"I'm really worried": BBC icon reveals incurable condition
British broadcasting legend Alistair Stewart has shared the details of his devastating diagnosis, just after announcing his retirement.
The 71-year-old shared that after suffering a series of strokes, he was diagnosed with vascular dementia.
The news comes after he announced his retirement, after a 50-year career in the media that saw him in prominent roles with both ITV News and GB News.
In an interview on GB News, Stewart explained that he first began feeling "discombobulated" six to nine months ago, which left him fearing he had "early onset dementia."
He told his GB News colleague Camilla Tominey, "I wasn't forgetful but things like doing your shoelaces up properly, making sure your tie was straight, remembering the call time for your program is four o'clock not five o'clock – not turning up early or late – and stuff like that."
"And I then decided I might have something wrong up here."
He went on to explain he went to his GP to explain his symptoms, to which his GP recommended he have a scan to determine the diagnosis.
When his scan results came back, he was told he'd had a series of minor strokes.
"And it was like a scene from Casualty or Emergency Ward 10 because the results came back and I had indeed had a series of minor strokes – that are called infract strokes."
"Not the big one where your face falls down and your arm goes doolally. But it's like pepper shots and the cumulative effect of that is that I had a diagnosis of early onset vascular dementia."
His condition is "incurable" however Stewart says he is following doctor's advice to try and slow the progression of the condition.
Since receiving his diagnosis, Stewart has retired from his role at GB News after more than 50 years as a journalist and broadcaster.
He shared in a statement, "I'm nearly 71 and I still get the most tremendous lift from live television – it's the best job in the world."
"However, the rigours of preparing for two live interview shows a week, and commuting from Hampshire to London for them, are considerable. I want to reduce my commitment while I'm still ahead as an old broadcaster, rather than an ancient one."
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