GOOD Morning Britain presenter John Stapleton has revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
The presenter, 78, appeared on BBC One Morning Live alongside his son Nick on Monday to reveal the health news.
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John Stapleton has revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s diseaseCredit: BBC
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The broadcaster’s son joined John on Morning Live to discuss his health updateCredit: BBC
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John was a familiar face on Good Morning Britain Credit: Rex
In the segment, Nick said: “Over the last year I started to notice that dad seemed a bit more anxious, he wasn’t walking as confidently and he had a tremor in his hand.
“Two months ago he went for some tests and unfortunately a few days later he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.”
He continued: “It was deeply worrying news.”
John then appeared on camera and I learned as I have lived for the best part of 50 years, it is very frustrating when someone says ‘I’m sorry, what you said’ and you have to say it over and over again.
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I’m pretty pragmatic about the possibility of this getting worse, I’m trying to stay positive because what’s the point of not being.
Nick admitted that the diagnosis did not come as a surprise because John’s mother also suffered from Parkinson’s disease years before her death.
John recalled some of the initial symptoms his mother experienced when she was first diagnosed – including “not being able to open a can of beans or peel a potato”.
“I have somewhat the same problem myself,” he said.
“She ended up locked in her own house, her lifestyle changed dramatically, and let’s assume mine will too.”
Everything you need to know about Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition, meaning it causes problems in the brain and gets worse over time.
It affects around 153,000 people in the UK.
People with Parkinson’s disease do not have enough of the chemical dopamine because some of the nerve cells that produce it have stopped working.
This can cause more than 40 symptoms, but the three main ones are:
- Tremor (shaking)
- Slow motion
- Rigidity (muscle stiffness)
Other common signs include:
- Mild problems with memory and thinking
- Sleep problems
- Balance problems
- Pain
- Anxiety and depression
- Easy walking with very small steps
- Difficulty making facial expressions
- Loss of sense of smell
- Problems with urination
- Prison
The four main ways to treat Parkinson’s disease include medication, staying active, exploring occupational therapy, physical and speech and language therapy, and monitoring symptoms.
Source: Parkinson’s UK and NHS
Nick said he now stands in his father’s shoes, anticipating how he will support him during his Parkinson’s disease.
“It’s hard for me to have conversations with my dad about what kind of support he might need in the next few years.
“The most extreme situation in my opinion is what to do if he can no longer live alone.”
Nick said the idea of talking to his father about moving into a care home was “terrifying” because it was “the last thing he would want”.
“I don’t want to patronize him but I’m worried, mum died four years ago and he lives alone,” said Nick.
“If his symptoms worsen, we’ll need a plan.”
Nick admitted he will have to have some tough conversations with his dad – but said it’s “early days, dad’s still quite independent”.
He added: “I want to start these conversations now to bring some potentially difficult topics out into the open.”
John has been open about his symptoms, saying he feels “constant exhaustion and lack of energy”.
“Obviously it’s a classic symptom of Parkinson’s disease, I’ll keep taking the pills and hope it gets better,” he said.
Nick admitted that it was difficult for him to see his father “refuse” as they “sensibly” plan for the future.
“I want to stay as independent as I can,” John continued.
“I would be reluctant to leave the house, I may have to make a decision with your help… but I want to stay where I am.
“Maybe there are some practical aspects that could become more difficult, like stairs, stairs are a problem now.
– I would definitely have an elevator instead of moving out of the house.
“I would be willing to go into care reluctantly. I would try to last as long as possible, but I am a realist,” he added.
– It will be a bit of a struggle, life will not be like it was a year ago.
John’s wife and former presenter of BBC Watchdog, Lynn Faulds Wood, sadly passed away in April 2020, aged 72, following a stroke.
She and her husband John Stapleton became TV’s dream couple as they co-presented Watchdog between 1985 and 1993.
John is best known for his presenting and reporting work on ITV breakfast television, including TV-am, GMTV and Daybreak.
He is also known for presenting Watchdog for the BBC alongside his late wife Lynn.
In which TV series did John Stapleton appear?
John joined BBC Nationwide in 1975 as a reporter and then became one of the main presenters from 1977 to 1980.
From 1980 to 1983, he reported from trouble spots such as the Middle East and El Salvador as a correspondent for the BBC’s Panorama and Newsnight programmes.
From 1983 to 1985, he worked at TV-am as the host of Good Morning Britain.
In 1986 John rejoined the BBC, where until 1993 he co-hosted the popular consumer program Watchdog, alongside his late wife Lynn Faulds Wood.
In 1993, Stapleton returned to ITV to host live morning talk show The Time, The Place, and presented My Favorite Hymns for four years.
In 1998 he joined the ITV breakfast program GMTV as the presenter of the Newshour.
In 2010 John joined Daybreak as their special correspondent and then Good Morning Britain where he stayed until July 2015.
He still works in television, filling in for other radio presenters at LBC, appearing on TV as a pundit for the BBC News Channel and writing for newspapers.
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John’s mother was also diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease a few years before her death
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John’s career spans over 50 years Credit: Rex
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Broadcaster Lynn Faulds Wood’s wife sadly passed away aged 72 in 2020 Credit: Getty
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