70s rock legend with Christmas No 1 hit critically ill in hospital with brain damage after suffering cardiac arrest
ROCKER CRITICAL 70s rock legend with Christmas No 1 hit critically ill in hospital with brain damage after suffering cardiac arrest
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
VETERAN rock star Dave Edmunds is critically ill after suffering a cardiac arrest.
The 81-year-old, who had a 1970 Xmas No1 hit with I Hear You Knocking, is said to have died before being revived.
Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter
Sign up
1
Dave Edmunds is critically ill after suffering a cardiac arrest
Credit: Getty
His wife of 40 years, Cici, said: 'He died in my arms while I desperately tried to keep him alive.'
She said a nurse performed 'heavy CPR' on him at their home in Rockfield, Monmouthshire.
Cici said the nurse was "pumping away really hard performing heavy CPR" but told her 'Cici I'm gonna stop. Dave is gone. He is dead."
Cici said she "refused to give up" Edmunds was taken to hospital where doctors intubated him.
She said: "I'm still in shock and I believe I have PTSD from the horrific experience.
"My brilliant talented funny and special Dave could really use as many peoples prayers and good wishes so to speak.
The Cardiff-born rocker is now in hospital with brain damage and severe memory loss.
He formed Love Sculpture before going solo and has worked with stars including Sir Paul McCartney and Nick Lowe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
20 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
‘They're not even trying now!' say Emmerdale fans as actress's huge baby bump is on full display
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EMMERDALE fans have been left in hysterics at Steph Fox-Miligan's baby bump being on full display - despite the character not being pregnant. Actress Georgia Jay revealed the happy news she is expecting her first child - and bosses made the decision to not see her character Steph also fall pregnant. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 Georgia's bump was on full display in Emmerdale today 2 Fans are convinced bosses have given up trying to hide it However that has left them struggling to hide her growing bump - but in today's episode it seemed they'd just given up. Visibly pregnant Georgia played Steph in a simple over-sized shirt and coat with her prominent bump on proud display. There was no mention of it and instead the character was planning to get very drunk as she seduced ex Ross Barton into an afternoon romp. The scenes left fans in hysterics with one saying: "They're not even trying now!" Another said: "Not doing a very good job of hiding Steph's bump there are they? Unless there going to include it in a storyline… #emmerdale" A third added: "Emmerdale thought Georgia Jay had already left on maternity but no as that was a hell of a full shot of the baby bump." Actress Georgia's exit will play out this month after The Sun revealed she was taking a break for maternity leave. A source said: 'Everyone's thrilled for Georgia and can't wait to see her back when she's ready. Emmerdale fans distracted by glaring baby bump blunder as actress fails to hide her real-life pregnancy 'Steph's exit will happen in the next few weeks and see her flee abroad in typically dramatic fashion. 'But with Anthony's body still out there, there's a huge storyline still to be wrapped up for when she returns.'
Scottish Sun
20 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Radio pioneer who reinvented the wheel – James Whale's life blighted by cancer that almost drove him to Dignitas
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TWENTY-five years ago he was given a 50 per cent chance of survival. British radio personality, television presenter, podcast host and 'shock jock' trailblazer, James Whale had tragically lost his wife of 48 years, Melinda from lung cancer two years earlier. 13 Radio personality James Whale in 1976 Credit: Getty 13 James died aged 74 following a battle with cancer Credit: PA 13 James Whale in his younger years Credit: Rex 13 The star had featured in Celebrity Big Brother in 2016 and had a long established career in radio Credit: TalkTV In February 2000, he himself was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He underwent an operation to remove his left kidney, after a large tumour was discovered, where the odds of survival were in the balance. 'As soon as the word cancer is mentioned, everyone thinks, 'Oh I am dying. That's it,'' he was later to say on the podcast series he made with his second wife, Nadine, called Tales of the Whales. 'It is not a death sentence. And the size of the tumour is irrelevant because the one I had taken out was the size of a football.' He returned to work and, in 2006, launched the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer to fund research and raise awareness of the disease, which later merged with Kidney Cancer UK. In 2016 he took part in Celebrity Big Brother despite having felt unwell for about a year. It wasn't until 2020, when he started to forget names on air while presenting his popular nightly show on TalkRadio that he decided to get medically checked out. It was bad news. "The woman looked worried and she said, 'I'm so sorry. I've got really, really bad news for you. I'm afraid 20 years ago you had kidney cancer. Well, it looks like it's come back. You've got a tumour on your kidney.' "And I thought, 'OK, well I'll have to do all over again.' And then she said, 'I'm sorry. Sadly it's spread. You've got small lesions in your brain and your lung, in your spine, in your pituitary gland.'" This time he knew it was terminal and such was the shock that his immediate reaction was to consider euthanasia. 'I came home, had a little think about things and I decided I'm just booking myself a trip to Dignitas. You might as well just go and get it over with,' he told The Sun in an exclusive interview. 'I'd looked into it quite some time ago after Melinda died and it's been something in the back of my mind.' Bayern Munich star Sven Ulreich announces tragic death of his six-year-old son after 'long, serious illness' But his sons, James and Peter, encouraged him to seek help from the kidney cancer charity that he set up after his first battle with the disease. The double dose of medicine and a positive mental attitude saw him carrying on and returning to work. On 13 May 2021, his 70th birthday, he announced his engagement on Twitter but did not reveal his fiancée's identity. That October, he married Nadine Lamont-Brown. She had refused to listen to him when, aware of his condition, he offered her a way out. 'It was so unfair on her, so I said, 'I think we should cool it and not see each other', and she replied, 'Oh that's nice, so if I'd just been diagnosed with a terminal illness, you wouldn't come and see me anymore?', so we carried on. 