Eddie Jordan’s poignant message in one of F1 icon’s final public appearances before death

Eddie Jordan urged listeners to stop being ‘stupid’ and ‘go and get tested’ if they had any suspicions they could have cancer as he bravely appeared on his Formula For Success podcast in December.

News of Jordan’s death at the age of 76 shook the world of F1 on Thursday, with a family statement confirming the much-loved Irishman had passed away peacefully in Cape Town, South Africa, surrounded by his loved ones.

Jordan is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of the sport having founded Jordan Grand Prix team, which he ran from 1991 through to 2005.

The flamboyant Dubliner went on to establish himself as a familiar face to F1 fans as a revered pundit, renowned for his sharp wit and rock-and-roll image, for the BBC, Channel 4 and Sky Sports.

Social media has been awash with moving tributes and messages of condolence for Jordan’s nearest and dearest in the intervening days, with the sad news dominating the build-up to this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.

Ahead of qualifying, Aston Martin unveiled a small but fitting salute to the great man on their car in Shanghai, showing his name emblazoned beneath a shamrock emblem – a nod to the original team’s logo.

Such was his drive and love for the sport, Jordan continued working on the podcast he shared with David Coulthard, the hugely popular Formula For Success, until just weeks before his death.

In an episode from mid-December, Jordan opened up on how the ‘aggressive’ bladder and prostate cancer had spread to other parts of his body.

He went on to issue a ‘little message’ to those who may suspect something could be awry with their own bodies, encouraging listeners not to be ‘shy’ and to seek medical advice.

‘Way back in March and April, I was diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer and then it spread into the spine and the pelvis so it was quite aggressive,’ Jordan said.

‘But this is a little message for all the anchors and everybody listening to this: don’t wait or put it off, go and get tested because in life you’ve got chances and there is so much medical advice out there and so many things that you can do to extend your lifetime.

‘Go and do it, don’t be stupid, don’t be shy. It’s not a shy thing. Look after your body, guys.

‘Some very dark days in there but we pulled out of it, thankfully.’