BBC star in emotional health update after devastating Parkinson's diagnosis

Former News technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones became emotional as he considered the day one of his Movers and Shakers co-presenters may no longer be physically able to work on their award winning podcast about life with . Rory is just one of the hosts of the weekly show, which won the Broadcasting Press Guild Award for Podcast of the Year in 2024. His co-hosts are former BBC presenters Gillian Lacey-Solymar and Mark Mardell, Vicar of Dibley writer Paul Mayhew-Archer, former top divorce lawyer and judge Sir Nicholas Mostyn and former host . All six are currently living with the condition.

Speaking exculsively to he was asked if they worry about the day where one of the team won't be physically up to working on the show. "Obviously, we do, but, yeah," he said becoming emotional and trailing away before acknowledging at some point someone will have to say they are stepping back. Rory says the podcast has been like "having a University of Parkinson's" for the group. "I mean, I've learned a tremendous amount...We've all learned a lot, and we've all got different symptoms. And what it tells you is how varied the condition it is.

Rory was speaking as one member has been forced to drop out of their "" taking part on Friday (April 11), which is World Parkinson's Day.

Jeremy Paxman is unable to attend the gathering, which will see the group and as many hundreds of their supporters as can attend, gather at The Old Palace Yard, Westminster at noon to join in a rendition of their adapted version of Gloria Gaynor's classic hit I Will Survive, which they shot a video for last year.

Reflecting on how this came about, Rory said: "Gillian Lacey, who's the most creative person, rewrote Gloria Gaynors, I Will Survive with Parkinson's appropriate lyrics - We Will Survive. We ended up making a pop video, which was the most extraordinary fun, and lots of people gave their time for nothing.

"We worked with a music producer who has Parkinson's - a really good music producer, and we spent about three days filming it and recording it and we'll put it on YouTube in September.

"We were thinking of what we could do for World Parkinson's Day, because last year, we marched up Downing Street with our parky charter and demands for better Parkinson's care.

"So we've done that, and we sort of coalesced around this idea of getting people to come and sing this anthem.

"It's slightly trepidatious, as it were because we've got no idea how many people could turn up. It could be, two men and a dog, or it could be a mass choir.

"But the idea is we have an open karaoke session opposite Parliament led by a singer, somebody's helping us, and it could be an utter shambles or it could go really well, but most of all, it should be a lot of fun," he said.

All are welcome to attend the event and lyric sheets and further details are available on the Movers and Shakers .