Broadcaster John Stapleton has revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
The 78-year-old journalist, who has worked on programs including Newsnight, Panorama and GMTV’s News Hour, shared his diagnosis in a video clip on BBC One’s Morning Live in a conversation with his son Nick.
He said, “Speaking has been my living for the better part of fifty years.
“It’s very frustrating sometimes, especially when people keep saying to you, ‘Sorry, what did you say?’ And you have to repeat yourself again and again.
“I’m quite pragmatic about the prospect of this getting worse. I try to stay positive because what’s the point of not being like that?”
Nick, who is also a journalist and presenter, said that although his father’s diagnosis was “really worrying”, it did not come as a surprise as his grandmother also had the degenerative condition.
Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become gradually damaged over many years, with symptoms including tremors and slow movements, according to the NHS website.
About his mother, Stapleton said, “I witnessed my mother’s decline from this lively, exuberant, outgoing lady to a lady who is quite vulnerable.
“One of the practical problems she initially faced was her inability to do things like open a can of beans or peel a potato. Believe it or not, I’m having the same problem to some extent right now.”
In the clip, Nick spoke to his father about the future and how he could best support him.
Stapleton indicated that he wanted to remain independent as long as possible. “As far as the house goes, I would be very reluctant to leave it, which won’t surprise you at all,” he said.
He also told his son that he would be happy to use a stair lift if necessary and that he would be reluctant to go into care, but was also “a realist”.
In a message to
“We want to offer our support to John and his son, @staplenick, as they begin John’s unique journey with the condition.”