In October last year, broadcasting legend John Stapleton, a former host of shows like Nationwide and Watchdog, was diagnosed with Parkinson's. This week, he joins the Movers & Shakers in the Notting Hill pub to discuss his life, career and his PD journey so far. From getting pecked off our screen's by Rod Hull's intemperate Emu to making a film about his diagnosis with his award-winning documentarian son Nick, John has led an extraordinary life. Sitting down with Mark, Gillian, Rory, Paul and the Judge in 2025 is not quite watching the Beatles in 1963 – but it'll have to do!
By Podot
Each week Rory Cellan-Jones guides us between the laughs and moans in the pub. To read Rory's summary of this week's episode click here.
Guest Biography
John Stapleton
John Stapleton is an award winning journalist and broadcaster, best known for his time spent as a presenter and reporter on breakfast television, as well as hosting Watchdog with his beloved wife Lynn Faulds Wood.
John Stapleton shares his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis here.
Watch John Stapleton discuss his diagnosis on Good Morning Britain here.
A note from John Stapleton...
Asked about his health a few years ago Billy Connolly said: “ I’ve got Parkinson’s and he’s welcome to it”( a reference to both the disease and his neighbour and friend Michael Parkinson ). Well I’ve got it too and like Billy I’ve decided to “come out “ about it.
I was diagnosed last April and soon afterwards friends started asking if I was ok. They noticed that my voice had lost some of its resonance and that I was walking with what I call the Joe Biden shuffle. So my son Nick who presents the BBCs award winning programme Scam Interceptors suggested we make a film about it. It aired on the BBC show Morning Live where we discussed my diagnosis and the future. Was I in need of a carer, would I one day need a stairlift, had I thought about moving house for somewhere more manageable?
It wasn’t an easy conversation for either of us but it got an amazing response being picked up by more than two hundred media outlets and leading to a surge in both calls and donations for the charity Parkinson's UK. Why? Well I guess because it seems everyone knows someone who has got it and because those are the discussions many of us should have but too often shy away from. Which is why when Movers and Shakers asked me to be a guest on their podcast I leapt at the opportunity.
For us Parky’s it’s like a badge of honour. I also think that those of us lucky enough to have something of a media reputation, good or bad, are almost duty bound to discuss these issues publicly if only to make others feel they are not the only ones. That was also the view of my wife Lynn Faulds Wood who campaigned so vigorously about bowel cancer before her death from a stroke four years ago. She also used to say “Shit happens it’s what you do next that counts “ A thought that has sustained me in my present situation where thanks to the help of Nick, his wife Lise (sic) and some lovely mates I’m doing ok.
Read the following transcript of John Stapleton on Good Morning Britain - 13th Nov 2024
"About two or three years ago, I started with a tremor. I went to see a specialist, and he said he didn’t think it was Parkinson’s. He called it something else—a benign essential tremor. I asked, "How do you get that?" and he said, "We haven’t a clue."
But the symptoms got worse, so I went back. That was about two or three months ago. This time, he confirmed it—it was indeed Parkinson’s. I also started having other symptoms: difficulty swallowing, my handwriting becoming illegible because I’d write in tiny letters no one could decipher, and feeling fatigued a lot of the time.
And, of course, my voice—it's lost a lot of its resonance. I have to speak louder now. I’m working with a speech therapist who’s helping me a great deal, teaching me to project my voice. That’s why I’m really concentrating on what I’m saying right now.
No, no, you’re doing fine.
In quieter situations, I manage okay, but in places with ambient noise, like a pub, restaurant, or even a football match, it can be a struggle. Sometimes, people ask me to repeat myself, and it’s frustrating when you know they’re just being polite and didn’t actually catch what you said.
Is it the first thing you think about when you wake up and the last thing before you sleep?
It’s often the first thing I think about in the morning. Getting dressed reminds me of it because of the tremor. I didn’t mention that earlier, did I? It’s not too bad at the moment, but simple things like putting on a shirt or doing up buttons take so much longer.
My mother had Parkinson’s too—she had similar difficulties. Domestic tasks that used to be simple are now irritating challenges. But you can’t change it, so you just learn to live with it.
Parkinson’s is one of those conditions where science hasn’t progressed much in terms of treatment.
No, but they’re experimenting all the time.
What medication are you on, and is it helping?
I’m on a drug called dopamine, which replaces the dopamine lost in the brain. One of the significant effects of Parkinson’s is a huge loss of dopamine. I’ve only been taking it for about two or three months, but it’s helping—it’s controlled things and hasn’t gotten worse. We’ll see how it goes.
What about physical therapy? You mentioned speech therapy.
Yes, I’m having speech therapy. And while I believe my voice has lost its resonance, others tell me it hasn’t. A lot of my friends, especially from my generation, are going deaf, though they won’t admit it—so I’m not entirely to blame for shouting across a bar!
I must say, listening to you now, your voice is as resonant and recognisable as ever. If I didn’t know, I’d never suspect any loss.
Thank you, that’s kind of you to say. It makes me wonder if I should restart my career after all.“
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