Jeremy Paxman says Parkinson's battle is 'one of the most depressing things you could ever imagine' as TV presenter, 73, reveals he considered Dignitas but it would be 'very hard on those left behind'

Jeremy Paxman has said living with Parkinson's is 'one of the most depressing things you could ever imagine' because it only gets worse.

The former University Challenge and Newsnight presenter was diagnosed with the degenerative disease back in 2021 and stepped down as the host of University Challenge.

The TV presenter, 73, has said his condition has now worsened to the point where he's had to stop writing his magazine column after five years.

He considered going to the Dignitas assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland, but decided not to, as it would be 'very hard on those left behind'. 

Speaking candidly in an interview with Saga magazine, he said Parkinson's is 'tough' knowing that 'one will carry on being like this forever'.

He added: 'PD may not be listed as my cause of death, as people don't technically die of it, but it will almost certainly be a contributing factor'.

Figures from December 2023 revealed that more than 530 Brits had ended their life with Dignitas since the world's foremost euthanasia clinic opened in the late 1990s.

The not-for-profit clinic offers doctor-assisted suicide to any patient battling terminal or severe illnesses.

Under current British law, the practice is illegal and carries a 14-year prison term. As such, dozens of desperate Brits choose to travel abroad to end their suffering.

Actress Diana Rigg, star of Game of Thrones and The Avengers TV series, made an impassioned plea for the implication of the assisted dying law before her death from cancer in 2020. 

Dame Esther, 83, revealed at the end of last year that she has stage four lung cancer and has joined the Dignitas assisted dying clinic in Switzerland.

She has called for a vote to make assisted dying legal in the UK, after multiple crown dependencies including Jersey and the Isle of Man took steps towards legalising it. 

She was joined by Carol Vorderman and Nicola McLean who also shared their support for legislation to allow terminally ill patients to take their own lives.

Jeremy Paxman began his broadcasting career on the BBC's graduate trainee programme in 1972. 

He started in local radio at BBC Radio Brighton before moving to Belfast where he reported on The Troubles. 

In 1977 he moved to London and transferred from the Tonight programme to Panorama. 

Paxman became the presenter of Newsnight in 1989 where he interviewed politicians and celebrities including Tony Blair, Russell Brand, George Osborne and Boris Johnson.

The former journalist spoke about his Parkinson's diagnosis for the first time in an ITV documentary back in 2022.

He candidly spoke about his struggles with coming to terms with the disease, saying he feels 'beaten and dejected' by Parkinson's, but insisted he doesn't want sympathy from people.

Taking to Twitter, viewers admitted they were 'moved to tears' by his 'courage' in speaking about living with Parkinson's disease in the 'powerful' documentary.

The documentary saw Jeremy investigate the degenerative disease and meet with doctors and Parkinson's sufferers - including The Chase's Paul Sinha and Vicar of Dibley writer Paul Mayhew Archer.

Jeremy also met Sharon Osbourne, whose husband Ozzy suffers with the disease, while the presenter also made the decision to donate his brain to Parkinson's research after his death.

In April this year, Paxman marked World Parkinson's Day by presenting the Parky Charter and a petition with tens of thousands of names to Number 10. 

He was joined by fellow members of the Movers and Shakers podcast which discusses life with Parkinson's.   

About 153,000 people have been diagnosed with the condition, although estimates suggest more than 200,000 may be affected.

Caroline Rassell, chief executive of the charity Parkinson's UK, said: 'The Movers and Shakers are an incredible group of people with Parkinson's who are using their combined voices to create a powerful platform for change.

'We support the principles of the Parky Charter, which echo the issues that the Parkinson's UK community raises with us.'

Carl Beech, chief executive of charity Spotlight YOPD, said: 'When I was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson's, I'll never forget the words 'incurable, degenerative and progressive' ringing in my ears as I left the consultant's room. I knew that life was different now, and looked for help.

'The Movers and Shakers podcast was the first thing I listened to. It gave me great comfort to know I wasn't alone. However, I was young and so I had a similar but also different battle on my hands.

'One of having to work with declining health and yet no easy access to financial help. Having to fight and often failing to get the help needed is soul-destroying.'