Matthew Cox has always been a storyteller. From the outrageous (Botched! Presents: Plastic Surgery Rewind on E!) to the historical (ITV’s The Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations) to celebrating the very best of British at The Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards on ITV, Matthew has been behind many of the most poignant moments of unscripted TV of the last 20 years.
A BAFTA-Winning Career
Fiercely ambitious and sharp-witted, Matthew, from Monmouthshire, quickly established himself as a BAFTA-winning executive producer and director, rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in the business - Ant and Dec, the late Paul O’Grady, Michelle Visage, Amanda Holden, and Sarah Beany, to name just a few. It was during his time as an executive producer for The Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards and another annual ITV appeal, Text Santa, that Matthew had the immense privilege of getting to know some incredible people - many of them facing terminal illness and the most difficult and challenging times of their lives.
Diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease
Now, having been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), a terminal neurological disease last year, Matthew is determined to share his own story to help raise awareness of a disease which affects more than 5,000 people in the UK at any one time. This Sunday - surrounded by his brother Tomos, sister Natalie, cousin Stewart, and his dad and stepmother, as well as another brother, Tom, and with support from Pride of Britain fund trustee Michelle Linekar - he will be taking part in the London Marathon in a wheelchair to help raise £100,000 for the MND Association, supporting others facing the same devastating diagnosis.
The Journey to Diagnosis
Matthew was diagnosed with MND, a disease which attacks the nerves that send messages to muscles in the body, after starting to experience problems walking, something he initially put down to running too much. He recalled: “I was flying to LA through George Bush International Airport in Houston. I love that airport because it's massive. It's so huge, you can do a massive walk, like a couple of miles right in the airport, through all the gates, and you can really get your heart rate up. And I love cardio.”
“In April I’d run the London Marathon, I’d been to Glastonbury in June and my pedometer on my watch said I walked three marathons while I was there, and I went to Ibiza clubbing for a week, so I probably danced the marathon in July. But it was while I was in the airport in September 2024 that my feet were behaving really weirdly. I was having to shunt my shin forward in order for my feet to move. And I thought, it's a circulation thing, so I'll just shake my feet a little bit and get the blood going.”
Over time, he noticed changes with his hand which would clench into a claw and hit his chest randomly, and it got to the point where if people wanted to meet him, he would make sure they couldn’t see him walk. He then hid himself away for six months as he wasn’t willing to face up to what was happening to his body. His brother Tomos saw him in May 2025 and said, “Yeah, you need to get on top of that.”
After one of Matt’s best friends, Nicole, insisted he go to A&E late one night, he was eventually diagnosed with MND in August 2025. “All I remember while the consultant was giving me my diagnosis was my best friend Paul crying behind me and the fact I was wearing a terrible outfit,” he said.
Living with MND
Suddenly, Matthew and his partner Keanu, who remains a constant source of strength, were facing an uncertain future. Matthew said: “I have muscle wastage in my arms and legs. I now struggle with walking, zips, tying a knot, closing a button. My voice is OK but I’m planning to bank my voice, I will need a PEG soon so I can eat, I’m looking at a living will and I’ve had to have some very difficult conversations with my family and friends.”
“MND is an expensive illness, as it changes everything, but thanks to the MND Association, I’ve been able to maintain my dignity and independence with grants which have paid for two stairlifts to be installed at my home. That has changed my life, without a doubt. The Association has been there to plug the gaps. Instead of asking me what I need, which is a question I’ve been asked a lot, they ask what I’m struggling with and provide solutions.”
“It’s the sense of urgency I have to raise awareness and money to help others which gets me up every morning. As someone who is newly-diagnosed with MND, this means a tremendous amount to me, especially having met so many people facing a terminal illness through my work,” he said.
Support from the TV World
Since his diagnosis, friends from the world of TV and showbusiness have also rallied round sending messages of support. He said: “However tongues started to wag in the industry and I was being sent text messages laden with misinformation. So I sat up and decided to take control of the narrative and sent a message to all of my industry contacts, friends and family giving them all the facts and correct information about my diagnosis.”
“Months later I’m still inundated with responses, many of which I haven’t had a chance to open yet. It’s overwhelming if I’m honest. I’m being eulogised, but I’m still here. It’s a fascinating, beautiful privilege which I hope nobody else that I know ever has to experience - it’s like attending my own funeral in real time. All those people who have been in touch are now sponsoring me and I’m grateful beyond words.”
“The MND community has been incredible and helped to put me in touch with Martin Davy at Delichon who in turn introduced me to Alice and Dave Baker in Southampton who are generously lending me their professional sports wheelchair. My mission is now to use my voice, and my story, to reach that £100,000 target which I know will make a huge difference to the MND Association and the MND community.”
How You Can Support Matthew's Fundraiser
For more information about Matthew’s challenge and to donate, visit: www.gofundme.com/f/matthew-cox-running-for-charity-carried-by-love. Find more information about MND and the MND Association on the website at: mndassociation.org.
Location: Monmouthshire
