A doctor diagnosed Jeremy Paxman with Parkinson’s disease after noticing the presenter was less “exuberant” when presenting University Challenge, the veteran broadcaster has revealed.
The former Newsnight presenter said the diagnosis came when he was in hospital after collapsing while walking his dog.
One of the doctors said he had noticed that the 72-year-old’s face had acquired a “Parkinson’s mask”.
“Well, it was completely out of the blue,” Paxman said of the diagnosis.
“I was having a walk in the square across the way. There was ice around and I had the dog with me – the dog was on a lead.
“The first thing I knew was when somebody was sitting me on a bench. I’d fallen over and I made a terrible mess of my face.
“I’d gone straight down on my hooter, which, as you can see, is not small. Cuts all over the place. I was a real mess. And when I was in A&E, a doctor walked in and said: ‘I think you’ve got Parkinson’s.’
“And it turned out that he had been watching University Challenge and had noticed that my face had acquired what’s known as the Parkinson’s mask.
“I wasn’t as effusive and exuberant as normal. I had no idea.”
Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years, according to the NHS website.
The three main symptoms of the condition are involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body, known as tremors, slow movement, and stiff and inflexible muscles.
Paxman revealed in August that he would be stepping down as host of University Challenge after 29 years in the role.
He said he decided to stop as it would become obvious to viewers that there was something “unusual” about him.
“I think I’ve been doing University Challenge for about 29 years, which is a very, very long time – too long really,” he said.
“I always think that if you’re scared of making a decision, do it.
“The University Challenge people have been brilliant but I do think that I ought to stop doing it. I will be sad to give it up, but no one is indispensable.
“It’ll become obvious that there’s something funny about me – and I mean unusual, not funny funny. So I don’t want to spoil it for them.”
Paxman: Putting Up With Parkinson’s will be broadcast at 9pm on Tuesday 4 October on ITV, and will also be available on the ITV Hub.
