Broadcaster James Whale dies aged 74
His colleague and friend Mike Graham read an obituary on air and paid tribute to Whale, who had been battling stage four kidney cancer.
Whale was first diagnosed with cancer in 2000 and had to have one of his kidneys removed.
Then, in 2020, the TalkTV host revealed that the cancer had returned in his kidney, spine, brain, and lungs.
Graham said: "James 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, broadcasting every weekend on ITV. He attracted millions of viewers, making him a household name.
"James would go on to host a variety of programmes for ITV, Sky, and the BBC before finding a new audience for talk radio, all the while continuing to make headlines during his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother.
"In 2006, after surviving kidney cancer, James launched Kidney Cancer UK, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds.
"In 2024, James was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours, recognising his extraordinary contribution to broadcast[ing] and charity.
"James Whale broke the rules. He shaped the airwaves and did it all on his own terms.
"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."
Whale began his career with Metro Radio in the UK in 1974, where he pioneered the late-night radio phone-in.
He rose to fame in the 1980s with his frank style, dry wit, and no-nonsense approach on late-night programme The James Whale Radio Show, gaining a legion of loyal listeners.
He spent 13 years at TalkSport before hosting the drivetime show on the London-based LBC and the breakfast show on BBC Essex.
During his career, he also hosted Whale On, Dial Midnight, and Central Weekend Live for ITV and Talk About for BBC One.
His autobiography, Almost a Celebrity: A Lifetime of Night-Time, was published in 2008.
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