BBC Radio 1 presenter Greg James has announced the death of his beloved dog, Barney, in an emotional Instagram post on Monday evening (August 3), saying he is 'completely floored' and will not be on his breakfast show the next day.
Emotional tribute to Barney
Alongside a picture of his pet, Greg wrote: "I’m sorry to bring such horrible news but we had to put our lovely Barn to sleep earlier today. I can’t really get my head around it. But he was peaceful, we were with him at home in the garden in the sunshine and I can’t stop crying."
He continued: "I know how loved this unbelievably daft farty brilliant dog was and I adored sharing him with everyone but can I just ask you to not send DMs or bring him up to me or Bella for a bit please. We’re completely floored by it and I can’t believe my little mate has gone and we just can’t talk about it for a bit. Lots of love xx. Ps. Not on the show tomorrow obvs x."
Barney's life with Greg
Greg often featured Barney on social media. In June, he shared a video of himself and Bella celebrating Barney's birthday, writing: "Happy Birthday to the greatest idiot in the world. Eight years ago he didn’t know we existed and I’ll be forever grateful to the bellends that gave him to Battersea which eventually led him to us. He’s ruined our lives in the best possible way and I wouldn’t change any of it."
In 2023, Greg revealed he had enlisted the help of Professor Noel Patrick on Supervet ER after Barney developed a limp, leading to various ankle and joint reconstruction procedures. He wrote in his i Paper column at the time: "I’ve worked out that the thing that makes me most upset is that you can’t tell him that it’s all going to be all right. I want to reassure him that we’re taking him to see that nice man off the telly that everyone fancies because he’s a superhero. A man who, if needed, could put wheels on a tortoise."
He added: "He’s one of the world’s leading orthopaedic veterinary surgeons, adored by millions around the world, I want to explain. But obviously I can’t. Instead, we just have to take him for boring 15-minute lead walks around the block, stop him from jumping up on the sofa and then deal with the 'why are you being a prick' look he gives us."
