Jeremy Clarkson Reveals Aggressive Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Jeremy Clarkson, the former host of Top Gear, has shared the news that he has been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer. The 66-year-old revealed this in the final episodes of his show, Clarkson’s Farm, as he sat down to chat with Kaleb Cooper and Charlie Ireland, who help manage his Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds.
During an unrelated conversation about the farm’s harvest, Clarkson, visibly emotional, dropped the news. “I’ve got cancer,” he said. Kaleb, clearly shocked, replied, “No, you haven’t. Where?”
Clarkson continued: “Where it is, is of no concern of anybody. I’ve known since May.” He explained that he had a medical back in May, during which he disappeared for a few days and underwent a biopsy. “It is cancer and it’s aggressive, but it’s really early so the treatment will be, you know…”
He added, “I was praying we could get the harvest done and then I could go and get some treatment but it’s going to be slap bang in the middle.” Kaleb, wiping away tears, said, “Look after yourself, you go and do… if you need anything just ring.”
Later in the show, father-of-three Clarkson spoke about how the year had been challenging while talking to Kaleb, his girlfriend Lisa, and two other employees. “We started the year and I had coronary heart disease and ended it with me with cancer,” he explained.
He continued: “We can dwell as much as we like on all the bad things that have happened on the farm, but I think it’s better now, at the end of the year, to focus on things that have happened that are good.”
Kaleb asked, “When will we know the treatments worked?” Clarkson replied, “I don’t know, I’ve got a blood test today and then we’ll know.” He later revealed to Kaleb he had “10 per cent” of his prostate removed via ultrasound. “The prostate, 10 per cent of it’s dead,” he said. “The 10 per cent where the cancer is.”
The episode then cut to Clarkson sitting in a hospital bed. “So we started season five with me in a hospital bed and we are at the end of season five and I’m back in a hospital bed,” he said, looking at the camera. “Some of the treatment has gone awry, let’s say, I’m going to be here for a little while. I’m nil by mouth, I don’t know what’s going to happen. What I wanted to say was if this is all successful I’ll see you for season six, and if it isn’t I won’t. Take care everyone.”
Before the episodes aired, Clarkson warned his fans that the episodes would be a “hard watch,” in an Instagram video. “Ordinarily, we try to keep the show light and cheerful, but the final two episodes, which drop tonight, are none of those things,” he said. “They’re a difficult watch,” he said, with tears in his eyes. “They’re really, really difficult.”
Clarkson has not provided a health update following the release of the episode, but he’s currently filming a new series of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, which he hosts. According to multiple outlets, a sixth season of Clarkson’s Farm has also been ordered by Prime Video.
