Jeremy Clarkson has revealed he has been diagnosed with cancer in the final two episodes of Clarkson's Farm, which premiered on Prime Video on Wednesday. During the emotional finale, the 66-year-old reflected on what he describes as one of the toughest years of his life, after first undergoing emergency heart surgery before later receiving an “aggressive” cancer diagnosis. The former Top Gear presenter told viewers his cancer was caught at an “early stage”, but the news marks the latest in a string of serious health scares.
Hospitalised with pneumonia
Clarkson's first major health scare came in 2017 when he contracted pneumonia while on holiday in Mallorca. Writing in his Sunday Times column at the time, he revealed he had spent “three nights spasming in my bed” before finally seeking medical attention. Doctors admitted him to hospital immediately, warning the presenter that delaying treatment could have proved fatal. “If you don't do as I say, you will die,” one doctor told him. Clarkson later described the experience as surreal, admitting it was his first prolonged stay in hospital. “I'm sure many of you will have found yourself in hospital, not having planned to be there. But for me it was a new experience,” he wrote. The illness required two months of recovery and came just weeks after The Grand Tour co-star Richard Hammond was airlifted to hospital following a high-speed crash while filming the series.
Hearing loss
Clarkson has also spoken candidly about living with hearing loss in 2024, revealing he had experienced symptoms for more than a decade before seeking treatment. The presenter decided to take action after a routine medical check-up revealed his hearing problems had significantly increased his risk of developing dementia. Writing in his column, Clarkson said doctors warned his hearing loss had “doubled” his chances of being diagnosed with the condition. He has since been fitted with what he described as a “snazzy” pair of hearing aids, which he hopes will help slow any further decline. Despite the diagnosis, Clarkson remained characteristically upbeat, joking: “It's not the end of the world, because if I do become really ill, I can always see a doctor at my local hospital.”
Heart surgery
In 2024, Clarkson underwent emergency heart surgery after what he described as a “sudden deterioration” in his health. The Prime Video star said the problems began while on holiday, when he found himself unusually breathless after a swim and struggled to climb a flight of stairs. After returning to the UK, his symptoms worsened, with Clarkson experiencing “clamminess”, a “tightness in my chest” and “pins and needles in my left arm”. Concerned by the death of former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, he decided to seek medical advice and was taken by ambulance to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital. Although tests ruled out a heart attack, further examinations revealed one of the arteries supplying blood to his heart was completely blocked, while another was close to becoming blocked. Writing in The Sunday Times, Clarkson said doctors warned he had been “days from death”. He underwent surgery to have two stents fitted to restore blood flow and later admitted the ordeal had been a wake-up call. Reflecting on the experience, he wrote: “Crikey, that was close.” Following the procedure, Clarkson joked that he would have to embrace a healthier lifestyle, saying he was “wondering what water tastes like and if it's possible to make celery interesting.”
Prostate cancer diagnosis
Clarkson revealed in June 2026 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, sharing the news in the emotional final episodes of season five of Clarkson's Farm. The broadcaster explained he had received the diagnosis following a routine medical examination and subsequent biopsy. Doctors told him the cancer was “aggressive”, but that it had been detected at a “really early” stage, significantly improving his chances of successful treatment. After undergoing surgery, viewers watched Clarkson rushed back to hospital, lying in a bed after complications from treatment. “Some of the treatment has gone awry, let's say,” he explained. “I'm going to be here for a little while. I'm nil by mouth. I don't know what's going to happen.” He ended the series with his trademark dark humour, adding: “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.” Despite his diagnosis, Clarkson has continued filming Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, while Prime Video has already commissioned a sixth series of Clarkson's Farm. Production is expected to pause to allow him time to recover from treatment. The news comes as prostate cancer remains the most common cancer in men in the UK, with around one in eight men diagnosed during their lifetime. For more information or cancer support, contact the MacMillan helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
