TV broadcaster Alastair Stewart has revealed he can no longer tie as the 72-year-old battles dementia.
Mr Stewart announced he was diagnosed with early-onset vascular dementia in September 2023 and has since spoken of how the disease has affected him.
The longest-serving male newsreader on British television said that after seeing his GP a scan revealed he had had a series of 'minor strokes that are called infarct strokes', which led to his diagnosis.
He began his career at ITV's Southern Television in Southampton in 1976 and later joined ITN in 1980. He left ITV in 2020 and the following year joined GB News, stepping away in early 2023 when he was diagnosed with dementia.
"I've covered the Gulf War and run the very first television Leaders' debate, but now I can't tie my own shoelaces or choose my own shirt. But there's no point feeling self-indulgent about it. I won't condemn myself to an awful life in the short term," he told The Telegraph.
It's Mr Stewart's reliance on his wife, Sally, that he finds the hardest about this new stage of life, describing it as 'demeaning' and 'soul-destroying'.
The 72-year-old said following his diagnosis he was told by a psychologist to think back each day to find three things that made him happy. He confesses this always involves being with his grandchildren, describing them as his 'medicine'.
He spends most of his time now at home in Hampshire set on 26 acres of farmland with his wife Sally. With them are their two rescue dogs and outside are ex ducks, four chickens, two donkeys, a tortoise, a cat a horse and a Shetland pony.
"Without Sal, I'd be finished," Mr Stewart admits regarding his wife's support after her own diagnosis with stage one breast cancer. Fortunately for them, she has begun treatment and hopes this will be taken care of.
Looking back at his career highlights include covering significant events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, royal weddings, and King Charles' coronation for GB News.
"Don't ignore it. Go to your GP. And if you've got it, don't be 'Johnny-bollocks-brave' about it. Go and talk to somebody," Mr Stewart appealed while serving as a spokesperson for Alzheimer's Research UK.