Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has revealed he’s been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer.
The 66-year-old shared the news in the final episodes of his series Clarkson’s Farm, as he sat down to chat with Kaleb Cooper and Charlie Ireland who help run his Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds with him.
Jeremy Clarkson emotionally revealed he has cancer on an episode of Clarkson’s Farm. Amazon
“I’ve got cancer,” a visibly emotional Clarkson dropped during an unrelated conversation about the farm’s harvest.
Kaleb, clearly shocked, replied, “No, you haven’t. Where?”
Jeremy continued: “Where it is, is of no concern of anybody. I’ve known since May.”
“I had a medical, you remember, back in May? I disappeared off the other week and I had a biopsy and it is cancer and it’s aggressive, but it’s really early so the treatment will be, you know…
“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.”
Clarkson added he has known since May. Amazon
Kaleb asked, “When will we know the treatments worked?”
“I don’t know, I’ve got a blood test today and then we’ll know,” he replied.
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.”
His colleague Kaleb wiped away tears as he heard the news. Amazon
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.”
Later in the show, Clarkson spoke about how the year had been challenging. Getty
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.
