Jeremy Clarkson joins crusade for UK prostate screening reform following cancer remission

Campaigners say new screening rules could put lives at risk

Jeremy Clarkson and Sir Stephen Fry are among the public figures backing a letter to Health Secretary Yvette Cooper, alongside former prime ministers David Cameron and Rishi Sunak.

The campaigners are calling for the government to widen access to prostate cancer testing, arguing that the current system could leave some men at high risk without a reliable way to detect the disease early.

Their concerns follow a decision by the UK National Screening Committee in May which significantly narrowed the group of men eligible for routine screening.

Under the new recommendations, testing will be offered to around 1,500 men between the ages of 45 and 61 who carry a particular genetic mutation and also have a family history of a related cancer.

Those behind the letter say the criteria are too restrictive and could exclude other men whose chances of developing prostate cancer are also higher than average. They are now asking Health Secretary Yvette Cooper to intervene and reconsider the decision.

The group argues that early testing can make a crucial difference, particularly because prostate cancer can become much more difficult to treat once it has advanced.

“Everyone else at high risk doesn't have guaranteed access to a test that could save their life,” the letter says.

The signatories add that Cooper has the authority to reverse the decision, writing: “We believe that's wrong, and that you, as Secretary of State, have both the evidence and the power to overturn the ruling.”

The appeal comes amid growing concern over the impact of prostate cancer in Britain. It is the country's most common cancer among men, with around 63,000 new cases and 12,000 deaths recorded every year.

For campaigners, one of the biggest problems is that too many cases are discovered only after the cancer has reached an advanced stage.

By then, treatment may no longer be able to successfully stop the disease, which is why they are pushing for more men at risk to have access to screening.

He has has a very Clarkson way of dealing with his diagnosis

Jeremy Clarkson has revealed that his approach to life has changed since being diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, although he remains determined not to give up the things that make him happy.

The diagnosis came after a routine check, when doctors discovered “a little something”. Clarkson was later given several treatment options and opted for HIFU, a minimally invasive procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to target cancer cells. He has since gone into remission.

The presenter said the hardest part was telling his children he had cancer. Physically, however, he was able to return to normal life relatively quickly, explaining that he was unconscious for the procedure and back on his tractor two weeks later.

His recovery was interrupted when he restarted blood-thinning medication for his heart without medical approval, resulting in another hospital stay. “That was horrific and it was all my own fault,” he admitted.

Clarkson has since lost two stone while taking Mounjaro and has started walking more. His diet has also changed, with his girlfriend Lisa Hogan encouraging him to eat more protein and healthier foods.

Despite this, Clarkson made it clear he has no plans to completely overhaul his lifestyle.

“Sure, I can eat less and more healthily. I can become a herbivore,” he said. “But the truth is, there has to be some joy in life as well.”

He previously admitted that the diagnosis made him more conscious of his future, particularly his desire to live long enough to watch his grandchildren grow up. 

As a result, he has been driving more slowly and eating more vegetarian food, while still trying to enjoy life.