After being diagnosed with heart disease, Jeremy Clarkson continues to face new health problems
Former Top Gear presenter and outspoken columnist Jeremy Clarkson has revealed he was rushed to hospital after suffering what he described as a “painful” medical emergency — just a year after narrowly escaping death due to a major heart condition.
Writing in his Sunday Times column, the 65-year-old broadcaster said he was admitted to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford last week after developing an alarming “very hot neck”. The experience, he said, was “Defcon1 painful,” so intense that “they had to chisel me off the ceiling with a spatula afterwards.”
Although Clarkson refused to reveal the exact cause of his illness — remarking that it was “none of your business” — he confirmed that the situation was serious enough to require urgent treatment. The former motoring journalist added that he was “very impressed” with the cleanliness and professionalism of the NHS staff, even admitting, “I genuinely couldn’t find anything to moan about.”
A Sudden Turn of Events
Ironically, just hours before being admitted, Clarkson’s latest newspaper column had been published — one in which he heavily criticised the National Health Service, calling it “a creaking old monster.” In the piece, he accused NHS administrators of mismanagement and of allowing “international doctors who had been struck off in their native countries to work in Britain.”
The timing has not gone unnoticed by readers, many of whom pointed out the apparent irony of his words appearing in print the same day he found himself in an NHS hospital bed. Clarkson himself acknowledged the coincidence but stood firm on his criticisms, insisting his positive personal experience did not change his broader view of the service’s financial sustainability.
“The NHS is a wonderful idea,” he wrote, “but we as a nation simply cannot afford it.”
A History of Health Struggles
The latest scare comes just one year after Clarkson underwent emergency heart surgery to remove a blockage in his arteries — a procedure that doctors said came “days before disaster.” At the time, the presenter admitted he had ignored earlier warning signs, including severe chest pain and shortness of breath, assuming they were simply part of getting older.
The surgery was a wake-up call that prompted him to make several lifestyle changes. In recent months, he revealed he has lost more than a stone and a half (about 10 kilograms), partly due to the use of the Mounjaro weight-loss injection, which has become increasingly popular in the UK.
“I’m eating less, drinking a bit less, and feeling a lot better for it,” he told readers earlier this year. “But I’ll never be one of those people who enjoys salads. That’s just not me.”
Private vs. Public Care
Clarkson, who has often spoken about class, privilege, and public services in Britain, also disclosed that he no longer pays for private health insurance, claiming insurers frequently “look for ways not to pay out.” The decision, he said, left him relying on the NHS — despite his frequent criticisms of its management and bureaucracy.
During his recent stay at John Radcliffe Hospital, Clarkson praised both the medical staff and the facilities, calling the hospital “spotless” and the nurses “wonderful.” However, he maintained that the system as a whole is overburdened and financially unsustainable.
“The people are brilliant,” he wrote. “The problem is the machine. It’s just too big, too slow, and too expensive.”
A Career Built on Controversy
Known for his sharp tongue and controversial opinions, Jeremy Clarkson has built a career out of provocation. From his days hosting Top Gear alongside Richard Hammond and James May, to his current farming series Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime Video, the broadcaster has rarely shied away from confrontation.
His clashes with environmentalists, politicians, and now public institutions have kept him in the headlines for decades. Yet despite the criticism, he remains one of Britain’s most recognisable media figures — and one of its most read columnists.
Looking Ahead
As for his health, Clarkson did not specify whether further treatment would be required but hinted that he would be taking it easier in the weeks ahead. Friends say he has returned to his Diddly Squat Farm in Chipping Norton, where filming for the next season of Clarkson’s Farm is underway.
For now, the outspoken presenter seems to have learned at least one lesson from his latest scare — even if not quite the one his critics might hope.
“The NHS might be creaking,” he concluded, “but when it’s your neck on fire, it’s a bloody good thing it’s still there.”