BBC broadcaster Jennie Gow suffers debilitating stroke aged 45 as husband helps her post health update
BBC and Formula One broadcaster Jennie Gow has revealed she recently suffered a “serious stroke”.
The 45-year-old has become a huge favourite after playing prominent roles in both Netflix’s F1 series Drive to Survive and her commentaries on Extreme E.
Now her career could be in doubt after the star said the medical emergency has affected her communication skills.
Gow, revealing the news on Twitter, wrote: “Hi everyone, been quiet the last few weeks, this is because I suffered a serious stroke two weeks ago.
“My husband is helping me type this, as I’m finding it hard to write and my speech is most affected.
“I’m desperate to make a full recovery and return to work but it might take some time. Thank you to the medical teams at Frimley and St George’s and my family and friends who’ve got me through the last fortnight X.”
Fellow F1 broadcaster Laura Winter responded by saying she was “so desperately sorry” to read this but told her colleague “you WILL get through this but take all the time you need. We’ll all be here. So much love.”
F1 team McLaren’s Twitter account wished Gow “a speedy recovery” and said they “looked forward to seeing her back in the paddock” soon.
Those sentiments were echoed by the social channels of Aston Martin, Silverstone and Extreme E.
Aphasia is a common condition that people who suffered a stroke have and it affects their ability to speak and sometimes their ability to understand what others are saying.
However, it is possible to recover through the help of speech and language therapy.
Gow, who celebrated a decade of working in F1 last year, has become one of the most popular voices over recent years.
Prior to her exploits covering F1, she led BBC’s MotoGP coverage and filled in for Natalie Pinkham on Radio 5 Live.