If you’ve spent any time watching regional news in the North East or the Borders, you definitely know the face. Helen Ford has been a staple of ITV News Tyne Tees for what feels like forever—three decades, to be exact. But lately, people have been hitting up search engines asking a pretty blunt question: is Helen Ford still alive?
It's one of those weird things that happens when a public figure isn't on screen for a few days, or when a name match pops up in the "obituaries" section of a newspaper. Honestly, it’s usually just a case of mistaken identity or a quiet week at the studio.
To give you the short answer right away: Yes, Helen Ford is very much alive. In fact, she is still actively working as a journalist and broadcaster. If you tuned into ITV News recently, you might have caught her reporting on health crises or local inquests. Just this month, in January 2026, she’s been on the ground covering sensitive stories like the Peter Coates inquest in Redcar. She isn't just "around"; she's still right in the thick of regional journalism.
Why Do People Keep Asking If Helen Ford Is Still Alive?
The internet is a strange place. Sometimes a rumor starts because of a "death hoax," but more often, it’s because of a name collision. There are actually several famous (and non-famous) Helen Fords, and a few of them have indeed passed away, which leads to a lot of confusion for fans of the ITV presenter.
- The Broadway Legend: There was a very famous Helen Ford who was a massive star on Broadway back in the 1920s. She lived a long life but passed away in 1982. When people search "Helen Ford death," her Wikipedia page often pops up first.
- The Tragic Lottery Winner: You might have seen headlines about a Helen Ford who won £500,000 on the lottery and sadly died in a tragic accident in 2015. This was a heartbreaking story from Wales, but it has nothing to do with the journalist.
- Recent Obituaries: Just this year, in early 2025 and 2026, there have been obituary notices for local women named Helen Ford in places like North Carolina and Ontario.
Basically, if you see a "Helen Ford Obituary" online, it’s almost certainly not the one you’re thinking of from the TV. Our Helen Ford—the health correspondent—is still doing her thing.
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A Career That Spans Decades
It’s hard to overstate how much of a fixture she is in North East broadcasting. Helen has been with ITV for over 30 years. That is a lifetime in the media industry. Most people jump ship to national news or PR after five years, but she’s stayed loyal to the region.
She’s handled everything. From the grim days of the COVID-19 pandemic—where she was often the one translating complex health data into something we could actually understand—to lighter human interest stories. She doesn't just read a teleprompter; she’s a Health Correspondent, which means she actually knows the ins and outs of the NHS and the local care systems.
Lately, she’s been leaning heavily into "Insight" pieces. These are the longer, more emotional segments. Last year, she did a pretty moving piece inside a critical care ward in Northumberland. It wasn't just a 30-second soundbite; it was a deep look at how staff and patients cope when lives are literally hanging in the balance.
What Is She Doing Now in 2026?
If you're looking for her current status, you don't have to look far. She is still the Health Correspondent for ITV News Tyne Tees.
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She also spends a lot of time working on diversity and inclusion. She actually runs a panel for ITV that focuses on making sure the voices we hear on the news actually represent the people living in the North East. It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes work that doesn't get you a lot of "fame" but makes the news much better.
She also does a fair bit of public speaking. She’s been known to visit universities to talk to aspiring journalists about "Pictures, people, and places." It's kinda cool to see someone with that much experience still caring about the next generation of reporters.
Staying Updated Without the Rumors
If you ever feel like you haven't seen her in a while and start to wonder, the best place to check is the ITV News "Meet the Team" page or her social media. She’s usually pretty active on Twitter (X), sharing her latest reports.
Broadcasting schedules are also just weird. Sometimes a reporter will spend two weeks working on a single big documentary or "special report" and won't appear on the nightly bulletin during that time. That doesn't mean they've retired or passed away; it usually just means they’re busy editing in a dark room somewhere.
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How to Verify Celebrity Status Fast
Next time you hear a rumor or see a confusing headline, here’s how you can tell the truth:
- Check the Date: Many "breaking news" stories about deaths are actually old articles from five years ago being reshared by bots.
- Look for the Blue Check: Or whatever the current verification equivalent is. If the official ITV News account hasn't said anything, it’s probably fake.
- The Wikipedia "Date of Death" Trap: Always check which "Helen Ford" the page is about. If it says she was a silent film star, it’s not the TV presenter.
- Local News Sources: For regional figures like Helen, the local paper (like the Sunderland Echo or The Northern Echo) would be the first to report any major life events.
Honestly, Helen Ford is a bit of a local legend. She’s survived the shift from traditional TV to the digital era of ITVX and social media reporting without losing her credibility. It’s easy to see why people get worried when they don’t see her—she’s been a familiar voice in our living rooms for a generation.
So, if you were worried about the status of your favorite health reporter, take a breath. She’s fine, she’s working, and she’s probably out there right now chasing a story about hospital wait times or medical breakthroughs.
Your next move? If you want to see her latest work, head over to the ITV News Tyne Tees website and search for her name. You’ll find her most recent "Insight" reports there, which give a much better look at her journalism than a 2-minute news segment ever could. You can also follow her on social media to see real-time updates from the field.