Former Channel 4 News anchor Jon Snow diagnosed with Alzheimer’s | Jon Snow

The former Channel 4 News anchor Jon Snow has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, the Alzheimer’s Society has said.

Snow, who presented his last news bulletin in December 2021, will take part in a documentary that will be broadcast on Channel 4 and in which he talks about his diagnosis.

In the documentary about a mining disaster in Zambia, Jon Snow: A Last Big Story, he will say: “At the beginning I wanted to hide it, there’s so much prejudice.

“Any sort of hint of mental decay, you’re sort of dead. There are moments when it pops up but it’s not an all-day, every-day condition, and that’s what I cling on to.

“I’ve witnessed a great deal. I hope I’ve learned something – but I’ve still got a huge amount to learn. We all have. There’s still more to do.”

Snow, 78, was the face of Channel 4 News for 32 years and was best known for his colourful ties and socks on air.

He covered the fall of the Berlin Wall, the release of Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama’s inauguration while fronting the programme.

Before that Snow had worked as a correspondent for ITN, reporting from Somalia and Vietnam. He was its Washington correspondent during the middle of Ronald Reagan’s presidency.

In an article by his friend and former colleague Kirsty Lang for the Daily Mail about his illness, Snow said: “If I don’t speak out, who will?”

Snow’s diagnosis was hastened by him telling his wife, Precious Lunga, he was late for work 10 months after he had left Channel 4.

Speaking to Lang, he said: “I don’t know really. I don’t feel disabled in any way. I mean sometimes I doubt whether I’ve really got it. I don’t know if it’s widespread knowledge.”

Snow had been part of a clinical trial for the condition and has previously spoken about how his mother, Joan, struggled with the illness in the years before her death.

According to the NHS, Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that attacks the brain, leading to a decline in brain function. It can affect memory, thinking skills and other mental abilities.

Jon Snow: A Last Big Story will be broadcast at 8pm on 20 June.

Michelle Dyson, the chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Jon’s decision to talk publicly about his dementia diagnosis is a real act of courage and his story will resonate with so many. His support for Alzheimer’s Society will help spark a national conversation about dementia that we so desperately need.

“Despite being the UK’s biggest killer, dementia is still not treated with the same urgency as other major health conditions like cancer.”

Dyson added: “Alongside his wife, Precious, Jon is shining a light on the need for faster, fairer access to diagnosis. An early diagnosis can unlock vital support, help families plan ahead and potentially open the door to participation in clinical trials. Yet too many people across the country are still waiting far too long for a diagnosis.

“We look forward to working with Jon, whose longstanding commitment to speaking out against injustice will help ensure the harsh realities of dementia cannot be ignored by the UK government and the NHS.”

Louisa Compton, the head of news, current affairs, specialist factual and sport at Channel 4, said: “Jon Snow is not just one of Channel 4’s most recognisable faces – he is part of our very fabric and is dearly loved by viewers around the UK.

“It is a profound privilege that we are able to document his last big investigation, in a sensitively made film that frames Jon’s current affairs nous alongside a new life lived with Alzheimer’s.

“We hope this film will go a long way to raise awareness of how to live whilst facing a life-changing diagnosis.”