Viewers were moved to tears after watching Jeremy Paxman talk about feeling ‘depressed’ and ‘disillusioned’ in his ITV documentary Paxman: Coping with Parkinson’s.
The 72-year-old broadcaster was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 18 months ago and discussed it for the first time on film in the documentary.
The 60-minute program follows Jeremy’s story of living with the degenerative disease, which affects one in 500 people and causes brain damage over the years.
Emotional: Viewers were moved to tears after watching Jeremy Paxman talk about feeling ‘depressed’ and ‘disillusioned’ in his ITV documentary Paxman: Putting Up With Parkinson’s
Jeremy admitted on the program that he was on mood-enhancing drugs after suffering from depression and feeling “down” following his Parkinson’s diagnosis.
He has spoken candidly about his struggles to come to terms with the disease, saying he feels “beaten and down” by Parkinson’s, but insisted he is not asking for sympathy from people.
On Twitter, viewers admitted they were “moved to tears” by his “courage” to talk about life with Parkinson’s in the “powerful” documentary.
One viewer wrote: “Pretty moved to tears watching #jeremypaxman and other brave souls deal with the life changing effects of #parkinsons #pottingupwithparkinsons.”
Illness: The 72-year-old broadcaster was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 18 months ago and discussed it for the first time on film in the documentary
Another said “so touching and insightful”, while a third added: “I have to admit I shed a tear, very informative and thought provoking.”
A fourth wrote: ‘Just watched #PuttingUpWithParkinsons with Jeremy Paxman on @itv
“Also on the show, my friend on #RoundBritainQuiz @paulsinha It was extremely touching and congratulations to everyone involved in making it. Impossible to drop. #incrediblebravery.’
A fifth wrote: “A brave and enlightening documentary by @JeremyPaxman Inspiring, supportive and presented in true Paxman style. This will help raise awareness and understanding.”
Another tweeted: “Just watched Jeremy Paxman’s Suffering from Parkinson’s.” So moving. It’s a savage state.
‘So touching’: And viewers admitted they were moved to tears after watching Jeremy candidly discuss his ‘frustration’ with Parkinson’s as he battles his symptoms
The documentary saw Jeremy research the degenerative disease and meet doctors and Parkinson’s sufferers – including The Chase’s Paul Sinha and the Vicar of Dibley writer Paul Mayhew Archer.
Jeremy also met Sharon Osbourne, whose husband Ozzy suffers from the disease, and the presenter decided to donate his brain to Parkinson’s research after his death.
The University Challenge host also opened up about his decision to step back from hosting the quiz due to Parkinson’s disease, revealing that his final episode will be filmed on October 15.
In the documentary, Jeremy admits he is “extremely frustrated” with his Parkinson’s disease in a voice-over before speaking to Dr Angus Kennedy about his depression in an appointment at Cromwell Hospital.
Speaking to the neurologist, Jeremy was open about taking mood enhancers while talking about feeling depressed.
Difficulties: Jeremy admitted he was on mood-enhancing drugs after suffering from depression following his Parkinson’s diagnosis. Jeremy is pictured doing facial exercises to manage his symptoms
When asked how he found the drugs, he said, “They’re really good! I like them, I don’t get so depressed. I get very depressed, I always have, but now I take a lot of meds.
When asked if he felt happier now, Jeremy joked: “More ironically funny than cheerful.”
However, Jeremy insisted that he did not want anyone’s sympathy for his Parkinson’s diagnosis.
“I don’t want people’s sympathy. I just want them to say, ‘oh, this guy’s got it,'” he said.
“That’s what a TV personality would say to get someone to talk on camera, and I’m not going to do that!” I don’t want to be involved in producing a film that will be more than me.
Diagnosis: Speaking about his Parkinson’s diagnosis, Jeremy said he was taken to hospital after falling in the park where Dr Angus Kennedy told him he might have Parkinson’s
Symptoms: The consultant neurologist admitted he thought the presenter might have the condition after watching him on University Challenge and noticing his face was not as expressive
Speaking about being diagnosed with Parkinson’s 18 months ago, Jeremy said he was taken to hospital after falling in the park, where Dr Angus Kennedy told him he might have Parkinson’s.
The consultant neurologist admitted he thought the presenter might have the condition after watching him on University Challenge and noticing his face was not as expressive.
