Veteran broadcaster Jon Snow has opened up about life after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and says that he’s not afraid of the condition, which impacts the brain
Jon Snow insists he is “not scared” of his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in a new film, even though the footage painfully shows the ways the disease is impacting one of the sharpest brains on TV.
The former Channel 4 newsreader, 78, is the subject of a new Channel 4 documentary Jon Snow: A Last Big Story. It sees him navigate life with Alzheimer’s as he undergoes an investigation into a Zambian community whose land and water were impacted by a mining disaster.
As the film ends, he insists: “I don’t think I am scared actually. You know, there’s so many different degrees of condition, and it’s difficult to know where you are in that journey.
“For myself, I don’t believe I am particularly far on in the journey, there’s no point allowing it to fossilize what you’re doing. You’ve got to go on, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
But despite Jon’s brave words, the film highlights that Alzheimer’s is having a huge impact on his memory. He is shown going for tests with his wife Dr Precious Lunga and he doesn’t know the month we are in or the day of the week. When asked to memorise three words he also fails to remember any of them, even when the doctor offers some clues.
Yet at other points he seems sharp, when speaking about the problems in Zambia. Travelling there he interviews someone who has the story of the impact of the environmental crisis and at first it could be old footage from his Channel 4 days. But as their chat continues, Jon asks the question “how many people have been impacted?” on at least five occasions, leading to some puzzled looks.
He also regularly fails to remember why he is being following by the cameras several times, only to be told a film is being made about him.
His wife tells the cameras: “Sometimes he’ll say, ‘why is no one talking about this?’ It must affect so many people. Why is there silence at the same time? He doesn’t want to be pigeonholed, because people make assumptions that, oh, this person’s got a neurological condition, and then take away, I guess, too soon your freedoms to travel to, for example, to travel to Zambia, and cover a story.
“So when the opportunity of this documentary, it really started off as a way of John accepting that he has it of managing it or dealing this because the anger was just going to eat him up.”
Poignantly footage of him in present day trying to go shopping and buy a simple list of items is also interspersed with an old news story he reported on Channel 4 about a VR headset designed to give you an idea of how difficult it is for someone with Alzheimer’s to buy groceries.
Cutting back to now, he asks “What’s going on,” at one point with an empty basket, before being reminded why he is there. Opening the film, he speaks about his own mortality, and seems happy with his lot. He says: “A strange old business life. I had a good innings of it.
“It’s understandable, you can be worried about death, but to be worried about growing older is irrelevant. It’s absurd. How old is older? You’re going to die tomorrow or the next day. Stop worrying and get on with it.”
His wife says of the film: “I want it to be a story of love, laughter, acknowledging that times are hard. I don’t shy away from the fact that it’s hard caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. But we can also be on the lookout for opportunities that would lessen that burden. And yeah we do that by having our little adventures.”
Last week Jon released a statement saying he is “truly bowled over” by the “outpouring” of support since revealing his Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
He will be backing a campaign urging the Government to reform its treatment, support and care for those living with the condition, as well as their families. The veteran broadcaster shared on Friday that since 2023 he has been living with Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia,
Reflecting on the influx of well-wishes he has received, Snow told the Alzheimer’s Society: “I’m truly bowled over by the outpouring of support and affection since revealing my dementia diagnosis.”
Jon Snow: A Last Big Story will be available to watch and stream on Channel 4 on Saturday, June 20, at 8pm.
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