Latest news with #TheJamesWhaleRadioShow
Metro
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
James Whale records final ever interview with 'weeks left to live'
James Whale has been branded a 'legend and a friend' by one of his colleagues and a 'warrior to the end' after recording his last ever interview for TalkTV. The radio and TV host, 74, is best known for hosting The James Whale Radio Show, as well as for his work for talkSPORT and talkRADIO down the years. He was first diagnosed with kidney cancer in the year 2000 and in 2006 launched the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer to fund research and spread awareness. After losing wife, Melinda Maxted, to lung cancer in 2018, Whale revealed in 2020 that his own cancer had returned and spread to his brain, spine, kidney, and lungs. Five years on from that announcement, he revealed on his show in June that he had just 'weeks' left to live after receiving the news from his oncologist. And he's marked his final few weeks by conducting his last ever interview, with Clacton-on-Sea MP, and Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage. In a photograph shared on X, Whale and the controversial politician were snapped sitting in a garden, with the former reaching out to place a hand on Farage's elbow. Wearing a white shirt and a sun hat, Whale's legs were covered by a yellow blanket – the photo, bruises could be seen on his hands, and bandages were visible on his feet. Chuck Thomas, a producer on TalkTV, took several photographs of the occasion, calling Whale 'the bravest man I know', as well as 'a legend and a friend'. Speaking about the interview, which will be broadcast on TalkTV in the future, Thomas added: 'After 50 years in broadcasting, Whaley delivers one of the most compelling and profound conversations of his career.' He described the interview as 'a masterclass in asking the right questions' and invited Whale's followers to celebrate his life and career up to this point. @AndrewKNevett called the broadcaster 'a warrior to the end' while @British_Enjoyer said: 'Poor bloke. Never stopped. I'm sure lots of people will watch it.' Elsewhere, @MartP132 said: 'I've loved [Whale] since first hearing him on Radio Aire in the 80s. He is a brilliant broadcaster and I am so sad he is in this situation. Much love and strength to him and his family.' Whale revealed earlier this year that, through most of his recent cancer battle, days had been 'quite normal' for him – until things took a downturn quite suddenly. 'Until very recently, everything was quite normal for me. Everything was fine, and then you do get to a stage like I am now, with things getting to be very, very difficult. More Trending 'To anybody else who is in the final stages of cancer, you have my sympathy. I know exactly what you're going through; I do know. I look basically OK, I get told, 'You look alright' – it's all makeup.' In May, on his birthday, James revealed that he doesn't have high expectations of seeing Christmas 2025, having already come to terms with his devastating prognosis. 'As people know, I'm not about to die. Well, you never know, do you? I've had all my treatment.' Insisting that he doesn't want sympathy, he added: 'I don't want anybody feeling sorry. I'm just giving you a lowdown on it. If I make it to Christmas, I will be exceptionally lucky. Sometimes I think it will be easier just to have a heart attack and go.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Three in five Brits 'wouldn't even trust Starmer or Farage to watch their bag' MORE: Sir Rod Stewart sparks outrage after saying 'give Farage a chance' MORE: Keir Starmer feels pressure after poll shows Reform would win election today
Metro
05-05-2025
- Health
- Metro
TV presenter James Whale, 73, reveals he's 'at the end of cancer journey'
TalkTV presenter James Whale, who has been on screens for over 25 years, has revealed his cancer journey is 'at an end'. The longtime media personality, 73, shared the update on his health to viewers after being diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer five years ago, which has since spread to his spine, brain and lungs. He returned to his long-running show following a stay in intensive care after falling ill with a severe bout of the flu over Christmas. Joined by Talk co-host Ash Gould, he said: 'I'm at the end of my cancer journey. There is no treatment I can have anymore. 'I can't tell you how grateful I am to Talk to actually let me on the air and sit next to Ash, which is a real pain in the butt, but I've been doing it for 25 years!' Speaking about his plans to still work for as long as he could, he quipped: 'It might actually be helping me, you never know, so I don't let that cloud my judgment – but on the medication I am on, I'm all over the place. 'I'm hoping to go on for another few weeks, few months but as soon as I can't do the show anymore, I won't.' In December, the MBE recipient's wife offered an update when he returned home from the hospital. 'After a worrying week I am happy to report that @THEJamesWhale is out of ICU and back at home, having batted off the Grim Reaper yet again. 'This time he tried with a bout of Influenza A, but without success. Our hero is home for NYE,' she wrote in a caption. Whale was first diagnosed with cancer in 2000 when he had his kidney removed. It aggressively returned in 2020. Reflecting on his terminal condition after receiving his MBE last year, he admitted his worries that he 'might not make it to the end of the year.' At the time, he continued: 'I think you've got to be positive. I know it's getting a bit worse than it was. You just have to go with the flow really. 'You have to do that to get through it. One in two of us is going to go on this journey until they find a cure. They will find a cure. But you have to make the most of it.' 'When you're my age and I've had a good life, you say maybe you have another year left. Four years ago, we thought we had months.' Whale rose to prominence in the 1980s with The James Whale Radio Show on Radio Aire in Leeds and has also since gone on to become an Express columnist. Several high-profile people have been open about their journey with cancer in recent months, including Celebrity Big Brother's Trisha Goddard, who scheduled her treatment around her time in the house. More Trending Meanwhile, King Charles, who announced he had been diagnosed with cancer in February 2024, recently spoke about the 'daunting' experience. He wrote: 'A cancer diagnosis need never mean facing the future without hope and support'. Then added: ''Each diagnosis, each new case, will be a daunting and at times frightening experience for those individuals and their loved ones. 'But as one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: I was 11 when my parents were told to plan my funeral MORE: Everything we know about King Charles' cancer treatment MORE: What ultra-processed food does to your body after days, weeks and months
