Richard Morecroft: key obituary facts
Is Richard Morecroft dead? Yes. Richard Morecroft died on October 6, 2026, at age 70.
Cause of death: Richard Morecroft's cause of death was reported as Cancer.
What was Richard Morecroft known for?
He was an Australian television presenter.
More about Richard Morecroft
Born: 20 January 1956.
Place of birth: Market Harborough.
Gender: male.
Nationality: Australia.
Occupations: Radio announcer, television newsreader, host.
Years active: 1981−2026.
Known for: Host of Behind the News; ABC News NSW bulletin; Letters and Numbers.
Richard Morecroft, Australian radio announcer, ABC News newsreader and television presenter, died of cancer on October 6, 2026, aged 70.
Born in Market Harborough, England, he moved with his family to Adelaide in 1966. He studied English and Drama at the University of Adelaide, where involvement with the university radio station led him to audition for the ABC before completing his degree.
Hired as a radio announcer, Morecroft later moved into television, presenting the ABC News SA bulletin before taking over the nightly ABC News NSW bulletin in 1983. He remained its host until 2002, becoming a familiar presence in the state’s evening news. Morecroft also presented Behind the News and, from 2010 to 2012, hosted the quiz show Letters and Numbers. His work spanned radio, news and entertainment television, while conservation was also among his interests. His career at the ABC began with broadcasting and developed into a long-running role at the centre of the network’s New South Wales news coverage. Later, Letters and Numbers brought him to a new audience as host of a television quiz show, extending a career that had moved between newsreading and presenting.