Channel 4 news legend Jon Snow retired in 2021 after 32 years at the broadcaster, but he returns to screens this weekend for a deeply personal documentary. Jon Snow: A Last Big Story airs on Saturday, June 20, at 8pm on Channel 4, following the 78-year-old and his wife, Dr Precious Lunga, as they navigate his Alzheimer's diagnosis, received in 2023.
Early Career and Family Life
Snow began his broadcasting career in the early 1970s on LBC Radio. He joined ITN in 1976 and moved to Channel 4 News in 1989, where he remained for 32 years. Away from the spotlight, Snow became a father for the first time at 73 when he and his wife, 27 years his junior, welcomed son Tafara via surrogate in 2021. Snow also has two adult children from a previous relationship.
Speaking about late fatherhood, Snow told Saga Exceptional: "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." He added: "Is being a grandad different to being a dad? Not really. In the end, it's all love, isn't it?"
Alzheimer's Battle
Snow revealed he has been battling Alzheimer's for four years. His wife told the Daily Mail that 10 months after his retirement, he woke up and said he was late for work. Initially reluctant to see a doctor, a brain scan eventually confirmed the disease.
In the documentary, Snow reflects: "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." He added: "There are moments when it pops up, but it's not an all-day, every-day condition, and that's what I cling onto."
The film offers a candid look at Snow's life, his love for his family, and his determination to keep learning despite his diagnosis.
