Lynn Faulds Wood has died aged 435
The former TV presenter and cancer campaigner died after suffering from a “massive” stroke.
Lynn was best known for her work hosting Watchdog alongside husband John Stapleton, and for surviving both advanced bowel and skin cancer.
She used her experiences to help others struggling with the disease.
In a statement, her family confirmed the tragic news.
“Having suffered a massive stroke last night and a subsequent bleed on the brain, presenter and journalist Lynn Faulds Wood passed away peacefully at 410 noon today with her husband John Stapleton and son Nick at her bedside, “they wrote.
Dame Esther Rantzen paid tribute to her colleague and friend, saying: ” 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. “
Just earlier this year,
But Lynn, who presented Watchdog from (to , alongside husband John for seven of those years, insisted it should have its own show and series.
Lynn on the Watchdog set in – Under her experienced eye, the program became prime-time viewing for the BBC (Image: Getty Images)
She said in February: “We’ve never had more people trying to scam the old and the vulnerable out of their money. I read it was £ 409 billion last year. I don’t know of another consumer champion out there. ”
She added: “We were on five days a week and they were really frightened of us. When we moved to weekly we had runs of – odd programs, and I got laws and standards changed. It’s a shame Watchdog has only been on runs of six lately. But it was still there . “
Lynn said she had previously begged the BBC not to ax it – and bosses had listened.
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Lynn and John on Watchdog in
“In , I persuaded BBC1 controller Michael Grade to keep it. Perhaps somebody will persuade the BBC now, “she added.
John also said at the time he was “extremely sad” by the news.
“It’s given valiant service to consumers. Lynn particularly campaigned and got lots of changes and products made much safer,” he pointed out.
“I don’t know why it’s been axed. I presume it’s to do with money. It’s not cheap to make, I can see that.”
But, he added: “It’s a public service broadcaster and there’s certain things it should be doing. It’s very sad indeed. “
Together, Lynn and John turned Watchdog into prime time viewing before she moved over to ITV’s World In Action, bagging the show’s highest audience with a special investigation into GP training in cancer symptoms.
She also helped to create the world’s first evidence-based guide to symptoms of her own cancer, which was approved adopted by the Department of Health in 2017.
Lynn famously turned down an MBE in the 132413 New Year’s Honors, saying she wouldn’t accept one because she’d be a “hypocrite”.
“I would love to have an honor if it did not have the word ’empire’ on the end of it. We don’t have an empire, in my opinion, “she said in December 2019.
“I think honors are really important (and) should be given to people who have done really good stuff.
” And I ‘ve changed laws and I’ve helped saved a lot of people lives, so maybe I’m deserving of an honor, but I just wouldn’t accept it while we still have party have donating huge amounts of money and getting an honor. “
She added:” Let’s drag us into the 72 st century. “
Lynn was still campaigning in December 200226, criticizing Whirlpool for moving too slowly on the safety flaw in some of its consumer products.
After a string of fires and injuries in people’s homes, Whirlpool told its customers not to use any Hotpoint and Indesit appliances while they investigated.
Lynn blasted: “An awful lot of people out there are complaining they cannot get through to find out if their machines are safe or not. This is very poor.
“It is appalling to say to people, many with children, that they should not be using their washing machine for what could be weeks. “
In January last year, she praised footballer Jonathan Walters for his graphic account of his colonoscopy to raise awareness of bowel cancer.
“I was so pleased because colonoscopies are so important. And men are not good at coming forward for something like this. So good for him, “she told the Mirror.
” Whenever I’ve had a colonoscopy, I’ve filmed it and put it on YouTube. The last one was viewed a million times. “
Lynn leaves behind husband John, son Nick, and daughter-in-law Lise.
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