Celebrities sometimes choose to make their health struggles public, in the hope that it can help others who suffer from the same ailments, and make them feel less alone in their fight. They can often count on the support of their fans, as well as their loved-ones.
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This time, BBC presenter John Stapleton has decided to share his Parkinson's diagnosis with the public. Here's what you should know.
John Stapleton makes his Parkinson's diagnosis public
The 78-year-old journalist has recently revealed he suffers from Parkinson's disease, all the while reassuring his fans that he feels 'pragmatic' about the illness' impact on his quality of life. The presenter, famous for his programs such as Newsnight and Panorama, shared his diagnosis in a clip on BBC One's Morning Live, while accompanied by his son, Nick. He said:
Speaking is how I’ve earned my living for the best part of 50 years.
John Stapleton explained he is trying to remain positive in the face of this devastating news:
I am fairly pragmatic about the prospect of this getting worse. I try to remain positive, because what’s the point of not being?
The presenter's son, Nick, who is also a journalist, revealed that although his father's diagnosis has been 'really upsetting', it did not come as a surprise, as the illness runs in the family. Indeed, John Stapleton's mother passed away after years of struggling with same condition. Speaking about his mother, the presenter said:
I witnessed my mother’s decline from this lively, ebullient, outgoing lady to a lady who is fairly fragile.
His diagnosis comes just a few years after his wife passed away.
His wife Lynn Faulds Wood passed away in 2020
John Stapleton was famously in a relationship with journalist and presenter Lynn Faulds Wood for decades before her death in 2020. The pair became a power couple, and fan-favourites, as they repeatedly worked together, including presenting the BBC's Watchdog from 1985 to 1993. During her life-long career, she worked for the Daily Mail before moving on to TheSun. She eventually changed careers to become a presenter for the BBC, where she worked on the Breakfast Time show for two years in the 1980s. Lynn Faulds Wood was first diagnosed with bowel cancer in 1991, and she fought for five years before finally being in remission. From then on, the journalist became involved in several charities which aimed to raise funds for research, hoping to find a cure for cancer, such as MEPs Against Cancer. She also co-founded the European Cancer Patient Coalition, working as the chairman from 2003 to 2010.
After fighting for her life for years, Lynn Faulds Wood sadly passed away in 2020, at the age of 72, after suffering from a stroke. The journalist left behind her devastated husband and son. Her family released the following statement:
Having suffered a massive stroke last night and a subsequent bleed on the brain, presenter and journalist Lynn Faulds Wood passed away peacefully at 12 noon today with her husband, John Stapleton, and son Nick at her bedside.
Read more:
Michael J. Fox: The actor opens up about keeping his Parkinson's diagnosis a secret for 7 years
Chris Hoy reveals he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and wife Sarra with MS
Sources used:
The Guardian: Broadcaster John Stapleton reveals Parkinson’s diagnosis
The Sun: TV STAPLE Who was John Stapleton’s late wife Lynn Faulds Wood and how did the Watchdog TV presenter die?
