James Whale, the veteran radio DJ and TV personality, has died from cancer aged 74.
In a statement shared on social media, his employers TalkTV said: “We are sad to announce that James Whale MBE died earlier today, aged 74, following a lengthy battle with cancer. As a broadcasting legend for over 50 years, James will be missed by so many at Talk and the wider News UK family.”
His wife Nadine Lamont-Brown also confirmed the news in a brief statement that said: “James slipped away very gently this morning. It was a beautiful passing, and he left with a smile on his face.”
Whale was first diagnosed with cancer back in 2000 and had to have one of his kidneys removed. Then, in 2020, the TalkTV host revealed that the cancer had returned to his remaining kidney and spread to his spine, brain and lungs.
His colleague, Mike Graham, announced his death to listeners on Talk on Monday (4 August) while paying tribute to his friend whom he had worked alongside on Talk for the past six years.
“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,” James began. “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.”
He concluded: “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.”
The news comes just days after Whale recorded his final ever podcast from a hospice with his wife, as he thanked fans for listening. He said a farewell in an emotional clip shared on TalkTV on Friday (1 August).
Speaking with his wife Nadine, the presenter said, “We’ve had a good time together haven’t we?” to which she replied: “The best”.
He told his audience: “Thank you for being a listener. I hope it helps in some way and who knows what’s next, so I can only say au revoir.”
TalkTV host and political pundit Julia Hartley-Brewer paid tribute in a social media post and said: “So sad that my amazing, wonderful @TalkTV colleague James Whale has died.
“He was a legend both on air and off air. It was a pleasure and an honour to know him. Sending Nadine and his family all my love xxxx.”
Whale, who has been a fixture of British radio and TV for five decades, announced in May that he had stopped his treatment and was “at the end of his cancer journey”.
The industry veteran was awarded an MBE for his services to broadcasting and charity in the 2024 New Year Honours List. Whale called the moment the “pinnacle” of his career.
Due to his past experience with cancer, Whale, who competed on Celebrity Big Brother in 2016, formed the James Whale Kidney Fund in 2006, which merged with Kidney Cancer UK in 2015. In 2018, his first wife, Melinda Maxted, died after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
Whale rose to fame in the 1980s with his frank style, dry wit and no-nonsense approach on late-night programme The James Whale Radio Show, gaining a legion of loyal listeners.
He spent 13 years at TalkSport before hosting the drivetime show on LBC and the breakfast show on BBC Essex.
During his career he also hosted Whale On, Dial Midnight and Central Weekend Live for ITV, and Talk About for BBC One. His autobiography Almost A Celebrity: A Lifetime Of Night-Time was published in 2008.
Despite the respect that he garnered, Whales's career was peppered with controversy. In 2008, he was sacked by TalkSPORT after he called on listeners to vote for Boris Johnson when the former prime minister was campaigning to become London mayor.
While employed on TalkRadio, he clashed with listeners and activists over the Brexit referendum campaign, but later suggested he had changed his mind in response to the behaviour of the European Union.
In 2018, he was suspended by TalkRadio after appearing to laugh during an interview with a sexual assault survivor.
Whale later caused a stir while on Celebrity Big Brother, when broadcaster and Loose Women panellist Saira Khan asked him if he was racist.
Khan said she had researched Whale before entering the house and had seen the claims online.
He responded: “I’ve never heard so much rubbish in my entire life.”
He added: “I don’t think I am known for that. Am I known for that? I don’t know. I really don’t know. I’ve been one of the judges of the British Curry Awards for 10 years.”
He was the sixth contestant to be eliminated from the show and left in a double eviction alongside The Only Way Is Essex’s Lewis Bloor.
Further tributes have been paid to Whale by his colleagues and friends in the media. The entrepreneur Charlie Mullins wrote: “This morning I heard the sad news of the passing of the broadcasting legend and my dear friend - the one and only James Whale MBE. James, mate, rest in peace now.”
Chuck Thomas, an executive producer at TalkTV said that the world would be “a lot quieter without him”. Thomas added that his friend “faced the end with courage and wit” and that “broadcasting has lost a giant”.
LBC host Nick Ferrari added: “Anyone who has spent any time working in speech radio knows what a trailblazer James Whale has been. Radio just got a lot quieter.”
The illusionist Uri Geller remarked that Whale was a “brave man” and a “true friend” and that he had never met anyone “quite like James Whale”.
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