Jeremy Clarkson, 66, has stated he will not strictly follow a healthy diet after receiving an all-clear from aggressive prostate cancer. The television personality revealed he had been diagnosed with the illness in mid-June, sharing the news during the fifth season of his show, Clarkson's Farm.
Clarkson told The Times that while he could adopt a healthier lifestyle, including becoming a herbivore and increasing his daily steps, he believes there must be enjoyment in life. "And not drinking and not eating a pork chop means there is less joy in life. And I haven't worked my a[--]] off for 40 years to have no joy in my old age. So I'm having joy in my old age," he said. Despite this stance, Clarkson has begun walking more and incorporating more vegetarian meals into his diet, motivated by a desire to live longer and see his grandchildren grow up.
He underwent a minimally invasive procedure called HIFU (high-frequency focused ultrasound) for his cancer. Clarkson described the experience of telling his children about his diagnosis as "not nice" but noted that he was able to return to his farm work shortly after the procedure. He also mentioned that he had been hospitalized after restarting heart medication without consulting his doctor, an incident he attributed to his own fault.
Clarkson's diagnosis was revealed in the final episodes of Clarkson's Farm season five, where he emotionally shared the news with his co-stars Charlie and Kaleb Cooper. He explained that the cancer was detected early and was aggressive, requiring him to take time off during the farm's harvest.
In related news, Clarkson, along with other public figures including Sir Stephen Fry, has called on the new UK health secretary to advocate for changes in the approach to prostate cancer and to reverse restrictions on screening. This appeal follows a decision by the UK National Screening Committee to limit prostate cancer screening to specific high-risk groups. Prostate cancer is a prevalent cancer among men in Britain, with a significant number of cases and deaths annually, often due to late diagnosis.
Clarkson has two grandchildren, Arlo, aged three, and Xanthe, 18 months, through his daughter Emily and her husband Alex Andrew.