Top Gear icon Jeremy Clarkson opens up about aggressive cancer diagnosis

If you thought the biggest drama on Clarkson's Farm was Jeremy wrestling with the local council, think again. It turns out Clarkson has been quietly battling something far more serious behind the scenes: an early but 'aggressive' form of prostate cancer. This only came out during the latest season, and honestly, even for Clarkson, it’s a shocker.

Clarkson Drops a Bombshell On Camera

Near the close of Clarkson's Farm Season 5, the man himself sat down with regulars Charlie Ireland and Kaleb Cooper and dropped this absolute clanger:

'I've got cancer.'

Kaleb, taken completely off guard, replied, 'No, you haven't. Where?' Clarkson, deadpan as ever, wasn't giving details away: 'Where it is is of no concern of anybody. I've known since May.'

So yes, he's been filming the series for months already knowing his diagnosis, without making any kind of public fuss until now. Classic Clarkson – keeps quiet until the cameras are rolling and then just chucks out the big news straight.

What Actually Happened?

Here’s the story as Clarkson explains it across the last episodes:

• He noticed something up, so 'disappeared off' for a doctor's appointment not long before wrapping filming
• Had a biopsy and got told he’s got an 'aggressive' form of cancer, but at least they caught it 'really early'
• His main concern: finishing the harvest before he has to disappear for treatment. Typical farmer priorities
• He reckons his operation will happen in about two or three weeks from the time of filming – bit of in-and-out, but the recovery will put him out of commission for a while
• He’s still got additional blood tests lined up, to check how it’s all going. Unclear if they’ll need even more from him in the coming weeks

Clarkson Being, Well... Clarkson

They actually showed footage of him in hospital, so this wasn't just some throwaway moment for the cameras. Only Clarkson could turn a live cancer announcement into a deadpan quip, mind you. Pointing out the full-circle TV moment, he says, 'Started Season 5 with me in a hospital bed, and we are at the end of Season 5, and I'm back in a hospital bed.'

He didn't sugar-coat what happened with his treatment either—turns out not everything went to plan: 'Some of the treatment had gone awry.' And typical Jeremy, he signs off with this:

'What I wanted to say was if this is all successful, I'll see you for Season 6, and if it isn't, I won't. Take care, everyone.'