Jeremy Clarkson Reveals ‘Horrific Mistake’ Led to Hospitalisation at End of Clarkson’s Farm Season
Jeremy Clarkson has spoken about the closing scenes of Clarkson’s Farm, which saw him hospitalised amid his prostate cancer diagnosis.
The presenter, 66, announced that he had a ‘particularly aggressive’ form of the disease in the final episodes of the fifth series of Clarkson’s Farm, which premiered late on Monday night.
He had initially warned his fans on social media that the final two episodes would be ‘a difficult watch’ as the show veered away from its usual ‘bucolic and charming and cheerful’ tone, as he put it – but didn’t say why.
However, he was then also able to confirm on his show that it had been caught early, and that he had undergone surgery to remove part of his prostate.
He has now confirmed that he is in remission and explained how his treatment went ‘awry’, as he said in the show’s final moments.
Speaking to The Times, Clarkson explained that he had resumed taking his medication for his prior cardiac issues when he was not supposed to.
‘That was horrific and it was all my own fault,’ said Clarkson in an interview with the publication.
‘I’d been on drugs for heart issues and I had to come off them during the cancer treatment. Two or three weeks after the cancer operation, I thought I’d better put myself back on those blood thinners. Big mistake, huge.’
The former Grand Tour presenter said the error resulted in ‘a very big emergency in the middle of the night’.
He described the resultant procedure as ‘spectacularly painful’, adding: ‘It was beyond Defcon 1 on the pain scale.’
The TV star declared himself ‘the world’s luckiest man’ after a follow-up Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test two months ago showed no indication of cancer, meaning he is in remission.
He added: ‘It was an aggressive type of cancer. It could have spread, it could have gone into the pancreas, it could have gone anywhere, and that would have been trouble.
‘This is why I have to say to everybody who’s reading this, please, please, please go and get checked. It’s not uncomfortable, it’s not undignified. And it’s a no-brainer.
‘I did, and that’s why I’m sitting here talking to you 11 months down the line. I’ve seen so many people die of cancer. It doesn’t bear thinking about what it must be like to live knowing that an illness is going to kill you.’
On Saturday, he returned to social media, thanking fans ‘for all the kind messages’ while also encouraging anyone with concerns to get themselves checked out. He quipped: ‘The more observant among will have noticed I’m not dead. I’m not just not dead, I’m perfectly fine.’
The good news has continued, with the former Top Gear star confirming that there is more Clarkson’s Farm on the way.
‘So, a bit of a year,’ Clarkson began in an Instagram video also shared to Prime Video UK’s account, as he walked onscreen in front of one of his tractors. ‘But I am delighted to tell you that season 6 of Clarkson’s Farm is currently being filmed.’
‘It’s in production. And that’s particularly good news for me because, well, if you know, you know, and if you don’t know, you need to watch season five,’ he added, before walking away.
Fans celebrated the news in the comments section, with Leanne posting: ‘So glad we get another series and so glad that Jeremy is okay.’
‘I’ve been watching Jeremy since I was a kid, I’m so happy that I get to keep watching him,’ responded Catherine Long, while another fan added: ‘How happy I am for a bloke I’ve never met, to be free of cancer. You’re a national treasure Jeremy.’
‘Looking forward to season 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,’ joked eager fan Jordan Hall.
The Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? host – who still needs regular blood tests and monitoring, and is remaining positive and hopeful the cancer will not return – moved viewers to tears when he shared his diagnosis in the final two episodes of Clarkson’s Farm’s latest series.