Patrick Simpson-Jones, an iconic figure in children's television during the 1980s and 1990s, has announced that he has stage IV metastatic lung cancer. The former presenter, known to the public for his role as part of the Club Dorothée team , explained that he was diagnosed last December. He indicated that he has already undergone several rounds of chemotherapy. His treatment will continue soon with immunotherapy : "I have undergone several rounds of chemotherapy and, in the foreseeable future, I will continue treatment with immunotherapy."
An announcement to set the record straight
Patrick Simpson-Jones also wanted to clearly address the rumors circulating on social media. Some claimed that his illness was linked to the Covid-19 vaccines. He firmly denies them: "My cancer has absolutely no connection to the COVID vaccines!"
A career marked by youth television
Born in Paris on September 23, 1950, Patrick Simpson-Jones is Franco-British. He spent part of his childhood in the United Kingdom before turning to journalism and then television presenting. Fluent in four languages and comfortable on air, he began his career on Antenne 2 with the children's program Récré A2 . He also became one of the first men to hold the position of announcer on French television, a role that was then very well-defined in the audiovisual landscape.
Le Dorothée Cluba mythical period
It was primarily on TF1 , within the Club Dorothée program, that Patrick Simpson-Jones made a lasting impression on the public. Alongside Dorothée, Ariane, Jacky, and Corbier, he participated in one of the most popular children's programs on French television. For many viewers who have grown up, his face remains associated with a golden age of children's television, marked by daily appointments, cartoons, songs, and a group of presenters who became household names.
A more discreet life in the United States
After his gradual withdrawal from television, Patrick Simpson-Jones settled in Florida, USA. There, he developed a business related to golf. Although he has become a rare sight in the media, he holds a special place in the memories of those who grew up watching the popular children's programs of the era. His announcement has therefore stirred strong emotions among former viewers of Club Dorothée , who are attached to this discreet yet influential figure of French television.
