Jon Snow, the legendary broadcaster, shocked the nation earlier this month when he went public with his Alzheimer's diagnosis, one of the most common forms of dementia and a leading cause of death in the UK. Since then, the 78-year-old has received a wave of support from across the United Kingdom as he bravely shared his condition.
Following the announcement, Channel 4 announced the release of a new documentary featuring Jon, in which he investigates a story he heard while on a safari at Victoria Falls, located on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The documentary will also provide the public with insight into how Alzheimer's affects Jon and his wife, neurologist Dr. Precious Lunga, whom he married in 2010. The couple had a son together through surrogacy in March 2021.
Even before the film, Jon had continued to work after leaving Channel 4 News in 2021 following 32 years on the programme. Two years after his exit and in the same year as his diagnosis, he wrote an article in Saga Magazine about his hopes for the future. Jon wrote: "Leaving my job at Channel 4 News in 2021 was hard. For 32 years, the adrenaline of presenting a nightly news show was like a drug... But was I ready to go? Not really."
He added: "Not that I consider myself retired. The pace is different, but I'm still actively a journalist – with a book and three documentaries in the can, including How to Live to 100, about parts of the world where people live to extraordinarily old age. Hopefully, I've learned something here about, for example, minimising stress and maximising family life. With luck, I plan to stay well, live long and carry on working to the grave."
Jon's words from three years ago have taken on new significance given his recent Alzheimer's diagnosis. Jon has expressed hope that his experience will prove that a dementia diagnosis does not mean a person should be written off for the rest of their life. Speaking about the upcoming Channel 4 film, Jon explained: "At the beginning I wanted to hide it, there's so much prejudice. Any sort of hint of mental decay, you're sort of dead. There are moments when it pops up but it's not an all day, every day condition, and that's what I cling onto. I've witnessed a great deal, I hope I've learned something – but I've still got a huge amount to learn. We all have. There's still more to do."
Jon and Precious have been supported by Michelle Dyson, CEO of Alzheimer's Society. In a statement, she said: "Despite being the UK's biggest killer, dementia is still not treated with the same urgency as other major health conditions like cancer. Alongside his wife Precious, Jon is shining a light on the need for faster, fairer access to diagnosis. An early diagnosis can unlock vital support, help families plan ahead and potentially open the door to participation in clinical trials. Yet too many people across the country are still waiting far too long for a diagnosis."
Jon Snow: A Last Big Story will air today (Saturday, June 20) at 8pm on Channel 4.
