BBC F1 presenter Jennie Gow shares new condition eight months on from stroke

27 August 2023 , 16:16

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Jennie Gow suffered a stroke last December (Image: Getty Images)

Jennie Gow has revealed she's developed dyslexia after suffering a stroke last December.

The popular Formula One presenter, 46, made her first appearance in the paddock during Sunday afternoon's Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort. Her husband, Sky Sports producer Jamie Coley, joined her in the Netherlands to witness another superb race.

Max Verstappen won a dramatic contest on home soil. The race was halted with seven laps to go after heavy rain fell on the Netherlands, but that didn't stop Verstappen from holding off Fernando Alonso for a ninth consecutive victory.

As well as developing dyslexia, Gow has struggled with fatigue and her speech since the stroke. She's promised to take a cautious approach to her return and praised F1's "friendly" atmosphere, with fans offering their support throughout her recovery.

Gow, who has been raising awareness for stroke sufferers in recent months, appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix to discuss her recovery. She explained: "This weekend is just about taking each step as they come.

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"If I can just be part of the weekend and contribute something, do a little bit of what I used to do, that would be amazing. Everything is a challenge. There might be days when I'm just too tired. Fatigue is one of the things I'm really battling."

Coley has highlighted the "unbelievable support and love" his F1 colleagues have offered his family since Gow's stroke. She added: "I don't know if it's hard for Jamie to see me back at work, but I think he knows I need to at least try and do it. See what I can do.

Gow was at Sunday's Dutch Grand Prix (Getty Images)

Write your message of support for Jennie Gow in the comments below!

"F1 is a very friendly place and one that I have lived in for the last 12 years. It's a supportive place, even though everyone is competitive and finding their own way.

"There are still moments that my voice doesn't seem right to me, and obviously I have some gaps in my speech that I didn't have before. I'm constantly struggling in my head to find the next word. But we've spent eight months working on this, for hours every day."

Gow's first F1 interview since her stroke went out last month, as she spoke to Lewis Hamilton. "Mercedes gave me a huge amount of time to sit down with Lewis to chat to him before the interview and then to actually do the interview," recalled Gow.

"He was very understanding of the situation. Obviously, my voice isn't properly back and it just takes me a little bit longer to process. And he gave me that time. It was just like having a nice chat with someone who we've known each other for a long time."

Tom Blow