Oxford News
Jeremy Clarkson meets with David Cameron to discuss cancer
The 66-year-old revealed in the latest episodes of the fifth season of his series Clarkson’s Farm that he had been diagnosed with “aggressive” prostate cancer that had been discovered early.
In an interview with The Times, Clarkson confirmed that a PSA test two months ago revealed no indication of cancer and he is officially in remission.
He said: “I was talking to David (Cameron) about it earlier this morning. He said the amount of people that come up to him is mostly in public conveniences and say, if you hadn’t owned up to it, I wouldn’t have got checked, and they wouldn’t have found it.
“So now there’s a group of us, (food writer) Giles Coren, David, me, one or two other people, and we meet for lunch every so often. Everybody has different Gleason scores, and everybody has different Stockholm and PSA scores. We all compare notes and I actually get muddled with what mine were.
READ MORE: Countryfile star makes future clear after ‘joy’ at retirement home
“But it is quite funny watching people looking at us and going, ‘that’s quite an interesting group of people, what do they all share in common?’.”
Clarkson went on to say that the news of his diagnosis has “landed harder than I thought it would”.
He added: “This is why I have to say to everybody who’s reading this, please, please, please go and get checked.
“It’s not uncomfortable, it’s not undignified, and it’s a no-brainer. I did, and that’s why I’m sitting here talking to you 11 months down the line.
“I’ve seen so many people die of cancer. It doesn’t bear thinking about what it must be like to live knowing that an illness is going to kill you.
“It must be very, very, very distressing. I don’t know the history of what happened to (former Olympic cyclist) Chris Hoy, but to be told your cancer is inoperable and to still carry on you’d have to be incredibly brave.”
Speaking from a hospital bed at the end of the season finale, Clarkson revealed he had experienced complications during treatment, which he told The Times had been caused by him resuming a course of tablets he had been taking for his earlier vascular and cardiac problems.
He said: “That was horrific and it was all my own fault. I’d been on drugs for heart issues and I had to come off them during the cancer treatment.
“Two or three weeks after the cancer operation, I thought I’d better put myself back on those blood thinners. Big mistake, huge.
“It (resulted in) a very big emergency in the middle of the night. I’m not even going to go into the treatment that was required as a result of that, because it was horrible. I didn’t ask a doctor, I just thought, ‘I’m sure it will be all right to go back on blood thinners’.”
The diagnosis came almost two years after Clarkson underwent a heart procedure, which saw him fitted with two stents to improve blood flow to the heart.
Oxford News
Banbury teenager charged after stabbing in Oxfordshire village
At about 9.20pm on Monday, June 15, an initial incident occurred in Barberi Close/St Nicholas Road in Littlemore, during which a man was approached by a group of males travelling in a blue vehicle and threatened.
The victim was able to leave the scene without injury.
About ten minutes later, an incident took place in Beckett Drive, Radley, where a group of males travelling in a blue vehicle believed to be linked to the first incident, assaulted another man who sustained a serious injury.
He was treated at hospital and has since been discharged.
READ MORE: New safety measures announced after Oxford river deaths
The police cordon in Beckett Drive, Radley, on Wednesday, June 17 (Image: Matthew Evans)
Thomas Quinn, aged 19, of Deacon Way, Banbury, has been charged with one count of section 18 grievous bodily harm and one count of possession of a bladed article.
He appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court today (June 20) and was remanded in custody pending a further court appearance at Oxford Crown Court on 17 July.
The force has made a further seven arrests in connection with this investigation.
Six have been released on police bail, with a further person released with no further action.
Officers previously reassured residents that they are treating the stabbing as an isolated incident and that patrols have been stepped up locally.
Police previously appealed for witnesses and footage regarding the incident which “scared” members of the community.
Oxford News
Doctor Who star Alex Kingston reveals choice for next Doctor
The actress, who lives in South Oxfordshire, first came to widespread attention in the late 1990s as Dr Elizabeth Corday in the American medical drama ER.
She went on to win a new generation of fans as River Song in the BBC’s sci‑fi series, appearing in the show between 2008 and 2015.
Playing the Doctor’s enigmatic wife, Ms Kingston acted opposite three different incarnations of the Time Lord as portrayed by David Tennant, Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi.
READ MORE: Alex Kingston reacts to ‘devastating’ Doctor Who cancellation
The popular sci-fi programme is facing an uncertain future at present, with the 2026 Christmas special cancelled and the show put out to tender by the BBC.
In the final scene of the show to date, Ncuti Gatwa’s 15th Doctor regenerated into familiar face Billie Piper.
