Denys said hearing Jeremy’s news brought back memories of his own diagnosis (Image: Macmillan Cancer Support)
A farmer whose shock prostate cancer diagnosis felt like “the end of the world” has praised Jeremy Clarkson for speaking up about the disease. Denys Fell, 75, said he went “through a dark time” after a routine health check found his cancer in 2024. Jeremy’s diagnosis was revealed in episode seven of his Amazon Prime series Clarkson’s Farm, when he broke the news to farm manager Kaleb and land agent Charlie.
The former Top Gear star said his cancer was “aggressive, but it’s really early”. He confirmed he had an operation to remove 10% of his prostate. Grandfather-of-three Denys said watching those scenes brought tears to his eyes. He added: “I have a great deal of respect for Jeremy. I’ve watched every episode of Clarkson’s Farm. When you’ve been through it yourself, you feel for them, it’s dreadful. You just get pent up with emotion.”
Denys was running a 250-acre arable farm at the time of his diagnosis (Image: Macmillan Cancer Support)
Denys, of Welton in East Yorks, said Jeremy was a “well-respected figure who has done a lot for farming”, particularly by standing up to Labour’s inheritance tax raid.
He hopes the star’s decision to share his diagnosis will encourage other farmers — and men generally — to attend health checks.
Denys added: “It is so much better to catch it early. As we say in the Farming Community Network: nip it in the bud, a stitch in time saves nine. Get it done, and if it’s bad news, just know that if it’s caught early you have a much better chance of a better outcome.”
Farmers are at higher risk of certain cancers, including skin, prostate, and those linked to exposure to harmful substances, according to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Rural communities often have access to fewer local health services, limited transport options, and face long travel times.
Denys was running a 250-acre arable farm at the time of his diagnosis, producing organic wheat for bread. He was preparing to renew a five-year environmental contract when he decided to book a health check.
A PSA blood test showed elevated hormone levels, and a consultant confirmed he had prostate cancer. Denys, who had no symptoms and had recently run the Boston Marathon, said: “I could not believe it. I can almost feel tears coming to my eyes now. It was just the end of the world.”
The farmer had a Gleason score of 4+3, meaning his cancer was “a whisker away from becoming aggressive”.
He opted for surgery over radiotherapy to avoid having to return to the hospital for dozens of sessions, and tried to get ahead of his duties before the operation. Denys recalled: “I was able to front-load a lot of the work, get all the harvesting and as much sowing done as I could.
Denys tried to get ahead on farm work before his surgery (Image: Macmillan Cancer Support)
“Normally, I don’t cut the farm hedges until January or February, but I got the hedge cutter on September 1. After surgery, you’d struggle to lift a hen off its nest for about a month.”
Denys underwent robotic-assisted surgery in September 2024 and now has blood tests every six months to check the cancer has not returned.
He said many farmers may be reluctant to attend health checks because they fear the impact of a bad result on their business.
He added: “To be successful as a farmer, you have to be fairly independent-minded. The thought of an interruption because of a health test is scary. I had people tell me for about 10 years that I ought to have a test, but I basically ignored it.
“Who wants to be told you’ve got cancer? You think: ‘Oh, I don’t want to be bothered with that. I’d rather get on and get the fields ploughed.’ But as I’ve learned, it’s extremely important.”
Denys now works with Macmillan to raise awareness of cancer among farmers. He met the cast of ITV soap Emmerdale to inform a storyline about Cain Dingle being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
He also ran the Sydney marathon after recovering from surgery, followed by the Cape Town marathon last month — becoming “one of 1,994 people on the planet who have run all eight world majors”.
Denys said his wife, Mary, has been his “crutch” throughout. The pair have since moved to a smaller farm but he has no plans to retire. He added: “I just love farming. I’ve downsized, and I’ll be relying on my neighbours more, but I’m just really happy to do what I can.”
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Clarkson confirmed a PSA test two months ago revealed no indication of cancer, and he is in remission.
Clarkson went on to say the news of his diagnosis has “landed harder than I thought it would”.
He added: “I’ve seen so many people die of cancer. It doesn’t bear thinking about what it must be like to live knowing that an illness is going to kill you.
“It must be very, very, very distressing. I don’t know the history of what happened to (former Olympic cyclist) Chris Hoy, but to be told your cancer is inoperable and to still carry on, you’d have to be incredibly brave.”
Jeremy is breaking down barriers for farmers, says DR ANTHONY CUNLIFFE
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is often one of the biggest challenges someone will face and Jeremy Clarkson’s decision to speak openly about his own diagnosis will prompt many people to reflect on their health and seek support sooner.
For some people, speaking up about cancer or accessing care is made even harder because of who they are, where they live or the type of work they do, something that can be especially true for rural and farming communities.
People living remotely often have access to fewer local health services, limited transport options and long travel times to appointments, all of which can delay vital care.
For many farmers, it’s easy to ignore symptoms like tiredness or persistent aches and pains, putting them down to the demands of a physically tough job.
At the same time, there’s often difficulty getting GP appointments that fit around farming working patterns. It’s voices like Jeremy’s that can help break down these barriers and encourage people who may be less likely to prioritise their health to recognise symptoms and reach out.
At Macmillan, we’re working hard to ensure fairer care for everyone. This includes partnering with organisations across the UK, such as the Farming Community Network, to understand the realities of rural life and ensure support reaches people who might otherwise miss out.
We’re also bringing services closer to where people live and work — including training almost 50,000 professionals in high‑street and community settings — so that everyone gets the care they need.
For anyone worried or affected by cancer, Macmillan is here for you. Call its free, confidential Support Line open 7 days a week 8am-8pm. There are many other ways to get support online and locally and more details can be found on the Macmillan website.
– Dr Anthony Cunliffe is Macmillan’s lead medical advisor
