Jeremy Clarkson helps raise £1million for Chris Hoy's cancer charity by 'demanding cash from helicopter-owning tycoons' at auction

By RORY TINGLE, HOME AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT and STUART MACDONALD Published: 13:07, 6 August 2026 | Updated: 13:29, 6 August 2026 Sir Chris Hoy has revealed Jeremy Clarkson helped raise £1million for his cancer charity by demanding cash from wealthy helicopter-owning tycoons at an auction. The six-time Olympic gold medallist founded the Tour de 4 cycle challenge after being diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer. Mr Clarkson, who is in remission after being treated for the same condition, hosted an auction to raise funds for Tour de 4 at a clay pigeon shoot in Northamptonshire last month. Sir Chris told how when the total neared the £1million mark, the TV presenter approached everyone who had arrived at the event in a helicopter and told them to donate another £10,000 each. The event was organised by former Red Bull Formula 1 team principal Christian Horner and held at the Marston Estate in Northamptonshire. Speaking on his Sporting Misadventures podcast, Sir Chris, 50, said: 'Jeremy Clarkson did the auction at the Tour de 4 clay shoot that Christian Horner put on and we raised £1million in an afternoon. 'We got to £850,000 with all the tickets and the tables and the auction and they wanted to hit £1million. Clarkson, who is in remission after being treated for prostate cancer, hosted an auction to raise funds for Tour de 4 at a clay pigeon shoot in Northamptonshire last month Hoy told how when the total neared the £1 million mark, the TV presenter approached everyone who had arrived at the event in a helicopter and told them to donate another £10,000 each  'Jeremy said, "Right there are people here who have arrived in helicopters. Everyone here who has got a helicopter, I want 10 grand". 'So he went around the room going, "10 grand from you, 10 grand from you", and he got £150,000 from people and that's what made it up to £1 million. 'It was astonishing. I don't think anybody else would have got away with doing that but he has that presence. 'It was a fantastic afternoon, really good fun.' Mr Clarkson, 66, revealed on an episode of his Mr Clarkson's Farm Amazon series released in June that he had been diagnosed with an 'aggressive' form of prostate cancer last year. After it was caught early during a medical check, the former Top Gear and Grand Tour presenter underwent surgery to remove part of his prostate and has subsequently announced he is in remission. Edinburgh-born Sir Chris revealed in 2024 that he had been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer and has since become a campaigner for improved screening for the illness. His wife Sarra found out she had multiple sclerosis shortly after but kept her diagnosis a secret to help support her husband through his cancer treatment. The couple are currently organising their second Tour De four charity cycle challenge, which is being held in Glasgow this September. Mr Clarkson, 66, revealed on an episode of his Mr Clarkson's Farm Amazon series released in June that he had been diagnosed with an 'aggressive' form of prostate cancer last year  The inaugural event last year saw more than 5,000 people take part and raised a total of more than £3.1million for cancer charities. Money raised from this year's event will go towards Macmillan Cancer Support, Breast Cancer Now, Cure Leukaemia, Prostate Cancer UK and Maggie's. Mr Clarkson previously revealed that he had avoided the potentially life-changing side effects of prostate cancer surgery after getting the same state-of-the-art treatment as former prime minister David Cameron. The presenter said he received Lord Cameron's highly targeted focal therapy, which avoids side effects such as erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. One prostate cancer charity last night called for the minimally invasive technique, suitable to treat up to 17,000 men a year, to be adopted across the NHS. He was treated in London last August, though it is not known if he had high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) at an NHS or private hospital.  The technique uses sound waves to kill the cancer.