The Swindon-born actress previously played fan favourite companion Rose Tyler alongside Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant.
Ms Kingston has now outlined her favourite picks for a new Doctor when the show eventually returns to screens.
READ MORE: Matt Smith wants Doctor Who return after shock regeneration
Speaking to the Oxford Mail on Thursday (June 18) ahead of the OUH Staff Recognition Awards 2026, she said: “I think it’s got to be somebody who has got fun in them, but also heart and soul.
“He’s now about to play [Hercule] Poirot, but I thought Edward Bluemel would be a brilliant Doctor.
“I’ve worked with him on Discovery of Witches, and he’s got all of the characteristics and qualities that would make a good Doctor.
“But then I also just worked on a theatre play called Copenhagen with Damien Molony, who just happens to be Bergerac.
READ MORE: Christopher Eccleston gives verdict on Billie Piper as Doctor Who
“We had a lot of time sitting on stage, and I would watch him, and he was so physically energised and active that there were times when I was sitting there going, ‘You could be a really good Doctor’.”
Ms Kingston then joked: “I shouldn’t have been thinking about that, yes, I’m the expert [having played the character’s wife].”
She added: “I mean, there are so many actors that could do it, but who knows.
“I think maybe it’s a good thing to just take a little bit of a breath now it’s just been put on ice.
READ MORE: Colin Baker claims Billie Piper ‘can’t be the next Doctor Who’
“The same thing happened in the late 1980s through the 90s, but it might just need a little bit of a moment to have somebody else come along who can take the reins of Russell T [Davies], take them confidently, and take the Doctor then in another direction.”
Ms Kingston was speaking ahead of her hosting the OUH Staff Recognition Awards 2026 ceremony on Thursday night.
You can find more breakouts from our chat on the Oxford Mail over the coming days before the full interview is released next week.
Oxford News
Met Office urges UK households to switch off 4 appliances
The Met Office has issued the advice amid an amber weather warning for extreme heat covering much of southern England and Wales, lasting from 1am on Monday to 11.59pm on Tuesday.
Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-30s, with the risk of overnight heat remaining above 20°C and only limited cooling after dark.
⚠️⚠️ Amber weather warning UPDATED ⚠️⚠️
Extreme heat across parts of England and Wales
Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 June
Latest info 👉 https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs
Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/qjNu88R6uB
— Met Office (@metoffice) June 20, 2026
The Met Office said: “Following very warm weather on Sunday, very high temperatures are expected on Monday and Tuesday and will likely bring widespread impacts to people and infrastructure.
“In addition to high daytime maxima, temperatures overnight will remain very warm, especially in larger urban areas, and it will also feel humid.
“The very high temperatures may continue across a smaller area into the middle of the week, but there remains some uncertainty regarding the extent of this.
“There is an increased chance that some heat-sensitive systems and equipment may fail, leading to power cuts and the loss of other services to some homes and businesses.
“Switch off appliances – turn off items such as irons, ovens, electric fires and fryers as they could pose a hazard if the power comes back on when you are not there.”
Although power outages are more commonly linked to thunderstorms, the Met Office said the “extreme” temperatures could cause equipment and infrastructure to fail, leaving properties without electricity.
The Met Office also recommends keeping mobile phones fully charged in advance and checking on elderly neighbours to ensure they are prepared.
Fridges and freezers should be kept closed and covered with a blanket, as they will remain cold for several hours without power.
The Met Office also encourages vulnerable residents to sign up for the Priority Services Register, a free service offered by utility companies for older people, disabled people, or those reliant on electricity for medical or mobility equipment.
Temperatures are expected to be significantly higher than last week in many parts of the country, including the Midlands, northern England, and Scotland.
The Met Office advises that anyone who relies on electricity to power healthcare equipment should have a plan in place to manage during an outage.
They should confirm with care providers, clinical teams, or equipment suppliers that they understand how to use equipment safely and what steps to take if power is lost.
Are you looking forward to the heatwave or dreading it? Let us know in the comments
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoNew video call system to help domestic abuse victims
-
Oxford News3 weeks agoOxfordshire families invited to free day of fun in Bicester
-
Business & Technology3 weeks agoNew ‘high-quality’ mushroom business launched in Oxford
-
Crime & Safety3 weeks agoPhotos as 1979 Pontiac Firebird ‘bursts in flames’ at Tesco
-
Student Life3 weeks agoTransgender rights protest in central Oxford following updated EHRC guidance
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoCo-op incident in Oxfordshire town leads to police charge
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoNHS IT outages disrupt 274,620 patient interactions
-
Business & Technology3 weeks agoOxford firm wins major backing for fin-based tidal power
