Bill Turnbull: Former BBC Breakfast presenter dies aged 66

Broadcaster Bill Turnbull has died at the age of 66, his representatives have confirmed.

Turnbull hosted BBC Breakfast for 15 years, before the show moved to Salford, and also fronted Songs of Praise and game show Think Tank.

His family said: "Bill will be remembered by many as a remarkable broadcaster who brought warmth and humour into people's homes"

After leaving the BBC in 2016, he joined Classic FM, and continued presenting shows on the network until recently.

His family added: "Following a challenging and committed fight against prostate cancer, Bill passed away peacefully at his home in Suffolk surrounded by his family on Wednesday, 31 August."

They said he received his diagnosis in 2017, and praised his "outstanding medical care" from the Royal Marsden and Ipswich Hospitals, St Elizabeth Hospice and his GP.

"He was resolutely positive and was hugely buoyed by the support he received from friends, colleagues, and messages from people wishing him luck. It was a great comfort to Bill that so many more men are now testing earlier for this disease," they said.

"Bill was a wonderful husband and father to his three children; his family and friends will miss how he always made them laugh, and the generosity and love he shared with those around him," they said, adding he was a devoted Wycombe Wanderers fan and "an ever-aspiring beekeeper".

Turnbull was a favourite with viewers on BBC Breakfast thanks to his presenting style, which was well suited to early morning broadcasting.

During his time on BBC Breakfast, he presented alongside Sian Williams, Susanna Reid, Kate Silverton, Natasha Kaplinsky and Louise Minchin.

His former colleagues Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt paid an emotional tribute on BBC Breakfast.

Munchetty said: "His energy was amazing. He came into this programme and threw everything at it. He was funny; he was a brilliant journalist. He loved this programme and he loved serving you, the audience."

Stayt added that Turnbull "didn't take himself too seriously".

Susannah Reid tweeted: "Bill was the kindest, funniest, most generous man in the business. I feel lucky to have worked with him and he taught me everything. But above all, he was devoted to his family and I am heartbroken for them. RIP Bill. We will miss you so much."

Prior to working on the programme, he worked as a reporter on BBC Radio 4's Today, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC News 24, as the news channel was then known.

He appeared as a contestant on an early series of Strictly Come Dancing, finishing in sixth place with his partner Karen Hauer.

In recent years, Turnbull guest presented episodes of The One Show and reunited with Reid for several editions of ITV's Good Morning Britain.

After his cancer diagnosis was made public, he fronted a documentary for Channel 4 called Bill Turnbull: Staying Alive, in which he explored the use of cannabis oil for medicinal purposes.

In November 2017, Turnbull took part in a celebrity edition of The Great British Bake Off - which was in aid of a charity, Stand Up to Cancer. During filming, he found he had the disease himself.