BBC Scotland radio presenter Janice Forysth has stepped down from broadcasting after being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Forsyth, 65, revealed she received the diagnosis after first suffering symptoms in 2022, but had initially believed she was suffering from anxiety.
Janice, who presented the Janice Forsyth show on weekday afternoons, had been missing from the show for some time.
She said: “Some of you may have noticed that I’ve been absent from your radios for a while, and I feel it’s time now to let everyone know the reason.
“From 2022, I’d been experiencing deep feelings of anxiety and finding some tasks, especially navigation, extremely difficult.
“I’d hoped that I was simply worn out by my many years as a freelance broadcaster and perhaps exhausted following the loss of our dear Mother, Patricia, the previous Christmas, but sadly, I now have a firm diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s disease.”
Forsyth added: “It’s been a huge blow, but I’m also feeling some relief that I finally have an explanation for lapses I’d been experiencing, and I’m managing to remain buoyant most of the time.
“Much as I have loved seeking out and sharing the best of music/literature/theatre/cinema with you, I’m happy now to have the time and freedom to enjoy all of these simply for my own pleasure. Call it living in the moment, and you won’t be far off!
“On another positive note, I’ve been able to continue to contribute to The Big Light – the podcast production company I founded 5 years ago with Fiona White. The company is going from strength to strength and we’re excited for more to come. I’m not done yet!
“So, finding the cause of my trouble took a while, but I at least now know what’s been happening and am grateful for lovely friends & family, as well as for fine post-diagnosis care from NHS Scotland.
“Dear Listener – I never took my role lightly and hope I always gave my best, both for your sake and that of my interviewees. It’s been a blast, and I send a high five to everyone who tuned in on Saturday mornings or on more recent weekday afternoons and heard something interesting.
“For reasons of privacy and mental health, I plan to withdraw from social media for now, and I wish you all well.
Love, Janice Forsyth AKA Janny aff the tranny.”
Janice has worked for the BBC for more than 30 years, BBC Radio Scotland, mostly, and some TV in Scotland, as well as BBC Radio Five, BBC Radio Four, and BBC Radio Three.
The programmes she has presented on Radio Scotland include the Culture Studio, which then became the Janice Forsyth Show and then the Afternoon Show. That stint spanned from 2013 until early 2024.
Other titles include Radio Café – another long-running series, Authors Live and Hogmanay.
She also presented arts show NB on STV from 1989 to 1995.
Forsyth had returned to BBC Radio Scotland in 2013, a year after her previous Saturday show was axed after 18 years, leading to a petition to have her reinstated.
Among those who were outraged were musicians Edwyn Collins and Alex Kapranos, Val McDermid and Nicola Sturgeon.
Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning, BBC Scotland, said: “Janice has been a hugely popular personality on our airwaves for many years.
“The many production teams she has collaborated with have appreciated her outstanding skill as a presenter on radio and television.
“Her warmth, relaxed interviewing style, and peerless knowledge of arts, music, and culture in Scotland and beyond, have made her a firm favourite with audiences over the decades.
“Everyone at BBC Scotland wishes Janice all the very best and we’ll be pleased to continue to explore suitable opportunities where we can work together.”
Last night, a spokesperson for Janice said: “She is in good form but it is incredibly cruel for somebody who spent a lifetime communicating with people.”
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