Skip to main content
Manchester Evening News

John Stapleton pays emotional tribute to wife Lynn Faulds Wood after death of ex-BBC presenter

Former Watchdog presenter Lynn died on Friday aged 72 after suffering a 'massive stroke'

John Stepleton pictured with his late wife Lynn Faulds Wood in 2009(Image: PA)

Mancunian former TV star John Stapleton has thanked fans for their support following the death of his wife Lynn Faulds Wood.

Former Watchdog presenter Lynn died on Friday aged 72 after suffering a 'massive stroke'.


It has been reported she fell ill just moments after clapping for the NHS and frontline workers on Thursday evening.

Journalist John, from Oldham, married Lynn in 1977. The pair became a TV power couple, hosting the hit BBC consumer show together between 1985 and 1993.

Today (Saturday), John paid a moving tribute to Lynn, who hailed from Scotland and with whom he has a son called Nick. He also thanked fans for their support.


The pair hosted Watchdog together for eight years(Image: Daily Record)

"Huge thank you to the hundreds and hundreds of people who have paid tribute to Lynn" he said on Twitter.

"A wonderful mother to Nick, a loving and hugely supportive wife to me and a campaigning journalist on so many fronts who really made a difference to the world we live in.


"We’ll miss her always."

UK lockdown 'could be relaxed' with government considering allowing small gatherings Man suffers nasty face injuries after unprovoked attack in woodland in Oldham

Lynn's family yesterday (Friday) confirmed her tragic death in a statement.

It read: "Having suffered a massive stroke last night and a subsequent bleed on the brain, presenter and journalist Lynn Faulds Wood passed away peacefully at 12 noon today with her husband John Stapleton and son Nick at her bedside."


Lynn began her career working on national newspapers such as the The Sun and Daily Mail before moving into TV.

As well as Watchdog she hosted investigatory programme World In Action during the 1990s and also went on to become GMTV's consumer champion.

She had previously survived after suffering with both advanced bowel and skin cancer and she became a vocal campaigner on issues facing cancer patients.


The couple pictured after their wedding in 1977(Image: PA)

She rejected an MBE in 2016 saying "the system needs to be dragged into the 21st century."

Tributes have poured in from across the world of television and beyond.


BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth said: "I have known Lynn since I was 14. She inspired me to become a journalist.

Read today's top stories here

"She has lived next door to my parents for decades.


"She has been the most wonderful, generous, kind friend to me and my family for such a long time. Can’t believe she has gone."

Big City fan John with Lynn and son Nick(Image: Daily Record)

Fellow former presenter Dame Esther Rantzen said: "I have known Lynn for many years.


"We made a series together which was huge fun but also very hard hitting because she was such an impressive and courageous consumer journalist.

"She fought for the rights of vulnerable people doggedly and determinedly and she is a huge loss to journalism and to her friends and family. We are all devastated at this news."


Good Morning Britain star Ben Shepherd said: "Am devastated to hear that Lynn Faulds Wood has sadly died.

"She was a wonderfully generous, incisive, energetic broadcaster, journalist and campaigner.

"More than that though she was great fun and a truly lovely person. Sending love to and family."

Article continues below

Labour MP Dianne Abbott said: "Sad to hear Lynn Faulds Wood has died. Knew her when we both worked at TV AM. Great campaigning journalist. All my sympathy to her husband John Stapleton."

Follow Manchester Evening News:

TVOldhamBBC
reach logo

At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the "Do Not Sell or Share my Data" button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Cookie Notice.