BBC Radio 1 host Greg James has said he hopes life will be “calmer and less intense” following the death of his beloved dog Barney and his father’s stroke and heart surgeries this year.
The 40-year-old presenter and his wife Bella Mackie, 43, went on a “grief trip” to mourn the loss of their chocolate Labrador, who had to be euthanised earlier this month.
Cross-country journey
The couple travelled across the country, stopping in Lancashire before heading to the Lake District. Sharing photos from the trip, James wrote: “Drove 1000 miles around the UK in a Renault Espace from 1999 and listened to the Phoebe Bridgers’ album 87 times so yeah I think I’m dealing with it all just fine thanks!”
James thanked his social media followers for their messages of support following Barney’s death, as well as for the support after his father Alan Milward’s stroke and heart surgeries earlier this year.
Thanking supporters
He wrote: “To be serious for a moment… thank you for your lovely messages about Barney. And my dad. And just about everything this year. Whether out and about or via our parasocial relationship. It has meant a great deal.”
“It’s been in some ways the worst but in many ways the best year. If I think back to all the fun of the show which included all the Comic Relief stuff, I feel so lucky to have a life like this and to have such brilliant people in it. Whether on here or in person.”
“I just hope things can be a little calmer and less intense for a bit. But I’m healing well! So much fun to come through and I can’t wait to be back on the show tomorrow!”
Trip highlights
During the trip, James and Mackie stopped at The Inn at Whitewell in Lancashire, where they were told the late Queen stayed on her 80th birthday. The couple also went paddleboarding, with James saying Barney “would’ve been proud” of Mackie, and later went swimming in Windermere.
James adopted Barney from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in 2019, and the dog built up a loyal fanbase as the couple shared regular updates about him. The dog was a patient of Supervet star Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, who previously said Barney had multiple treatments for his arthritic joints, including a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament.
James’ father suffered a stroke during a planned heart operation in March and later had to undergo another heart surgery in June, with the radio presenter saying he would have “a long road to recovery.”
