Former Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman credits his dog for Parkinson's disease diagnosis

Jeremy Paxman, 2nd left, with co-hosts of the Movers and Shakers podcast astatine No.10 (Image: PA)

Jeremy Paxman has revealed his favored spaniel helped him archetypal observe helium was suffering from Parkinson’s illness aft a seemingly innocuous tumble erstwhile they were retired walking.

The erstwhile Newsnight and University Challenge host, who was formally diagnosed with the neurodegenerative illness 3 years ago, said his rescue canine Derek indirectly made him realise helium had thing incorrect with his tense system.

Paxman, 74, who near Newsnight a decennary agone aft 25 years, and retired arsenic University Challenge’s expansive inquisitor successful 2021, told his podcast: “Derek was the being that discovered my Parkinson’s. I thought he’d tally disconnected aft a squirrel – oregon much apt idiosyncratic opening a sandwich container – and that he’d dragged maine into a hole, from which I emerged bloody but unbowed.

“But it wasn’t him and it surely wasn’t his responsibility – it was Parkinson’s!”

Paxman is simply a campaigner for amended attraction for “Parkies” and a commentator connected the indignities of the information done the podcast, Movers and Shakers, which helium co-hosts on with Mark Mardell, Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar and erstwhile High Court justice Sir Nicholas Mostyn.

In this week’s episode, Paxman discussed the fateful canine locomotion autumn successful 2021.

Paxo's Battersea rescue dog, Derek the spaniel (Image: Movers and Shakers podcast)

While helium was uninjured, the presenter was shaken capable to get himself checked retired and consequent tests revealed the devastating Parkinson’s diagnosis.

Paxman said of Derek: “Apart from being idiosyncratic to stock a Scotch ovum with, he’s besides a absorption for affection. I emotion this dog.” Derek attends galore of the signaling sessions successful Paxman’s section pub successful West London.

Derek, who attends galore of the Movers and Shakers’ signaling sessions successful Paxman’s section pub successful Notting Hill, westbound London, is renowned arsenic the calmest and astir amiable of dogs, dissimilar his owner, who has mislaid small of his caustic wound since retirement. 

He caused a tempest of contention earlier this twelvemonth erstwhile helium declared: “Parkinson's whitethorn not termination you but it makes you privation you hadn't been born," arsenic helium and his chap Movers And Shakers delivered “The Parky Charter” – a database of recommendations astir the illness to Downing Street.