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Broadcaster John Stapleton has provided an update on his Parkinson's disease, as he told former colleagues Eamonn Holmes and Penny Smith "for me, it's over".Speaking to GB News in a special breakfast TV reunion, Mr Stapleton admitted he would be a "very unusual person" if he didn't, from time to time, "just sit there and think, God, how life has changed".FULL STORY HERE.
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0:00
Now, we're joined now by a legend in the studio, a broadcasting legend
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He's presented everything. This is a good point. You know, Watchdog, Good Morning Britain, BBC Breakfast, whatever, whatever
0:13
He has done it and a thousand things more. Yes, and now he's returned to our screens to discuss his Parkinson's diagnosis
0:21
and his determination to stay positive whilst working alongside his condition. And today we have a special treat for you all because we're talking about John Stapleton
0:31
Yes. And he's reunited with his partner, boxing partner. Screen wife. On screen wife
0:38
For the first time in 17 years. Well, we were 17 years together
0:44
We were. And then I don't know how long that we haven't actually presented it. When did it all, when did the wheels come off
0:49
It was nearly 10 years ago. 10 years ago. Ten years ago that the wheels came off and we went our separate ways
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like sort of squeaky supermarket trolleys. Stay in touch. Stay in touch
0:58
Oh, yes, of course. We carried on with our very sober lunches
1:02
Indeed. Well, my friend, absolutely great to see you. My new fellow. And what's wrong with you
1:08
I've got a thing called Parkinson's disease, which is what they call a progressive illness
1:12
which is a polite way of saying it'll only get worse. But thinking positive about it
1:17
lots of people live a near-normal life with Parkinson's, so I'm aiming to do the same
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I'm taking the tablets, I'm doing the exercises my expert tells me I should do
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I'm speaking as well as I can because I need a speech therapist to talk more slowly and more clearly
1:31
I also have difficulty swallowing. And the latest thing is I've had difficulty with my balance
1:37
hence the stick I've got by my side all the time now. But, you know, I'm learning to live with it
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doing my best to overcome it. John, what is it? What is Parkinson's
1:46
Who's the effects it's having on you? But where's the problem? Why does it come about
1:51
It's a neurological disorder, which means your body doesn't coordinate as it used to do
1:56
It's the fastest-growing neurological complaint in the world, believe it or not
2:00
We don't quite know why, possibly because more of us are living longer. But, you know, as I say, you can live a normal life with it
2:08
and so if you behave yourself... Behave yourself. But in the Movers and Shakers Club, which I know you're part of
2:16
the Moves and Shakers, which I think was set up by Jeremy Paxman. Yes, and a couple of little guys from the BBC, yeah
2:22
Does Jeremy have it? Yes, Jeremy Paxman does, yes. It's Jeremy Paxman, and then there's quite a few
2:27
Rory, Catherine, Jones, and there's various others. Most of them are men, though, aren't they
2:34
There's a couple of women there as well. And they meet every month and they do a podcast
2:37
which is very instructive and very good. It's good for awareness, isn't it? Completely all about awareness, all about, you know
2:43
making a light of it as best you can as well. having a few last as well. You can't all be down-hearted about these things, can you
2:49
No, you can't. I love the Movers and Shakers. Who came up with that one? It's a great name, isn't it
2:53
It is a great one, yeah. John you know what I stuck in a wheelchair right and I have huge mobility problems Neurological as well incidentally with the discs in my back and how it affects your legs
3:07
Biggest issue for me is football. I just want to know from your point of view
3:15
you go to the Etihad and you're a big Man City supporter
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and you and me would often be on trains together and up in Manchester, whenever I go to Old Trafford
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and you're going to the Etihad. The accessibility is difficult. It's very bad
3:30
Has it stopped you going? Well, I'm going to go the first game of the season on Saturday
3:34
with my son, Nick, who will look after me, hoping I'll be OK
3:38
Going into the ground and coming out of the ground is a problem, you know, with the old city
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A thousand people converging on it. Would you not use a chair? I haven't done yet
3:47
I've got an electric wheelchair. You press buttons and it does amazing things for you
3:51
It's whizzing around. I have to say. it's worth thinking about getting an active one
3:56
I'll think about it. Does it have a hooter and stuff to get people out there
4:01
Does it really? It's pretty fast, yeah. Meh, meh. It's really fast. And it's racing car red
4:05
I went to the airport the other day. I was tempted to have one, but as I was going through
4:09
I've also got false hips, you know, everything's been replaced on me, so for eyes, hips, you know
