I’ve been living with Parkinson’s for 5 years, says DJ Kid Jensen
DAVID ‘Kid’ Jensen revealed yesterday that he has been living with Parkinson’s for five years.
The 67-year-old former Top of the Pops presenter said he had gone public to raise awareness about the neurological condition and boost efforts to find a cure.
He said: ‘As I go through this period of uncertainty it’s important for me to get out there and spread the word about Parkinson’s and let people know about the disease, who don’t know about the disease and who only hear about the bad things.
‘I felt, I must say, devastated when I found out but then I realised that was a silly emotion to feel because there’s a lot worse things that could happen.’
He told ITv News last night that he had experienced loneliness: ‘You can be in a crowded room and still feel very lonely, particularly if you want to keep it a secret from your best friends.
‘It’s a team effort to try and help the person lift their moods and lift their spirits.’
The father of three paid tribute to his Icelandic wife Gudrun, a former air stewardess.
‘I am so appreciative of the support I have received from my wife, who I have been married to for 43 wonderful years, my three children and seven grandchildren, who are all aware that I have Parkinson’s and continue to provide so much love, support and understanding,’ he said.
‘My wife is also full of Icelandic tough love and she ensures I get out and do my walking and do exercise, because exercise is really important. When you have dark moments that tends to be as a result of depression because it is easy to get depressed about your situation and it manifests itself in a lot of ways – lack of energy, enthusiasm.
‘I’ve met a lot of exciting people and played lots of exciting music and it’s an opportunity for me now to put something back in the sense that I’d like to share my experiences with Parkinson’s with people who are either just going through it, or are fearful they might be. Don’t be afraid, don’t be scared, come onboard, enjoy the journey, we’re going to have fun together.’
Jensen, who grew up in British Columbia, began his broadcasting career at a radio station in Canada at the age of 16.
Two years later, in 1968, he moved on to the pirate station Radio Luxembourg. Speaking of the influence of the commercial station, which challenged the BBC’s radio monopoly, he said: ‘It was a building block for rock and roll in the UK.’
Jensen hosted quiz shows Pop Quest and Worldwise for ITv before securing a presenting role on the BBC’s Top of the Pops alongside John Peel.
He has also worked for BBC Radio 1, Capital, Heart and Smooth Radio. He said his fellow Radio Luxembourg presenter Paul Burnett nicknamed him the ‘Kid’ because ‘I was a few years younger than the other DJs and the name just stuck’.
In a statement yesterday he said he was inspired to come forward by celebrities including the comedian Billy Connolly.
‘When Billy Connolly and my old colleague, Sky Sports’ Dave Clark, announced they had Parkinson’s and started to raise funds for Parkinson’s charities, I felt it was time for me, with the support of my friends and family, to reveal my situation.
‘I hope to be available to try and raise further awareness of Parkinson’s and to be on hand to aid fundraising activities. Parkinson’s is a neurological condition that causes problems in the brain and over time gets worse with no cure yet discovered.’
A fan of Crystal Palace Football Club, Jensen lives in Surrey and works for BBC local radio.
Parkinson’s affects the central nervous system and the most obvious early signs are shaking as well as other problems with motor functions.
Patients can develop cognitive and behavioural problems and, later on, dementia. Treatment concentrates on alleviating the symptoms.
‘Worse things could happen’