“And that’s where I’ve been, I’ve been right by his side and his spirits are really good, so thank you.
“He’s strong-minded, he’s got a strong mind on him, which is good.”
It is a typically plain Cooper assessment: practical, loyal, and not especially interested in making a dramatic speech when showing up will do.
Cooper urged people not to put off health checks
Cooper also used the attention around Clarkson’s illness to make a wider point about early checks, saying that “catching anything early is quite important.”
“That’s the main thing, but you’ve gotta keep checking. People can sit there and say I’m busy, busy, busy,” he said.
“But actually sometimes you’ve gotta go, I’m gonna just have to check and see if I’m okay.”
His comments come after Clarkson’s diagnosis drew a wave of reaction from viewers, many of whom saw the news unfold on the Amazon Prime Video series rather than through a formal statement.
Lisa Hogan shared thanks for public support
Clarkson’s girlfriend, Lisa Hogan, also posted an update on Instagram Stories, sharing a photo of the former Top Gear presenter on the farm holding a long-lens camera.
Hogan, an Irish actor, later shared an image from the Clarkson’s Farm episode in which Clarkson revealed the diagnosis. She wrote: “Thank you for all your support today,” and tagged Prostate Cancer UK.
The post came as Clarkson received well-wishes from fans and public figures, including Piers Morgan. The two have a long and not exactly gentle history, including the 2004 British Press Awards incident in which Clarkson punched Morgan after a dispute.
Morgan wrote on X: “I wish my old sparring partner all the best with his treatment. Guys, have a PSA test, it may save your life.”
Clarkson has spoken about health scares before
Clarkson has talked openly in recent years about his health problems, both on Clarkson’s Farm and in his newspaper columns.
Last year, he was hospitalised only hours after publishing a column criticising the National Health Service, which he described as a “creaking old monster.” He did not reveal why he needed treatment, saying: “that’s none of your business.”
His cancer diagnosis comes almost two years after he underwent a heart procedure to have two stents fitted, improving blood flow to the heart.
Clarkson, a longtime smoker, previously quit after contracting pneumonia while on holiday in Spain.
Clarkson’s Farm is available to stream on Prime Video.
