‘like ton of bricks’

A fellow news anchor and friend of Dermot Murnaghan has said his death hit him “like a ton of bricks”, having seen the presenter upbeat just months prior.Veteran broadcaster Murnaghan died aged 68 on July 11 following a period of illness with prostate cancer, having first announced his stage four diagnosis in 2025.The former Eggheads quiz show host was best known for his 15-year tenure as a lead anchor on Sky News, and he presented news bulletins for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 during his decades-long career.Broadcaster Matt Barbet told the Press Association that avid cyclist Murnaghan arrived with his bike at their last meeting, seeming well and upbeat.Dermot Murnaghan died aged 68 on July 11 (Jonathan Brady/PA)PA ArchiveThe Sky News presenter, 50, is joining Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4 charity ride in Murnaghan’s memory, having hoped that they would complete it together.There were two things Murnaghan had recently encouraged him to do: the Glasgow charity ride and a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test, having been “really cross” with himself for not taking it.Last month, shortly after receiving a negative PSA result, Barbet texted Murnaghan: “I’ve got a place on the ride, really looking forward to it. Hope you’re well, just checking in.”Dermot Murnaghan and Matt Barbet (PA)Barbet said: “He replied ‘not so well mate, tbh. I’ll keep you posted’ and that was the last I heard.“It was really sad to hear. I was hoping he would come back with ‘that’s fantastic, mate. I’m doing it too. Can’t wait to see you on the start line’.”The two journalists spent years cycling long distances on Sundays. Barbet said of the 90km charity ride: “Physically (I) should be able to manage it. Emotionally I have no idea how it’s going to go.”Matt Barbet is joining Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4 charity ride in Dermot Murnaghan’s memory (Dominic Lipinski/PA)PA ArchiveHe was 21 when he watched Murnaghan covering the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, something he “vividly” remembers and added to his admiration of him.They met in the early 2010s as Sky News colleagues when there was a “cycling-focused” atmosphere at the channel, given the formation of the British professional cycling crew Team Sky.Murnaghan presented Sky News while Barbet did Channel 5.Both were already keen on the sport but they were brought together by mutual cycling friends outside of journalism.Read MoreTheir group would get the bikes out on Sundays, completing 100km rides from north London to the Surrey Hills, Essex or Hertfordshire.Non-journalists in the crew saw Murnaghan as Ron Burgundy and Mr Barbet as Brian Fantana – the leads in the newsroom satire Anchorman, he said.Their friendship formed outside of journalism – it was unlikely they would present together and “we were probably a little bit competitive with each other, but in a friendly way”, he added.Barbet laughed: “He was smart enough to see good people coming up behind him – I say that tongue and cheek.”Cycling can encourage candour by riding next to someone while not looking them in the eye, Barbet said.Sometimes “you’re breathing heavily and trying to climb up a hill” but otherwise you spoke “about everything under the sun”.He said: “So there’ll be a little bit of work chat, and he would give me advice because, you know, Dermot was 18 years older than me.”Reminiscing on his Sky series Economic Cycle – where he biked around the UK interviewing people – Barbet said: “I know full well it was a good story to tell about the the economy, but he definitely did it so he could go on his bike.”Murnaghan completed last year’s Tour de 4 alongside former track cyclist Sir Chris, also diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer.Reflecting on receiving the news from Murnaghan’s agent, Barbet added: “It was a real shock, it was a genuine shock when I heard he died because it was only three weeks since he was saying I’ll keep you posted.“The last time I saw him, which was a few months before, he was hugely upbeat, and of course he turned up on the bike.“He loved being on the bike, he turned up on the bike, we had a coffee outside – he was looking well, he had colour in his cheeks.“He always kept himself in good nick and he was trim… A handsome guy.“So I was really optimistic for him at that point, so when when the news came… (it) floored me, like a ton of bricks, that he’s gone.”Barbet has raised £2,808 out of his £3,000 target for Prostate Cancer UK.Tour de 4 brings together people who have been directly or indirectly affected by cancer and raises funds for charities focused on the disease.