Jeremy Clarkson has revealed he was diagnosed with cancer in scenes from the fifth season finale of Clarkson's Farm. 'I've got cancer,' Clarkson told farm manager Kaleb Cooper and land agent Charlie Ireland, describing the disease as 'aggressive'.
The 66-year-old went on to say he would be out of action 'for a while' and finished the episode from a hospital bed amid treatment. 'We started season five with me in a hospital bed and here we are at the end of season five and I'm back in a hospital bed,' he said, expressing hopes he would be back fighting fit for season six.
Clarkson's History of Health Issues
Clarkson has been open about his health issues in recent years, both via the Amazon Prime show and the TV presenter's regular columns. Last year, he was hospitalised just hours after publishing a column criticising the NHS, describing the institution as a 'creaking old monster'. He did not reveal why he needed treatment ('that's none of your business'), but the irony of the timing was not lost on him. He described his treatment as 'Defcon 1 painful', noting that it required an overnight stay. The Grand Tour star went on to say he 'genuinely couldn't find anything to moan about' when it came to his time in hospital, as he praised the 'kind' staff.
Heart Procedure in 2024
His cancer diagnosis also comes almost two years after he underwent a heart procedure to be fitted with two stents to improve blood flow to the heart. Clarkson described being 'days from death' in 2024, after he experienced severe cardiac symptoms, which he initially tried to brush off. It was only after feeling pins and needles in his left arm that he decided to call an ambulance. One artery was completely blocked and another was nearly closed, which required an angioplasty. This involved inserting a wire through his wrist to explore the damage in his arteries. Clarkson was then fitted with a stent during a two-hour procedure to keep the artery open. A longtime smoker, Clarkson previously quit after contracting pneumonia on holiday in Spain.
Injuries from Top Gear
Of the original Top Gear trio, it was Richard Hammond who suffered the most concerning injuries while filming, after crashing a jet-powered dragster while going over 300mph. The show's daredevil stunts resulted in both James May and Clarkson getting into scrapes as well. Clarkson's worst came in 2008, when he was tasked with driving a truck into a brick wall. The collision resulted in a burst ankle, bruising across his body and his 'head being dislodged from [his] spine'. At the time, he told The Sun: 'I emerged from my high-speed head-on impact in what can only be described as screaming agony. I couldn't walk. I couldn't talk. I couldn't think.' In a statement at the time, a Top Gear spokesperson noted he made a full recovery, adding: 'Before the stunt was carried out a full health and safety assessment was carried out.' During a decade-plus time on Top Gear, Clarkson also broke his thumb and slipped two discs in his spine in two separate incidents.
Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Clarkson shared that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He has since undergone an operation to remove 10 per cent of his prostate, just eight months after he underwent heart surgery.
In recent months, the presenter-turned-farmer has been filming scenes for the upcoming series of Clarkson's Farm, which he confirmed via his column when he said the cameras had been sent away during stormy weather. Planning documents submitted to West Oxfordshire District Council also stated that season six is on the way and could air in the summer of 2027. Clarkson was in the audience to celebrate Hawkstone Farmers Choir's win on Britain's Got Talent, during which he was visibly emotional.
Clarkson's Farm is available to stream on Prime Video.
