Jon Snow will be seen coming to terms with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in a new documentary for Channel 4, it has been announced. The 78-year-old broadcaster's one-off special will air later this month.
Jon Snow: A Last Big Story, which will debut on on Saturday, 20 June, sees him fighting for a Zambian community whose land and water have been decimated by a mining disaster - all while grappling with his own recently-diagnosed condition.
Speaking in the 90-minute film, he says: "At the beginning I wanted to hide it, there’s so much prejudice. Any sort of hint of mental decay, you're sort of dead.
"There are moments when it pops up but it's not an all day, every day condition, and that's what I cling onto."
Elsewhere in the documentary, he says: “I’ve witnessed a great deal, I hope I’ve learned something – but I’ve still got a huge amount to learn. We all have. There’s still more to do.”
Official materials reveal that the film was initially intended to simply reveal Jon's condition to the world, but while on safari at Victoria Falls, located on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe, he heard about a catastrophic mining disaster that hadn't received much coverage from the world's media.
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With the support of his partner, Dr Precious Lunga, he then set about working on the titular "last big story".
Friend and former colleague Ben de Pear, also an executive producer on the project, said in a statement: "It was lovely being back on the road again with Jon and we are all very proud of this film, which not only captures the essence of the man and the journalist, but also how he wants to change the stigma around this disease."
Michelle Dyson CB, CEO of Alzheimer’s Society, added: "Jon’s decision to talk publicly about his dementia diagnosis is a real act of courage and his story will resonate with so many. His support for Alzheimer’s Society will help spark a national conversation about dementia that we so desperately need.
"Despite being the UK’s biggest killer, dementia is still not treated with the same urgency as other major health conditions like cancer.
"Alongside his wife Precious, Jon is shining a light on the need for faster, fairer access to diagnosis. An early diagnosis can unlock vital support, help families plan ahead and potentially open the door to participation in clinical trials. Yet too many people across the country are still waiting far too long for a diagnosis."
Jon Snow: A Last Big Story airs on Saturday, 20 June at 8pm on Channel 4.
Shaun is an Evening News Editor at Digital Spy, with over a decade of experience reporting on all things pop culture. He has written for outlets including Metro, Attitude, Huffington Post, The Mirror, Yahoo!, Pink News and Express Online, specialising in TV, movies, soaps, music and LGBTQ+ issues. He is also a BAFTA Rocliffe-winning scriptwriter, having written episodes of the soap Hollyoaks, the official Steps musical Here & Now and multiple Offie Award-nominated plays. He studied English Literature and Drama at the University of East Anglia, and will happily talk at length about Desperate Housewives to anyone who'll listen.
