Jeremy Clarkson has disclosed that he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer last summer and underwent an operation to remove 10% of his prostate. This health scare came just eight months after he had heart surgery for blocked coronary arteries.
Clarkson's revelation on Clarkson's Farm
In the final two episodes of the fifth series of his Prime Video documentary, Clarkson's Farm, the 66-year-old presenter informed his farm manager, Kaleb Cooper, and land agent, Charlie Ireland, of his diagnosis. The scenes, filmed last year and released recently, show the former Top Gear host stating, 'I've got cancer.' He elaborated, 'I had a medical, remember, back in May? I disappeared off the other week and I had a biopsy and it is cancer, and it's aggressive.'
Clarkson admitted he 'wasn't thrilled' to receive the diagnosis but emphasized that it was caught at a 'really early stage.' He added, 'If I hadn't have got myself checked out and they hadn't caught the problem early, this could well have been my last harvest. It's only because they did catch it early, there's every hope that I'll be harvesting this farm for many, many years to come.'
Details of the diagnosis and treatment
When Cooper asked what type of cancer it was, Clarkson initially replied, 'Where it is, is of no concern to anybody.' However, in later scenes after a procedure, he revealed it was in his prostate. 'The prostate, 10% of it's dead,' he said. 'The 10% where the cancer is.' At the end of the series, he is shown in a hospital bed, referencing his earlier heart operation: 'So we started season five in a hospital bed and here we are at the end of season five, I'm back in a hospital bed. Some of the treatment has gone awry, let's say. I'll probably be here for a little while.'
He addressed viewers directly, saying, '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.'
Social media warning and emotional message
On Tuesday evening, Clarkson warned fans on social media that there was 'sombre news' regarding Clarkson's Farm. 'Ordinarily we try to keep the show bucolic and charming and cheerful. But the final two episodes which drop in the middle of the night tonight are none of those things, really – they're a difficult watch.' He sounded emotional as he added, 'They're really, really difficult.'
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, accounting for 28% of all new male cancer cases, according to Cancer Research UK.
Previous advocacy for prostate checks
Last June, Clarkson urged men to get prostate checkups, stating, 'I've had too many friends go down with prostate cancer, and all it takes to get on top of the situation early is a moment or two of being a bit cross-eyed. You get the all-clear and the doc goes home happy. What's not to like?' There is no national NHS screening programme for prostate cancer, but men aged 50 or over – and those aged 45 or older with a strong family history or of Black or African-Caribbean ethnicity – can request a PSA blood test from their GP.
