James Whale, the pioneering radio and television broadcaster, has died at the age of 74 after a long battle with cancer. His wife Nadine confirmed his passing, saying he slipped away gently with a smile on his face.
Whale was first diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2000 and underwent surgery to remove a kidney. The disease returned in August 2020, spreading to his spine, brain, and lungs. He spent his final weeks in a hospice in Kent, where he said he felt at peace.
TalkTV announced his death in a statement, calling him a broadcasting legend for over 50 years. Friend and colleague Mike Graham paid tribute on air, recalling Whale's groundbreaking late-night phone-in shows on radio and ITV, which made him a household name.
Whale also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and founded the charity Kidney Cancer UK in 2006, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds. He was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours for his services to broadcasting and charity.
In his final newspaper column, published the day before his death, Whale wrote: 'I know I've reached the end of my life but I'm quite sanguine about it. Despite everything, I'm happy to go now.'
