Prostate cancer and the “Jeremy Clarkson” effect

He’s best known for driving fast cars and getting to grips with farming life down on Diddly Squat, but this year Jeremy Clarkson hit the headlines for a completely different reason. In June 2026, the TV star revealed he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

The good news is that Jeremy is now in remission. The other good news is that by talking so openly about his diagnosis he has undoubtedly saved lives by prompting men to get themselves checked.

The “Jeremy Clarkson” effect

According to the charity Prostate Cancer UK, nearly 50,880 men completed its online risk checker in the week after Clarkson revealed his diagnosis, up from 8,425 men the previous week.

By raising awareness of the condition, Jeremy spurred on thousands of men to check their risk levels, something that is vitally important because the earlier that prostate cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat.

Are you at risk?

For those who haven’t completed the risk checker yet, it consists of four simple questions about your age, ethnicity and family medical history to gauge how at-risk you may be.

That said, you can still get prostate cancer even if you don’t have any of the risk factors. And that is why it is so important to be aware of any changes and to report these to your GP immediately.

Signs and symptoms can vary from person to person, but the following are some of the most common:

• Needing to urinate more frequently, especially during the night
• Needing to rush to the toilet
• Difficulty in starting to urinate
• A weak flow
• Feeling that your bladder is not fully empty after urinating
• Blood in your urine or semen

Speak to the health experts

Whilst you can’t do anything about your age or family medical history, by taking proactive steps to improve your diet and exercise routine you can effectively lower your risk of developing prostate cancer.

If you would like to speak to a medical expert about ways to help lower your risk, or if you’re worried about any unusual symptoms, book an appointment at YourGP in the first instance. Use our simple online booking system, email reception@your.gp, or call us on 0131 556 2525 and we’ll be happy to arrange an appointment at a time that suits you.