John Stapleton has admitted he was ‘relieved’ when his mother died and he doesn’t want to suffer like she did, as he opened up about his Parkinson’s diagnosis on Lorraine on Wednesday.
The 78-year-old broadcaster lifted the lid on how he has been coping with the health news, as well as sharing his opinion on the new proposed law to legalise ᴀssisted dying in England and Wales.
John’s mother June died in May 2007, six years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s herself and two weeks short of her 85th birthday.
Under plans unveiled last night, people diagnosed with a life-limiting disease who have less than six months to live would be permitted to obtain and administer lethal medicines that would trigger instant death.
However, the new law would not be applicable to people with physical disabilities and mental ill health, with Parkinson’s falling into that category.
John Stapleton has admitted he was ‘relieved’ when his mother died and he doesn’t want to suffer like she did, as he opened up on his Parkinson’s diagnosis on Lorraine on Wednesday
John’s mother June died in May 2007, six years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s herself and two weeks short of her 85th birthday (pictured with his mother)
Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years, with symptoms including tremors and slow movement, according to the NHS website.
Discussing his diagnosis on Wednesday’s show, John admitted: ‘I knew it was coming. I’d watched my mother go, she went from a lively, brilliant lady to a lady who was almost prisoner in her own home.
‘I had all the classic symptoms that she had, I just went for confirmation basically.’
Later in the interview, host Lorraine asked: ‘You will have had all these really difficult conversations and one in particular this week, and I hope you don’t mind me talking about this, is of course the proposed law about ᴀssisted dying.
‘You’ve talked about this before and you and Nick will have talked about this, your son, very hard to discuss.’
Sharing his opinion on the divisive proposed law, the broadcaster explained: ‘I take the view that if I’m suffering very badly you have my permission to take me across to Switzerland and do the business as long as it doesn’t get you in trouble.
‘This new bill, in principal I am for it, but it doesn’t really apply to Parkinson’s people because Parkinson’s doesn’t kill you.
‘You can’t say “In six months you’re going to die from Parkinson’s” so at the moment it doesn’t really apply to me.’
The broadcaster, 78, lifted the lid on how he has been coping with the health news, as well as sharing his opinion on the new proposed law to legalise ᴀssisted dying in England and Wales
Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years, with symptoms including tremors and slow movement
Speaking about his mother, he said: ‘When she died it was a relief, it was relief for her and it was a relief for me because it was horrible watching her suffer like that’
He added: ‘I think what we prefer is just to talk openly about the subject. I remember seeing my mother, she used to say to me “I’ve had my time John” and to be absolutely honest with you, although it may sound a bit awful.
‘When she died it was a relief, it was relief for her and it was a relief for me because it was horrible watching her suffer like that. So in principal I’m there.’
John said he is ‘learning to live with’ Parkinson’s after revealing his diagnosis in a short film for BBC One’s Morning Live last month.
The broadcaster, who has presented on programmes including Newsnight, Panorama and GMTV’s News Hour, told The Mirror: ‘You can’t escape these things as you grow older, these kinds of developments are sort of inevitable’.
‘You learn to live with it, get on with it and try to be as positive as you can.’
He now has weekly sessions with a speech therapist, walks 5,000 steps a day and have also joined an exercise class specifically for suffers of the condition.
But John, who appeared on the BBC alongside son Nick, has denied that being open about his diagnosis is an act of bravery.
‘Someone said to me the other day “You’re very brave to do that”. I don’t consider it brave at all. Someone in my position almost considers it a duty to keep people informed and get people talking about it. I’ve been a patron of Parkinson’s UK for a long time, as my mum suffered from it.’
John said he is ‘learning to live with’ Parkinson’s after revealing his diagnosis in a short film for BBC One’s Morning Live last month (pictured on GMB last month)
He now has weekly sessions with a speech therapist, walks 5,000 steps a day and have also joined an exercise class specifically for suffers of the condition.
But John, who appeared on the BBC alongside son Nick (pictured) has denied that being open about his diagnosis is an act of bravery
During his appearance on BBC One’s Morning Live, John admitted that he was ‘pragmatic’ about the prospect of it getting worse.
Saying: ‘Speaking is how I’ve earned my living for the best part of 50 years, It’s very frustrating sometimes, particularly (when) people are constantly saying to you ‘Sorry, what did you say?’ And you have to repeat yourself, time and time again.
‘I am fairly pragmatic about the prospect of this getting worse. I try to remain positive, because what’s the point of not being?’.
His son said that, while the diagnosis has been ‘really upsetting’, it did not come as a surprise because his grandmother also had the degenerative condition.
Speaking about his mother, Stapleton said: ‘I witnessed my mother’s decline from this lively, ebullient, outgoing lady to a lady who is fairly fragile.
‘One of the practical problems she faced initially was her inability to do things like open a can of beans or peel a potato.
‘Believe it or not, I’m having the same problem, to some extent, myself right now.’
In the clip, Nick talked to his father about the future and how he could best support him.
