has candidly opened up about his recent health scare, revealing he’s on a life-saving mission “to not die” following a heart procedure that was crucial due to his “alarmingly high level” of cholesterol.
The ex- presenter is now waving goodbye to his beloved junk food and embarking on a fresh fitness journey, which includes a revamped work-life balance. Clarkson shared that “so far I’ve relied on luck to keep me alive”.
Penning his thoughts in The Sunday Times, the television personality disclosed his newfound love for Pilates as part of his commitment to staying healthy enough to watch his granddaughters grow up. He confessed: “I’m not going to dwell on the joys of being a grandparent because what can be said about it has already been said.”
“But I have decided that it is so wonderful that I want it to go on for as long as is humanly possible. Which means I must do everything in my power to not die.”
But he felt that something had to change as he is in “sniper’s alley right now” and was working at “dodging the bullets”.
Fearful Jeremy Clarkson opened up about staying around for his grandchildren (Image: Getty Images)
In October, Clarkson revealed he had an urgent heart operation after a “sudden deterioration” in his health.
He admitted he was “maybe” days away from death when he underwent two hour surgery.
Now he is “buying time” which “hurts” and is “expensive” but is “better than wasting your money on a new watch”.
“Thanks to my grandchildren, I’m actively looking forward to old age”, he added.
Don’t miss… [US] [SOAPS]
Jeremy Clarkson revealed he has taken on Pilates (Image: Getty)
Now at 64 years old, Clarkson has grappled with various health and fitness strategies, often thwarted by his aversion to discomfort, cycling, and gym environments.
He has even dismissed yoga, critiquing it as “even worse” due to its demanding poses, joking that “you’re asked to pull your leg over your head and keep on pulling until it comes off”.
Having abandoned walking as an ineffective weight-loss method humorously noting that “Michelangelo’s David burns more calories than I do” during his walks he was intrigued by the gift of a Pilates reformer from a friend and opted to try it out.
As he spilled the beans on his latest fitness endeavour, Clarkson said: “Naturally, I had no idea what to do with it, so I employed the services of a local girl, who explained it had something to do with an activity called Pilates.”
The television personality decided to give it a go: “I decided I’d give it a bash. And so, on day one, she made me lie down on the tabletop with my feet on a sort of crossmember and, for a whole hour, breathe in through my nose and then out of my mouth. I found this very easy and decided I’d have another lesson the very next day.”
Despite the increased intensity of the following session, Clarkson was pleased with the progress, stating it “wasn’t difficult either” and praising his instructor for making Pilates a newfound pleasure.
After finishing one workout with sore legs, the Grand Tour host felt a satisfying tranquillity, contemplating his extra time stolen for future moments with his granddaughters.
His comments come after Clarkson became unwell during a holiday getaway last year and later found it difficult to climb a flight of stairs.
When he returned to England, he felt a “sudden deterioration began to gather pace” with him feeling “clammy”, “tightness in my chest”, and “pins and needles in my left arm”.
He went to his doctors who then fitted him with a stent – a wire mesh tube – to his hold his arteries open, to improve blood flow to his heart and relieve his chest pain.
After he was operated on, doctors told him he was perhaps “days away” from death.