One of the main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease is reduced expressiveness of the face, which is also called “mask face”.
Jeremy explained: “It happened completely out of the blue, I was walking around the square with my dog on a lead and the first thing I knew was someone sitting me down on a bench.
Scans: Jeremy admitted he was ‘extremely frustrated’ with his Parkinson’s in a voiceover before speaking to Dr Kennedy (pictured looking at Jeremy’s brain scan) at Cromwell Hospital
Mental health: Speaking to the neurologist, Jeremy opens up about taking mood enhancers as he talks about feeling depressed
“I fell and made a terrible mess of my face. When I was in the ER the doctor came in and said I think you have Parkinson’s.
‘I have no idea! I was 71 years old, that’s what happens when you get old, you fall. Especially after a few,” he added.
Elsewhere on the program, Jeremy spoke about how some of his Parkinson’s symptoms have affected his day-to-day life, admitting that he struggles with writing and can no longer write.
He said: “I have written many books, I like to write. When you get the right words for what you’re trying to say, it’s satisfying.
“I can’t write, it’s really annoying, I write something and it turns out to be meaningless. It bothers me a bit.
‘I don’t want people’s sympathy’: But Jeremy insisted he doesn’t want anyone’s sympathy for his Parkinson’s diagnosis
Scan: Jeremy’s brain scans were shown on screen as he was shown which parts of the brain signified his Parkinson’s
Jeremy also met The Chase’s Paul Sinha, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019.
Jeremy attended a comedy night where Paul was performing and the comedian opened up about when he was diagnosed on stage.
He said: “I fell flat on my face, it was 3am and I was knocked out of my skull. So I thought it was nothing serious, then they told me I might have Parkinson’s.
Speaking to Jeremy after the show, Paul admitted that despite being a doctor, he didn’t equate his symptoms to Parkinson’s.
He said: “I started limping [the time of diagnosis]. I was a doctor so the term limp neck was common to me, but I never thought that was what I had.
Support: Elsewhere in the documentary, Jeremy also met The Chase’s Paul Sinha, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019.
Medical training: Speaking to Jeremy after the show, Paul admitted that despite being a doctor, he didn’t equate his symptoms with Parkinson’s
Jeremy admitted he didn’t know what Parkinson’s was before his sudden diagnosis last year.
Speaking about dealing with his symptoms, Paul said he does facial exercises in front of the mirror every day because he noticed he was “less expressive on TV”.
When Jeremy asked him about the positives of the disease, Paul said: “It teaches us to make sure you really embrace and appreciate the things you like. It was an action packed phase of my life.
Speaking about his own Parkinson’s symptoms, Jeremy said: ‘I feel fine. I have no pain or discomfort, no tremors. Nothing’s wrong with me, I’m just sleepy most of the time.”
Raising awareness: Jeremy admitted he didn’t know what Parkinson’s was before his sudden diagnosis last year
Research: Elsewhere in the documentary, Jeremy also made the decision to donate his brain for Parkinson’s research and met neuropathology professor Steve Gentleman
Jeremy also made the decision to donate his brain for Parkinson’s research and met neuropathology professor Steve Gentleman.
Speaking about donating his brain, he said: “Since I won’t have any use for my brain after I die, I thought why not!”
During his meeting with Prof. Gentleman, Jeremy was shown a brain that had been preserved for four to five weeks, which had been donated by a Parkinson’s sufferer.
As he was shown the brain, Jeremy said: “Quite something to think that this is a human being, everything that this person was – how he loved, how he lived – it’s all here.”
To which Prof Gentleman added: “You’re looking at the record of this man’s life, everything that happened to him is encoded in that.”
Donation: During his meeting with Prof. Gentleman, Jeremy was shown a brain that had been preserved for four to five weeks, which had been donated by a Parkinson’s sufferer
Management: Jeremy then went on to see medical specialist Lauren McIntosh where he practiced exercises to manage his Parkinson’s symptoms
Symptoms: He practiced walking while bouncing a balloon, walking with his knees up, pulling on a resistance rope, and emoting to keep his face moving during the session
Jeremy gave an insight into how he copes with his symptoms when he visited medical specialist Lauren McIntosh, where he practiced a range of exercises and spoke of feeling “beaten and down” with Parkinson’s.
He practiced walking while bouncing a balloon, walking with his knees up, pulling a resistance rope, and emoting to keep his face moving…
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