BBC Scotland presenter Nick Sheridan dies aged 32

The former RTÉ  and STV News personality died after a short illness it was announced today.

Nick Sheridan has died ‘after a short illness’ the BBC Scotland Press Office announced this morning. The Daily Mail report that he ‘was on a run when he is said to have suddenly collapsed after suffering a suspected aneurysm for the second time, after previously collapsing and going to hospital last week.’ Nick was working for both BBC Scotland on television and radio as recently as last week.

Originally from Wexford in Ireland, Sheridan graduated with a degree in Journalism from Dublin City University in 2010. He began his media career in radio before switching to behind the scenes with Ireland’s TV3 as a researcher in 2012.

He joined RTÉ in 2014 and presented RTE News2day, the Irish version of Newsround aimed at a youth audience. In 2016 he moved over to the foreign affairs newsdesk at RTE.

STV News, 2017

After three years with RTÉ he joined Scotland’s commercial television company STV, reading the news on STV and STV2, the latter of which led to him making the headlines himself when he got into a fit of giggles over a story about a drunken rampage by nude male pensioner running amok in a luxury hotel.

Since 2018 Nick has been a regular face on the Beeb in Scotland hosting programming on BBC One Scotland, Radio Scotland and the BBC Scotland Channel as a correspondent and presenter. He was one of a rotation of presenters on programmes such as Reporting Scotland, The Nine, Seven Days and on radio Good Morning Scotland.

He first joined BBC Scotland as a researcher and since 2020 became a regular freelance presenter for the BBC as he moved into new lines of work including writing books for young children, three have been released, ‘Breaking News’ (2021), ‘The Case of the Phantom Treasure’ (2022) and ‘The Case of the Runaway Brain’ (2023). A fourth book is due to be released this year, ‘A Case of the Poisonous Pigs‘.

Nick had also been working with Pink Elephant Communications, delivering media courses, presentation skills training, and communications skills training as well as becoming a lecturer for the University of the West of Scotland teaching broadcast production and journalism.

BBC Reporting Scotland, 2023

BBC Scotland’s Head of news Gary Smith paid tribute in a statement:

“We are devistated to hear the news our colleague and friend, Nick Sheridan, has died.

“Nick has been a wonderful colleague. He was a hugely talented journalist, presenter and author – and one of those rare people who light up the lives of everyone around them. Funny, clever, kind. A lovely man. Our hearts go out to his parents, his partner and to all his family and friends.”

Many other tributes have poured in on social media from crew and personalities across the networks Nick worked for as well as from politicians in Scotland. “He will be greatly missed, many of us in this chamber will have been questioned by Nick, quite robustly no doubt,” said Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf at the Scottish Parliament. Former Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon posted: ‘So terribly sad to read this. It is truly awful. Nick was young, talented, vivacious, and full of potential. What a horrible, senseless loss. My thoughts are with his family, colleagues and many friends.’

Nick Sheridan

While Glória LGBT+ Choir shared, “We have just heard the sad news that former Glória LGBT+ Choir Bass Nick Sheridan, of Wexford passed away today after a short illness, at the young age of 32. He was such a great guy, lots of fun, and very talented.”

“Nick was a hugely energetic, empathetic and engaging broadcaster His star rose quickly, shone brightly and – I felt sure – would light up our lives for decades to come I am so sorry we have lost this brilliant young man“ said Glenn Campbell BBC Scotland News Political Editor.

And Seven Days co-presenter Fiona Stalker added, “There are no words. He was so very loved. I am so thankful for every minute with him. The very best.”