John was asked to join TV-am in 1983 in a bid to improve the programme’s news content after he had already worked on Nationwide for the BBC so was already a familiar face with viewers
John is one of few British TV presenters who can claim to have hosted most UK breakfast shows (pictured on Good Morning Britain)
The journalist was married to Lynn Faulds Wood for 43 years until she sadly pᴀssed away in 2020 (pictured on their wedding day in 1977)
Stapleton said: ‘I want to remain as independent as I can for as long as I possibly can.
‘In terms of the house, I’d be very reluctant to leave it, which shall not surprise you at all.’
He also told his son he would be OK with using a stairlift if necessary and that he would be reluctant to go into care, but is also ‘a realist’.
Looking forward to the future, John added: ‘The fact that I’ve had an early diagnosis, the fact that I’ve seen what happened to my mother firsthand is all a big bonus in many ways, because it enables me to look at it practically, realistically and plan sensibly for the future.’
John was asked to join TV-am in 1983 in a bid to improve the programme’s news content after he had already worked on Nationwide for the BBC so was already a familiar face with viewers.
Over a 40-year career, John reported from the Falklands, the Middle East, and Northern Ireland for BBC’s Panorama and Newsnight. He also co-presented Watchdog in 1980.
John’s popularity certainly hasn’t decreased, and he is one of the few British TV presenters who can claim to have hosted most UK breakfast shows, including the BBC’s London Plus and Breakfast Time, GMTV, Daybreak and Good Morning Britain.
The journalist was married to Lynn Faulds Wood for 43 years until her death in 2020.
Lynn, who co-presented Watchdog with her husband John, had Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS), died after a ‘mᴀssive stroke’ at their home in London
Lynn, who co-presented Watchdog with her husband John, had Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS), died April 2020 following a ‘mᴀssive stroke’ at their home at St Margarets in south west London.
Lynn had also been diagnosed with bowel cancer 30 years ago, when there was just a 34 per cent chance of survival. And after she recovered from surgery and was given the all-clear, Lynn started campaigning to make people more aware of the early symptoms.
Speaking on Lorraine a year after her death, John said: ‘It’s been a difficult year, obviously.
‘…challenging year but I’ve been helped enormously by my son, Nick and his wife, Lisa and friends, family and dear neighbours have been fantastic.
‘It has been difficult for everybody, not just me this year because of the pandemic and the restrictions imposed upon us, quite rightly.’
WHAT IS PARKINSON’S DISEASE AND WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
What is Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years, according to the NHS website.
What are the symptoms?
The NHS says there are three major symptoms, including tremors or shaking, slowness of movement and muscle stiffness.
Other symptoms include problems with balance, loss of smell, nerve pain, excessive sweating and dizziness.
Some people can also experience lack of sleep, excessive production of saliva and problems swallowing, causing malnutrition and dehydration.
What are the early signs?
Symptoms can start gradually, sometimes beginning with a barely noticeable tremor in just one part of the body.
In the early stages, people may show little or no expression, and their arms may not swing when they walk.
Speech can also become soft or slurred, with the condition worsening over time.
What are the causes?
Some scientists believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors are the cause of Parkinson’s disease.
It occurs after a person experiences loss of nerve cells in a part of their brain.
However, it is not known why the loss of nerve cells ᴀssociated with the condition takes place but research is ongoing to identify potential causes.
Scientists say genetics factor can increase a person’s risk of developing the disease, and can therefore run in families.
Other factors attributed to causing the condition include environmental problems such as pollution, though such links are inconclusive, the NHS says.
How is it diagnosed?
No tests can conclusively show if a person has the disease, but doctors can make a diagnosis based on symptoms, medical history and a physical examination.
A specialist will ask the person to write or draw, walk or speak to check for any common signs of the condition.
They may even check for difficulty making facial expressions and slowness of limb movement.
How many people are affected?
Around 145,000 people live with Parkinson’s disease in the UK, according to the charity Parkinson’s UK.
What happens if someone is diagnosed?
According to the charity, it is a legal requirement to contact the DVLA, as a diagnosed person will need to have a medical or driving ᴀssessment.
The organisation also advises people to contact any insurance providers and find out about financial support available.
People are also encouraged to partake in more exercise.
Can it be treated?
Although there is no cure, a number of treatments are available to help reduce the symptoms.
The main remedies include medication, exercise, therapy and surgery, which can help people in different ways.
What medication is available and what are the side effects?
Medication can be helpful in improving the main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, such as shaking and movement problems.
There are three main types which are commonly used, levodopa, dopamine agonist or a MAO-B inhibitor. Each can affect people in different ways.
The drugs do have some side effects, including impulsive and compulsive behaviour, hallucinations, sleep issues and blood pressure changes.
What therapy is available?
There are several therapies available to those with Parkinson’s through the NHS.
Among them are physiotherapy to reduce muscle stiffness, occupational therapy to help with completing day-to-day tasks and speech and language coaching.
Does this change the way you live?
Most people’s life expectancy will not change a great deal, though more advanced symptoms can lead to increased disability and poor health.
It can also cause some cognitive issues and changes to mood and mental health.
Those with Parkinson’s are encouraged to exercise more often, with scientists saying 2.5 hours of exercise a week is enough to slow the progression of symptoms.
