James Whale for Talk
Veteran radio broadcaster James Whale has died at the age of 74 following a long battle with cancer.
The presenter was first diagnosed with cancer in 2000 from which he recovered, but in 2020 he revealed that his cancer had returned and was affecting his spine, brain and lungs.
Whale remained on air throughout his illness until just a few weeks ago, spending his final days in hospice care.
News of his death was broken on air by Talk colleague Mike Graham, who read an obituary to viewers.
“James began his remarkable career in the early 1970s when he pioneered a new kind of radio in Britain, the late night shock jock phone in,” he said. “By the late 1980s, the James Whale radio show had become a cultural phenomenon, broadcasting every weekend on ITV. He attracted millions of viewers, making him a household name.
“James would go on to host a variety of programmes for ITV, Sky and the BBC before finding a new audience for talk radio, all the while continuing to make headlines during his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother.
“In 2006, after surviving kidney cancer, James launched Kidney Cancer UK, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds. In 2024, James was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours, recognising his extraordinary contribution to broadcast and charity.
“James Whale broke the rules, he shaped the airwaves, and did it all on his own terms. For millions, James wasn’t just a broadcaster. He was a companion, a provocateur, and a good friend that we’ll all never forget. God bless you, James. We’ll miss you.”
Whale’s wife Nadine said: “James slipped away very gently this morning. It was a beautiful passing, and he left with a smile on his face.”
Whale is survived by wife Nadine and two sons from his first marriage, James and Peter.
