Bill Turnbull’s Lasting Legacy: How One Broadcaster’s Journey Changed Men’s Health Awareness
A Remarkable Broadcasting Career
William Robert Jolyon Turnbull was a British television and radio presenter and journalist whose broadcasting career spanned over 4 decades. He was most notably known as one of the main presenters of BBC Breakfast, a position he held for 15 years between 2001 and 2016.
Journey and Impact
Turnbull died on August 31, 2022, at the age of 66, after a “challenging and committed fight against prostate cancer.” He was first diagnosed with the illness in November 2017 and later fronted a Channel 4 documentary about his experience.
Throughout his battle, he remained “resolutely positive” and was greatly encouraged by the support he received from friends, colleagues, and well-wishers. His family noted that it brought him great comfort knowing that his openness led to more men testing earlier for prostate cancer.
A Life-Saving Legacy
The impact of Turnbull’s advocacy is exemplified by stories like that of Nick Whight, a 53-year-old from Bromley, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 after hearing about Bill’s diagnosis on BBC Breakfast. Thanks to this early detection, Nick made a full recovery.
Turnbull’s legacy continues to influence men’s health awareness. In the week following his death, over 61,000 people took the prostate cancer risk checker – representing a remarkable 2,500% increase from the previous week.
Professional Excellence
Colleagues remember him as someone who was “incredibly funny, incredibly smart, with a very deep appreciation both for people and the things around him.” As a friend, he was known as a wonderful companion who possessed great depth of personality, character, and friendship.
His colleagues praised his remarkable energy and dedication, noting that “he came into this programme and threw everything at it. Every single day, he was funny when we sat here on sofa, he was a brilliant journalist, and he loved this programme and he loved serving you, the audience”.
