Veteran broadcaster Jon Snow has opened up about life after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, insisting he is "not scared" of the condition in a new film that poignantly shows the disease's impact on one of television's sharpest minds.
Jon Snow's Brave Words
The former Channel 4 newsreader, 78, is the subject of the documentary Jon Snow: A Last Big Story, which follows him as he navigates life with Alzheimer's while investigating a mining disaster in Zambia. As the film concludes, Snow states: "I don't think I am scared actually. You know, there's so many different degrees of condition, and it's difficult to know where you are in that journey. For myself, I don't believe I am particularly far on in the journey, there's no point allowing it to fossilize what you're doing. You've got to go on, and that's what I'm trying to do."
Memory Challenges Revealed
Despite Snow's brave words, the documentary highlights the significant impact Alzheimer's has on his memory. During tests with his wife, Dr. Precious Lunga, he cannot recall the current month or day of the week. When asked to memorize three words, he fails to remember any, even with clues from the doctor. However, he remains sharp when discussing environmental issues in Zambia. While interviewing a local about the crisis, he repeatedly asks the question "how many people have been impacted?" at least five times, leading to puzzled looks. He also forgets why cameras are following him, only to be reminded that a film is being made about him.
Wife's Perspective
Dr. Lunga shares: "Sometimes he'll say, 'why is no one talking about this?' It must affect so many people. Why is there silence at the same time? He doesn't want to be pigeonholed, because people make assumptions that, oh, this person's got a neurological condition, and then take away, I guess, too soon your freedoms to travel to, for example, to travel to Zambia, and cover a story. So when the opportunity of this documentary, it really started off as a way of John accepting that he has it of managing it or dealing this because the anger was just going to eat him up."
Everyday Struggles
The film juxtaposes present-day footage of Snow struggling to shop for a simple list of items with an old news story he reported on a VR headset simulating the difficulty of grocery shopping with Alzheimer's. In the current footage, he asks "What's going on?" with an empty basket before being reminded of his task.
Reflections on Mortality
Opening the documentary, Snow reflects on his life: "A strange old business life. I had a good innings of it. It's understandable, you can be worried about death, but to be worried about growing older is irrelevant. It's absurd. How old is older? You're going to die tomorrow or the next day. Stop worrying and get on with it."
Support and Advocacy
Last week, Snow released a statement saying he is "truly bowled over" by the outpouring of support since revealing his diagnosis. He is backing a campaign urging the government to reform treatment, support, and care for those living with dementia and their families. Reflecting on the well-wishes, he told the Alzheimer's Society: "I'm truly bowled over by the outpouring of support and affection since revealing my dementia diagnosis."
Jon Snow: A Last Big Story will air on Channel 4 on Saturday, June 20, at 8pm.
