The 'Sir Chris Hoy effect' is being credited with a surge in men checking their risk of prostate cancer, following a series of high-profile public figures sharing their personal experiences with the disease.
Prostate Cancer UK said there has been a rush of men using its 30-second online risk checker after the recent wave of celebrity diagnoses. In late 2024, six-times Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy revealed his prostate cancer was stage 4 and terminal, and has since been among the leading voices calling for more screening of men in at-risk groups.
Celebrity diagnoses drive surge
Jeremy Clarkson, John Barnes and Sir Tony Robinson have also shared prostate cancer diagnoses, while Chris Kamara last month told of his health scare after blood tests showed a slightly raised PSA level.
New figures from the charity highlighted that 280,000 men checked their risk in the two months after Sir Chris Hoy's diagnosis. Prostate Cancer UK said that nearly 50,880 men completed its online risk checker in the week after Jeremy Clarkson revealed his diagnosis in June, up from 8,425 men the previous week.
Clarkson urges men to check risk
Mr Clarkson said: "I feel incredibly lucky that my cancer was caught early. It's why I'm still here today, feeling fine and looking forward to seeing my grandchildren grow up. I've always said that if my story gets even one bloke to stop ignoring the issue and do something about it, then it's been worthwhile. To hear that actually tens of thousands of men have already taken the risk checker is something to be hugely proud of. But there's still plenty more to do. So, I'll keep saying it: if you're a man, check your risk. It only takes a couple of minutes and it could save your life."
Meanwhile, 22,562 men took the risk checker the day after former PM Lord David Cameron announced he had been treated for prostate cancer in November 2025, up from 2,175 the previous Monday. Prostate Cancer UK said that since its online risk checker was launched in 2020, it had been completed by more than five million men.
Charity calls for screening programme
Amy Rylance, director of health services, equity and improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: "Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, but too many men are still being diagnosed by chance and, sadly, often too late for a cure. Our risk checker helps men navigate this complex disease, empowering men with a clear way to understand their risk and their choices. We hear from so many men who say a celebrity diagnosis, like Jeremy Clarkson or Lord Cameron's, inspired them to check their risk and in some cases saved their life.
"We're extremely grateful to everyone who has publicly shared their experiences of prostate cancer, shining a light onto this disease that is much easier to treat when found earlier, and kickstarting many lifesaving conversations. We know men need a safe and effective screening programme. Prostate Cancer UK's Transform trial will get us the evidence we need to make this a reality and give every man the chance for an early diagnosis. Until then, public figures telling their stories and inspiring men to check their risk are playing an important role in helping men and loved ones across the country, and we thank them for their vital work."
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with one in eight expected to develop it within their lifetimes. The risk is double among black men, and is highest in men aged over 50. Symptoms include difficulty passing urine or needing to go to the toilet more frequently, especially at night.
If you are over 50, or over 45 if you are Black or have a family history of the disease, you can arrange a PSA blood test by booking an appointment with your GP. This measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen, a protein made by the prostate gland, in a sample of your blood. Targeted prostate cancer screening every two years is currently available for men aged 45 to 61 who have the high-risk BRCA2 gene, though campaigners are calling for mass testing for all men.
