The world's oldest man has opened up on his life in a Brazilian old folks' home - joking he is also "the most handsome" and revealing he starts his day with morning coffee before snacking on his favourite whole cane sugar.

Former pig farmer Joao Marinho Neto was officially named as the new Guinness World Record title holder last Thursday following the death of Englishman John Alfred Tinniswood. Over the weekend the father-of-seven, 112 years and 58 days old today, let TV cameras into the retirement home in Apuiares, a municipality in his native state of Ciara in Brazil's northeast region, to reveal the secret of his longevity.

Joao, who shares his home with 12 other elderly residents although the youngest aged 60 is nearly half his age, told his son Marcos Vinicius Marques in an emotional lookback at his upbringing helping his dad out in the fields taking care of their animals and harvesting fruit: "I've had a happy life, full of good health. I've had everything. There was cattle to make cheese, I had it all."

He let TV cameras into the retirement home in Apuiares (

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Although Joao was born in Maranguape, part of the metropolitan area of Ceara's capital city Fortaleza, he grew up with his family in a rural part of the municipality of around 13,000 inhabitants which he now calls home. He fathered seven children with two different partners and has 22 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Joao can't see anymore and has hearing difficulties but nurse Diulia Dara Nascimento revealed yesterday he takes no medication and has never suffered hypertension, diabetes, strokes or cancer and his blindness is the only problem that affects his daily life. His son told Brazilian TV programme Fantastico as he visited his record-breaking dad at Sao Sebastiao Retirement Home: "He lives well, eats well, sleeps well, talks, understands everything and knows everyone. He recognises his children by their voices.

"He's a cheerful, happy man who welcomes everyone, he's very polite, very nice to everyone, and lives his life normally at the retirement home where he’s very well looked after. Our family is happy my father has this title of the world's oldest man. Everyone is winning."

Joao celebrating his 110th birthday with a cake (

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Joao starts his day with fruit and a mug of steaming coffee. Grapes are one of his favourite morning fruits. The retirement home manager Edgar Rodrigues told Fantastico: "What he likes most is coffee in the morning, fruit which is often grapes that he likes the most, unrefined whole cane sugar we call rapadura obtained from the boiling and evaporation of sugarcane juice, and free-range chicken.

"One thing he teaches us a lot is that life is worth living. I said to him the other day, 'Mr Joao, do you know you’ve become the oldest man in the world?' He replied: 'The oldest and most handsome!' That's what captivates us on a daily basis."

Carer Alleluia Teixeira fought back tears as she said: "He's a very polite, very grateful, calm and sensible person. He even thanks you for a glass of water. I've never seen a human being as special as him. He doesn’t get stressed about anything. He's always happy. For him everything is good."

Guinness World Records said on X, formerly Twitter, referencing his age last Tuesday: "Say hello to the new oldest man in the world, Brazil’s João Marinho Neto, at the age of 112 years and 52 days old." It added in a statement: "A Brazilian man has been confirmed as the world’s oldest living man following the death of the UK’s John Tinniswood at age 112.

He has coffee every morning and enjoys eating fruit and chicken (

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"Joao Marinho Neto was 112 years 52 days old, as confirmed by LongeviQuest in Apuiares, Ceara, Brazil, on 26 November. Born in Maranguape, Ceara, Brazil, on 5 October 1912, he was previously recognized as the oldest living man in Brazil and in Latin America. He is also now the last surviving man who was born in 1912.

"Joao was born into a family of farmers and moved with his parents to a rural area of Apuiares. He was helping his father out in the fields by the time he was four. His jobs around the farm included helping take care of the cattle and harvesting fruit from Juazeiro trees.

"Joao went on to marry Josefa Albano dos Santos (1920–1994), and they welcomed four children together - Antonio, Jose, Fatima, and Vanda. He followed in his father’s farming footsteps, cultivating the land his then-wife inherited in Fazenda Massape, to grow corn and beans. He also raised cattle, goats, pigs and chickens."

Joao, who has said the secret to his long life is "being surrounded by good people and keeping his loved ones close by", later welcomed three more children called Marcos Vinicius who was visiting his dad when a Brazilian TV crew interviewed them, Jarbas, and Conceicao with partner Antonia Rodrigues Moura. Six of the seven children he fathered are still alive.

Joan said the secret to his long life is 'being surrounded by good people and keeping his loved ones close by' (

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A spokesman for LongeviQuest, which defines itself as the global authority on maximum human longevity, said as Joao was named the world’s oldest man last week: "We extend our heartfelt congratulations to him and his family on this remarkable achievement. We wish him continued good health and many more years of happiness. His story stands as an inspiration to people across the globe."

Joao became the oldest known living man in Latin America at the age of 111 years, 180 days on April 2 following the passing of 114-year-old Venezuelan Juan Vicente Perez Mora. Mr Perez Mora's death led to World War Two veteran Mr Tinniswood becoming the world’s oldest man for a few months.

Paying tribute to the lifelong Liverpool fan last week, his family said in a statement: "John had many fine qualities. He was intelligent, decisive, brave, calm in any crisis, talented at maths and a great conversationalist."

The world's oldest living woman currently is Japan's Tomiko Itooka, who is 116. She was presented with her Guinness World Records certificate at the age of 116 years and 116 days.