Television presenter Jeremy Clarkson has confirmed that he is in remission from prostate cancer, following a PSA test two months ago that showed no sign of the disease. The 66-year-old, best known for hosting Clarkson's Farm and formerly Top Gear, revealed his diagnosis in the latest episodes of the fifth season of his farming series, where he disclosed he had been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer that was caught early.
Meeting with David Cameron and Others
Speaking to The Times, Clarkson said he had met with former prime minister Lord David Cameron to discuss their prostate cancer diagnoses, along with other well-known figures such as food writer Giles Coren. He explained that the group meets for lunch regularly to compare notes on their Gleason scores, Stockholm scores, and PSA scores. Clarkson noted the irony of people seeing them together and wondering what they have in common.
Clarkson urged others to get checked, saying: "This is why I have to say to everybody who's reading this, please, please, please go and get checked. It's not uncomfortable, it's not undignified, and it's a no-brainer. I did, and that's why I'm sitting here talking to you 11 months down the line." He added that he had seen many people die of cancer and praised the bravery of those like former Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy, who continued despite inoperable cancer.
Complications During Treatment
In the series finale, Clarkson spoke from a hospital bed about complications he suffered during treatment. He told The Times that the complications were triggered by restarting a course of medication for his pre-existing vascular and cardiac conditions without consulting his doctor. He said: "That was horrific and it was all my own fault. I'd been on drugs for heart issues and I had to come off them during the cancer treatment. Two or three weeks after the cancer operation, I thought I'd better put myself back on those blood thinners. Big mistake, huge." This led to a medical emergency in the middle of the night requiring further treatment.
Previous Health Issues
The diagnosis came nearly two years after Clarkson underwent a cardiac procedure in which two stents were fitted to improve blood flow to his heart. Following that operation, his doctor advised him to stop working and take up golf instead, as he wrote in a column for The Sun. Clarkson also previously gave up smoking after contracting pneumonia while on holiday in Spain.
Clarkson's Farm and Advocacy
Clarkson's Farm follows the television personality and his team as they manage Diddly Squat Farm near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. Since taking over the farm in 2019 and launching the popular reality series, Clarkson has become an outspoken advocate for farmers. In November 2024, he attended a demonstration in London against the government's plans to introduce inheritance tax on farmland. The sixth series of the programme is scheduled to broadcast in 2027.
