Jon Snow is set to return to Channel 4 for a feature-length documentary titled Jon Snow: A Last Big Story. The veteran news anchor has been battling Alzheimer's for the past four years.
Early Career and Life
Journalist Jon Snow launched his broadcasting career in the early 1970s, presenting on LBC Radio. He joined ITN three years later, and in 1989, he transferred to Channel 4 News, where he remained a fixture for 32 years before announcing his retirement in 2021. This weekend, on June 20, Channel 4 viewers will see him on screen once more as he presents a new feature-length documentary.
Documentary Details
The documentary follows the 78-year-old and his wife, Dr Precious Lunga, as they grapple with Jon's Alzheimer's diagnosis, which he received in 2023. The film explores his life away from the spotlight ahead of his final major documentary.
Becoming a Father in His 70s
Jon initially became a father with his previous partner of 35 years, Madeleine Colvin. Although those children are now well into adulthood, Jon became a dad again at 73 with his wife, who is 27 years his junior. They welcomed a boy named Tafara via surrogate in 2021. Jon explained that his wife 'very much wanted and deserved a baby'.
Speaking about becoming a father at 73, he told the Saga Exceptional publication: 'When he was born, life felt complete. I'm at complete ease with late fatherhood. I don't feel I'll drop him; I don't feel exhausted. I haven't found age relevant to my relationship with my son or grandsons. Is being a grandad different to being a dad? Not really. In the end, it's all love, isn't it?'
Alzheimer's Battle
Recently, Jon disclosed that he had been living with Alzheimer's for the past four years. Speaking with the Daily Mail, his wife revealed that 10 months after he left Channel 4, he woke up and told her he was late for work. Initially, the veteran presenter was hesitant to consult a doctor, maintaining there was nothing wrong. However, a brain scan revealed that Jon had Alzheimer's disease.
Addressing his diagnosis in the forthcoming Channel 4 film, Jon said: '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.'
Broadcast Information
Jon Snow: A Last Big Story airs on Channel 4 on Saturday, June 20 at 8pm.
