One of the nation’s longest serving newsreaders has shared his daily battle with dementia. TV legend Alastair Stewart, who is best known for presenting the news on ITN and GB News, has said that he now struggles with simple tasks such as tying his shoelaces and getting dressed.
The 72-year-old, who lives in Hampshire with his wife Sally, relies on his other half for help as he said that many daily tasks are now beyond him. Previously speaking about his worrying symptoms, Alastair said: “I wasn’t becoming forgetful, but things like doing up your shoelaces properly, making sure the tie was straight, and remembering the call time for your programme.”
In a recent interview, the TV star admitted: “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.”
Alastair shared that he also found it hard to write emails with poor spelling and punctuation becoming the norm. He also struggled with tying his tie and telling the time on an analogue clock.
The reporting legend retired from a 50-year career on TV in 2023. Shortly afterwards he announced he had been diagnosed with vascular dementia – an illness caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, which damages and eventually kills brain cells.
Now his wife helps to care for him, with him relying on her to drive him around since he can no longer get behind the wheel. Speaking of Sally’s caring nature, Alastair told the Telegraph: “It is demeaning and soul destroying, and she comes to it from a position of enormous calibre and talent.
“She is a beautiful, intelligent woman. I hate reducing her role in life to being my carer.”
The devastating diagnosis came after scans revealed that he had had a series of “minor strokes that are called infarct strokes”.
At the time, speaking to The Telegraph, the veteran newsreader said: “There’s no point feeling self-indulgent about it. I won’t condemn myself to an awful life in the short term.”
He is now a spokesperson for Alzheimer’s Research UK to help boost the profile of the charity and push for a cure for Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.
Urging people to seek medical help if they feel the early signs, he said: “Don’t ignore it. Go to your GP. And if you’ve got it, don’t be ‘Johnny-b****cks-brave’ about it. Go and talk to somebody.”