James Whale has been branded a ‘legend and a friend’ by one of his colleagues and a ‘warrior to the end’ after recording his last ever interview for TalkTV.
The radio and TV host, 74, is best known for hosting The James Whale Radio Show, as well as for his work for talkSPORT and talkRADIO down the years.
He was first diagnosed with kidney cancer in the year 2000 and in 2006 launched the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer to fund research and spread awareness.
After losing wife, Melinda Maxted, to lung cancer in 2018, Whale revealed in 2020 that his own cancer had returned and spread to his brain, spine, kidney, and lungs.
Five years on from that announcement, he revealed on his show in June that he had just ‘weeks’ left to live after receiving the news from his oncologist.
And he’s marked his final few weeks by conducting his last ever interview, with Clacton-on-Sea MP, and Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage.
In a photograph shared on X, Whale and the controversial politician were snapped sitting in a garden, with the former reaching out to place a hand on Farage’s elbow.
Wearing a white shirt and a sun hat, Whale’s legs were covered by a yellow blanket – the photo, bruises could be seen on his hands, and bandages were visible on his feet.
Chuck Thomas, a producer on TalkTV, took several photographs of the occasion, calling Whale ‘the bravest man I know’, as well as ‘a legend and a friend’.
Speaking about the interview, which will be broadcast on TalkTV in the future, Thomas added: ‘After 50 years in broadcasting, Whaley delivers one of the most compelling and profound conversations of his career.’
He described the interview as ‘a masterclass in asking the right questions’ and invited Whale’s followers to celebrate his life and career up to this point.
@AndrewKNevett called the broadcaster ‘a warrior to the end’ while @British_Enjoyer said: ‘Poor bloke. Never stopped. I’m sure lots of people will watch it.’
Elsewhere, @MartP132 said: ‘I’ve loved [Whale] since first hearing him on Radio Aire in the 80s. He is a brilliant broadcaster and I am so sad he is in this situation. Much love and strength to him and his family.’
Whale revealed earlier this year that, through most of his recent cancer battle, days had been ‘quite normal’ for him – until things took a downturn quite suddenly.
‘Until very recently, everything was quite normal for me. Everything was fine, and then you do get to a stage like I am now, with things getting to be very, very difficult.
‘To anybody else who is in the final stages of cancer, you have my sympathy. I know exactly what you’re going through; I do know. I look basically OK, I get told, “You look alright” – it’s all makeup.’
In May, on his birthday, James revealed that he doesn’t have high expectations of seeing Christmas 2025, having already come to terms with his devastating prognosis.
‘As people know, I’m not about to die. Well, you never know, do you? I’ve had all my treatment.’
Insisting that he doesn’t want sympathy, he added: ‘I don’t want anybody feeling sorry. I’m just giving you a lowdown on it. If I make it to Christmas, I will be exceptionally lucky. Sometimes I think it will be easier just to have a heart attack and go.’
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