TalkTV was brought to a halt by anchor Ian Collins on August 4 as he and Kevin O’Sullivan paid tribute to their late co-star James Whale, a year on from his death. James battled terminal cancer for several years before dying in a hospice in 2025, and his former co-stars came together to mark the tragic anniversary live on air.
Heartfelt Remembrance
Ian said: “It’s the anniversary of James’ death. We can say this because we knew him and he was our friend, but we talked about Rod sadly dying after a short illness, James died after the longest illness anyone could ever possibly have, because he stayed and survived and functioned with terminal cancer for what seemed like forever.
“I remember you once saying to him in the office, ‘James, you’re the most well-looking terminal cancer patient we’ve ever seen’. And he really was! Most of the time he looked great.
“Sometimes the drugs played a little bit of havoc with him, but generally speaking, from the moment he was told, ‘Sorry mate, we can’t cure this’, he went on for about five years and looked perfectly healthy for most of it.”
Colleagues' Fond Memories
Kevin chimed in: “Yeah, he was phenomenal. I remember towards the very end he used to come into the office in his mobility scooter, and yet on air he came alive. I said to him once, ‘You’re lying, aren’t you? You’ve completely made this cancer up in order to gain attention!’
“Of course he laughed. What a guy, what a broadcaster. I used to have lots of rows with him and stuff, but I came to have a lot of affection for James. Reluctantly, I think, he came to quite like me as well.”
Ian remembered: “I spoke to him about three days before he died, Kev, he was in a hospice and could hardly speak at this point.
“He said to me through this gravelly, slightly gasping voice, he said, ‘I don’t think I’m ready to go’. It was the funniest thing – only he could come up with that.”
