The renowned music producer James Ellis Ford has been diagnosed with leukaemia.

Posting on Instagram on Friday (17th), the award-winning musician, who is also one-half of Simian Mobile Disco, shared a picture taken in hospital, citing a “scary few weeks” after becoming ill in the run up to Christmas. Now admitted for treatment at Barts Hospital, London, he hopes to complete the first round of treatment within the next eight months. 

“On Xmas Eve things took a turn for the worse… I had a scary few weeks where I was very ill and they didn’t know what was wrong with me, but finally I got a diagnosis,” he wrote. “While it’s very clear in my mind how serious this is, it is curable, and as of today, I’m starting pretty aggressive chemo to treat it.” 

“I’m in Barts Hospital, who are world leaders in leukaemia treatments, and I’ve had excellent care from our wonderful NHS, both initially in Canterbury Hospital before being moved here to Barts just last week,” Ford continued. “I’m very aware that it’s gonna be a bumpy road ahead but I’m confident, upbeat, and ready to fight and I hope to be out the other side of the initial treatment in 6-8 months time,” he continued.

As a result, Ford explained he’d been forced to “clear my work diary” and hold off on “a lot of very exciting musical projects I was eager to get stuck into.” Acknowledging this was a “massive shame”, he wished those had had been collaborating and producing with “all the best” in realising their endeavours.

As well as his output as a member of Simian Mobile Disco alongside Jas Shaw, Ford has produced for the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode, Gorillaz, Pet Shop Boys and more. In 2023, he released a solo album, ‘The Hum’, via Warp Records.