James Whale dies aged 74 after cancer battle

James Whale has died at the age of 74 (Andrew Matthews/PA) Andrew Matthews

TV and radio presenter James Whale has died at the age of 74, TalkTV has announced. The broadcaster had been battling stage four kidney cancer.

His colleague and friend Mike Graham read an obituary on air, paying tribute to Whale's remarkable broadcasting career. Whale was first diagnosed with cancer in 2000 and had to have one of his kidneys removed.

Cancer battle returns

In 2020, the TalkTV host revealed that the cancer had returned in his kidney, spine, brain and lungs. Despite his health struggles, Whale continued his broadcasting work until his death.

Graham described how Whale "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". By the late 1980s, the James Whale radio show had become a cultural phenomenon.

Television success follows

The show broadcast every weekend on ITV, attracting millions of viewers and making Whale a household name. He went on to host various programmes for ITV, Sky and the BBC before finding a new audience for talk radio.

Whale also made headlines during his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother. His broadcasting style was known for breaking conventional rules and shaping the airwaves on his own terms.

Charity work recognised

After surviving kidney cancer in 2006, Whale launched Kidney Cancer UK, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for the cause. His charitable efforts were recognised when he was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours in 2024.

Graham concluded his tribute by saying: "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."

(PA/London) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.