4:14
And when I go through security, beep, beep, beep, beep, every single day
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This particular time, I said, sorry, sir, we've got to take you to one side and into a private room for a closer examination
4:23
I said, what's the problem? He said, we found some evidence of steel around your groin
4:27
I said, I'm 79 years old, he's on a set. I should be so lucky. Steel around my groin, you're kidding me
4:34
But maybe next time I'll have a wheelchair and avoid all that. John, you've still got your humour, though
4:39
I mean, you're making light of the situation. We know, obviously, day-to-day life must be really tough for you
4:44
But you've got your humour and you're making light of what must be very difficult
4:49
What's the point of not doing, you know? It's not going to go away. All I can do is control it
4:55
I get tremendous help from Parkinson's UK, a charity. There's loads of information from people of all different kinds
5:01
There are 41 different symptoms, 41 different symptoms. When did you first realise that something wasn't right
5:08
About three years ago. My mother had it, so I recognised... I got the old tremor. The tremor makes getting dressed difficult
5:15
Fastening button is a bit of a nightmare. And I went to see this specialist and he said
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it's not Parkinson's yet, it's what we call a benign essential tremor
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I said, what causes that? He said, we haven't a clue, but don't worry about it unless it gets worse
5:27
And it did, of course, and so I recognised the symptoms. I'd seen my mother decline over four or five years
5:33
Didn't have all the help I had, but she had a lot of help in other directions
5:37
But, yeah, so I knew what to expect, Ellie. And what do you think has changed since your mum's diagnosis and yours
5:44
What progression has been made in this? Well, I mean, on the downside
5:48
this has been around for 200 years and we still haven't found a cure, which is ridiculous
5:52
isn't it, really? But there is much more help available Depending on where you living there are Parkinson nurses available Parkinson UK is trying to raise million to make sure that other people everyone gets a Parkinson nurse It depends on where you live
6:06
Classically, this country, it's a bit of a postcode lottery at the minute. So it depends
6:11
But I think there is more help available, particularly with charities like Parkinson's UK
6:15
So, yeah, make use of them. That's what they're there for. John, you're talking about the physical effects on your body
6:23
What about the mental effects? We're running tapes today of all of us on TV
6:28
and you don't want to think of you and the time, the place and you used to run about that studio, you know, whatever
6:34
bouncing down, talking to people. Do you ever look at that man and you think, what the heck happened
6:40
Yes, I do. I do, to be honest with you. I also think, you know, what would have happened if my wife was still around
6:46
Yes, of course. Which is another factor because I'm on my own now. Tremendous support from my son Nick and his wife Lisa
6:52
and indeed my friends and neighbours. they're all great, but, you know, you'd be a very unusual person
6:57
if you didn't, from time to time, just sit there and think, God, how life has changed
7:01
But I can't do anything about it, so what's the money about it, you know? Try and make it as light as it possibly can
7:08
And we still manage our lunches. We still manage our lunches. Which don't go on
7:11
perhaps for quite as long as they used to, maybe. We don't drink quite as much wine. We don't drink quite as much wine
7:16
And you two have such a lovely friendship. And you worked together for a long time
7:21
I mean, 17 years in the Tally World. 17 years. It's incredible, isn't it? Never a dull moment with Penny Smith, I can tell you
7:26
Zayman will verify, I'm sure. Never a dull moment. We just watched that clip that you were at a bit earlier
7:32
and it was so funny because there you could see me wanging on about something and you've got that face on you
7:37
that you used to wear quite a lot, which was like this. I mean, I'm exaggerating
7:42
I've seen it. What the hell's going next? Yes. She used to play tricks on me, you know
7:49
One of my jobs was at the end of the hour was to do the brief weather forecast, you know
7:54
which was on AutoCue. And after I'd gone down to the studio, she'd go into AutoCue and change the AutoCue
7:59
So at one moment it came up and it said, if you're waking up this morning, you may experience damp patches
8:06
And you read it and then you stopped and looked at me and that made it much worse
8:11
Oh, dear, dear, dear. So is Penny the naughtiest on set? She liked to push the boundaries of naughtiness, yes
8:17
Absolutely. And I used to say, she'd say something I think, I can't believe she'd just say that
8:21
Just tell yourself the viewers are probably still rubbing the sound from their eyes
8:26
Or tell yourself they've probably gone for a cup of coffee. They didn't hear it either. Don't pursue it, it'll only get worse
8:31
I remember taking you aside once in a corridor and I said, Penny, you're brilliant, you're brilliant, you look fantastic
8:37
but here's what you should do, Penny. You should just stick to reading the script
8:43
Never. There is no chance of that happening. I'll tell you what..
