‘Top Gear’ star Jeremy Clarkson reveals prostate cancer diagnosis: ‘I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN’

In 2015, Clarkson suffered a terrifying cancer scare just days before he was involved in a bust-up with a Top Gear producer, which ultimately got him fired from the popular series

Published Jun 17, 2026  •  Last updated 2 hours ago  •  3 minute read

Jeremy Clarkson attends The Other Songs Live in partnership with The BRIT School at Palladium Theatre on May 19, 2026 in London, England. Photo by John Phillips /Getty Images for The Other Songs

See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source

Article content

Jeremy Clarkson is staying hopeful, despite tests discovering he had an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer.

Article content

Article content

The former Top Gear star revealed the diagnosis in the final two episodes of his Prime Video series Clarkson’s Farm, which were released on Wednesday.

Clarkson, 66, is visibly emotional in the Season 5 episodes, as he shares the news with co-stars Charlie Ireland and Kaleb Cooper, who run his Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds with him.

“I’ve got cancer,” he told his stunned co-stars, per the Daily Mail. “It’s aggressive but it’s really early.”

Clarkson told Cooper that 10% of his prostate, “where the cancer is,” is “dead.”

Staying positive

The British star kept his diagnosis — which was made in May 2024 — private for more than a year, as scenes were shown on the show of Clarkson receiving treatment in hospital.

Cooper and Ireland also became emotional, with Cooper telling Clarkson to “look after yourself” while Ireland wished him “a very, very speedy recovery.”

Article content

Article content

While carrying out the harvest in the episode, Clarkson hailed early detection and intervention as the “only reason” he has any hope.

“If I hadn’t have got myself checked out and they hadn’t caught the problem early this could well have been my last harvest,” he told the men.

“It’s only because they did catch it early there’s any hope,” he continued. “I’ll be harvesting this farm for many, many years to come.”

In a later scene, the presenter says he was given just six days notice ahead of his operation, which took place at a London hospital on Aug. 4.

Season 5 was filmed from late 2024 to September 2025.

The series follows the Grand Tour host attempting to run a 1,000-acre farm with zero agricultural experience.

Jeremy giving Charlie and Kaleb the bad news. (Prime Video) Prime Video

First cancer scare

In 2015, Clarkson suffered a terrifying cancer scare just days before he was involved in a bust-up with a Top Gear producer, which ultimately got him fired from the popular series.

“Two days before the ’fracas’ I’d been told, sternly, by my doctor that a lump on my tongue was probably cancer and that I must get it checked out immediately,” the British star wrote in his Sunday Times column.

Article content

“But I couldn’t do that. We were in the middle of a Top Gear series. And Top Gear always came first.”

Clarkson hinted at cancer reveal

Clarkson posted a video on his Instagram on Tuesday revealing that there would be some “sombre news” in upcoming episodes of Clarkson’s Farm.

“Ordinarily we try to keep the show bucolic and charming and cheerful, but the final two episodes which drop in the middle of the night tonight are none of those things,” he said.

“They’re a difficult watch. They’re really, really difficult,” he added.

Read More

1. 

   Heart singer Ann Wilson opens up on cancer diagnosis

2. 

   X-Men star and former wrestler Tyler Mane reveals 'super rare' breast cancer diagnosis

3. 

   Kylie Minogue reveals secret second battle with cancer: ‘SHELL OF A PERSON’

In the final scenes of the season, it showed Clarkson being rushed back to hospital by ambulance, and then is seen in a hospital bed.

“Some of the treatment has gone awry, let’s say, I’m going to be here for a little while. I’m nil by mouth, I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he detailed before concluding the finale with a gloomy, uncharacteristic cliffhanger.

“If this is all successful I’ll see you for Season 6, and if it isn’t, I won’t. Take care everyone.”

No formal announcement has been made by Prime Video on whether there will be a sixth season of the show.

Whatever the case, production of the next season is expected to be put on pause to allow Clarkson time to recover.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

Article content