Broadcaster Jennie Gow to return to F1 coverage 8 months after suffering stroke
Posted by  badge Boss on Aug 19, 2023 - 06:58AM
Jennie Gow is making her return to broadcasting (Picture: Getty)

Formula One presenter says she is ‘delighted’ to be returning to the circuit, after earlier this year.

The 45, who regularly appears on ’s hit series Drive To Survive, asked viewers to ‘bear with me’ and wish her luck.

Jennie said in January that she had suffered a stroke which had affected her speech and had been treated at Frimley Park Hospital and St George’s Hospital in .

On Friday, she sent an update on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying: ‘I’m delighted (and a little nervous) to say that I will be returning to the # circuit for the Dutch GP (Grand Prix).

‘It’s been almost 8 months since my stroke and I’m still not able to do all the things I could before, but @IMG, @bbc5live and @F1 are going to help me get back into the pit lane to see how I go.

‘My lovely therapists are supporting me and continue to remind me “I’m a work in progress and not the finished article.” So, please bear with me, mind the gaps and wish me luck.’

Jennie went on to thank Sky Sports who she said had been ‘so supportive of my husband and me’.

‘Wish me luck,’ Jennie wrote (Picture: Clive Mason/Getty Images)

She added: ‘I can’t wait to be back on your radio. I’ve missed it so much. Speak to you on Thursday!’

Jennie suffered a debilitating stroke last December, collapsing in her bathroom at home, which impacted her speech and the right side of her face.

Until her stroke, the presenter had been a permanent fixture in Formula One coverage since 2012, also previously working for ITV and Sky, as well as being a contributor on the hit Netflix series Drive to Survive.

Speaking on The One Show in May for Stroke Awareness Month, Jennie broke down as her husband Jamie described the moment he discovered her collapsed, which he called the ‘worst moment of my life’.  

The devastating brain bleed was caused by coughing when she developed a viral infection.

She spent months learning how to walk and talk once again.

What are the symptoms of a stroke?

The outlines that the symptoms of a stroke can be remembered by using the acronym FAST, which stands for Face, Arms, Speech and Time.

When an individual suffers a stroke, they may not be able to smile, their face may have dropped to one side or their mouth or eye may have dropped.

They may not be able to lift both of their arms and keep them up, as one of their arms could be feeling weak or numb.

They may exhibit slurred or unclear speech, or be unable to talk at all and have difficulty understanding if someone else is speaking to them.

People are urged to call 999 if any of these symptoms are spotted.

The charity offers a helpline for anyone who has suffered or been affected by stroke, or if you want further information. You can call the helpline on 0303 3033 100 or email [email protected].