8:48
Says the man who never sticks to a script. As you well know, the viewers loved her for it
8:52
because at the end of every news posting, she'd have a joke or a smile at her, Stephen. I just The viewers loved all that Why not Indeed And the reaction to Penny being back on the show this week and being on People have loved People love nostalgia They love this Yeah nostalgia is definitely a thing
9:08
I like the fact that when you got introduced, you read the autocue and you went
9:12
I hate the expression veteran. It just means you're flipping old. I don't realise I didn't read it
9:17
I didn't say veteran. I said legend, whatever. It did say veteran
9:23
Why do you think that era of telly is so fondly remembered by viewers
9:27
Do you think it's just how warm and friendly... Well, of course it was
9:31
..was the path that came through? Well, it was very early on. Well, I'll tell you why. There was more people, you had more to say
9:35
you could be more off script, the way we are in GB News, but today you just get people who are told because of vocalism
9:41
don't say this, don't do that, and do read the script and stick to it
9:46
So you get presenters now who have got much less personality and much less risk
9:50
Well, they're risk-averse, aren't they? That's the whole point, is that probably nowadays
9:55
I'd have been sacked within two months. Well, the other thing is because we did our homework, didn't we
10:00
We weren't on there knowing what we were talking about. Well, there was that. We challenged people in a friendly but firm way
10:06
John, I remember presenting with you, which would never happen today, you and I presenting GMTV in the morning
10:12
and you would never have two men now. Don't ask me why
10:17
You could have two women doing it, but you would never have two men. And this man, to me, he was always the governor
10:23
It wouldn't matter if I was... It was my role. I was beside him. That was John Stapleton
10:28
I said to him, you're the boss, you do what you do
10:32
He was the senior guy. I still respect him and look up to him. What do you think of what you see on TV today
10:39
Well, I'm not as critical as you, perhaps. I think there's damn good programmes on TV
10:45
some very good documentaries, and I think most people in the news area do the level best they can
10:51
and are very competent. So I hate to sit in judgment, but I do watch the news like you, I'm sure
10:58
in a very meticulous way of thinking, why are they saying that, why have they got that there, why have they got this here
11:02
But, you know, we're out of it. It's over. For me, it's over. There's no point in sitting there harping about what's going on now
11:09
That's a good way of looking at it and being reconciled. Yeah, it's gone
11:14
I had a great run. I was in the business, I was in television for 45 years, Henry
11:19
What a run, what a run. Well, some ups and downs, like we all have, you know, from time to time
11:24
I have absolutely no complaints. I was damn lucky. We were lucky. We had local television and we had national television
11:30
And nowadays you don't really have local television, doesn't it? The quality of programmes that you were able to do
11:34
in places like Manchester were incredible. You said that was then, that's over for you
11:40
What's ahead for you? How do you see the future? Surviving, basically
11:45
Yeah, doing my best to cope with this downturn in my lifestyle, really
11:51
But I say, I could be far worse off. I've got a great mate, a lovely son, a lovely daughter
11:57
You look great. Thank you, darling. Make-up, tribute to your make-up department
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