'Living with cancer, especially a terminal diagnosis, is a constant rollercoaster of emotions. But Its brought me closer to my darling wife Nadine. "We talk about my cancer – the good, bad and bloody annoying parts of it – every week on our podcast Tales of the Whales. We like to have a good laugh about it, too. It's wonderfully therapeutic and allows me to get out of my head.' In an emotional broadcast in July 2025, he told listeners on his podcast that he had been given twelve weeks to live and was now up to week seven. 'I'm not me anymore. I can't breathe, I can't think, I can't talk. I still can't hear very well, which is more frustrating than anything else. "I've become very slow in my speech and forgetful. I don't feel I can go on much more. "My energy levels have gone completely. So, I wish everybody well, and let us hope we go through these phases as quickly as we can." Towards the end he moved into a hospice close to his Kent home where he died aged 74. 13 James Whale and wife Nadine Talbot-Brown pictured at The British Curry Awards in 2022 Credit: Rex 13 James was a pioneer in the radio industry Credit: Rex 13 Whale back in 2022 Credit: PA Born Michael James Whale on 13 May 1951 in Ewell, Surrey, his English father David worked in the family business S&R Whale, which made dresses, aprons and overalls in a factory in Brixton, London. His Welsh mother Anne was a professional ballet dancer who retired after James and his younger brother Keith were born. Severely dyslexic, James failed his 11-plus exam and went to the local Church of England school. He took a keen interest in archery in his mid-teens, becoming Surrey junior archery champion. After leaving school he worked on a building site before becoming a trainee buyer at Harrods. Influenced by the likes of Radio DJs Tony Blackburn, Johnnie Walker and Kid Jensen, he decided to try his hand at broadcasting. His parents were now running a pub in the King's Cross area of London where the family were living and the brewery, Watney, had plans to open a chain of discos. James took their DJ training course and later had gigs in various Watney venues. In 1970 he became DJ for Radio Topshop in Oxford Street and in 1974 began hosting an evening talk show on Metro Radio, serving northeast England from studios in Swalwell, Gateshead, where he pioneered the late-night radio phone-in. He later moved to BBC Radio Derby to present a morning phone-in and in 1982 joined Radio Aire in Leeds to host another late night talk show, where his frank style and droll wit began to get him a lot of attention. Called The James Whale Radio Show it began to be simultaneously filmed and shown on Yorkshire Television in the late 80s and such was its popularity that it transferred to the entire ITV network. This late night mix of irreverent chat, music and comedy, laced throughout with James's bluntness and often caustic wit, made him a household name. 'I realised disagreeing with people on air, sometimes even cutting them off, was far more entertaining than playing records,' he explained. But the sharp ripostes were to be a double edged-sword with accusations of rudeness and bullying. At TalkRadio he was suspended in 2008 for urging listeners to vote for Boris Johnson in the upcoming London mayoral election. In 2018 he was suspended again when it was reported that he appeared to laugh at a guest who was speaking about her rape on air. 13 James Whale with his first wife Melinda who died from cancer Credit: Oliver Dixon - The Sun 13 James received an MBE in 2024 for his services to broadcasting and charity Credit: PA 13 Whale has issued an emotional update amid his terminal cancer battle Credit: Instagram/@jameswhaleradio No one was more surprised than him when, in April 2024 he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to broadcasting and charity. He described receiving the award from Princess Anne at Windsor Castle as the 'pinnacle' of his career. 'It makes me feel very proud that somebody has recognised the fact that I've spent my entire life being rude to people for entertainment. If my parents were alive, they would be in tears. It's a great honour at the end of your life.' For, by now, he was not sure that he would make it through to the end of the year. The comfort, support and love he received from Nadine was evident in interviews they gave and in their touching but amusing podcasts. But she admitted that they were like chalk and cheese. 'He's not my cup of tea,' she once laughed. 'If I'd Googled him, I'd have thought, 'He doesn't seem like a very nice man' and we wouldn't have got together.' Luckily for him, she had never heard of him when they first met at a village pub in Kent, the county where they settled. 'When I finally watched him at work, he was so harsh on people. After a few minutes, I thought, 'This is just horrible'. 'But he's actually really nice and kind. When you watch him at work, it's a persona. "He can sometimes go into 'work mode' at home, and I'll have to say, 'You're not at work now. You can't cut me off.' No one's ever been nicer to me.' James retained his fondness for archery throughout his life and away from work liked to spend his time target shooting with his favourite custom made English Long Bow. Living with cancer for so long had given him time to come to terms with death. 'I'm not scared of dying,' he said, towards the end. 'I want to be buried in the churchyard at the top of the hill. It's a great view.' 13 James Whale enters the Big Brother House for the Celebrity Big Brother launch at Elstree Studios on July 28, 2016 13 He recently moved into a hospice Credit: x/TalkTV
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Darts star James Wade branded ‘disrespectful' over antics in Luke Littler match
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JAMES WADE has been labelled as 'disrespectful' after refusing to stay on stage in the aftermath of his World Matchplay final defeat to Luke Littler. The World No.5 lost 18-13 to the teen sensation who became the youngest champion in the tournament's history. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 James Wade left the stage immediately after losing the World Matchplay final to Luke Littler Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 2 The 42-year-old was criticised for leaving the stage early Credit: Getty 'The Machine' slipped away quietly off the oche following their bout as Littler soaked up the spotlight solo. Sky Sports pundits Michael Bridge and Chris Murphy took aim at Wade for his actions in Blackpool. Bridge said: 'I got it clarified that there were no issues with Luke or the crowd or anything like that. 'He was just angry at himself, which is fine, but we would have liked to have heard from him.' READ MORE ON DARTS FLIGHT CLUB Darts star Luke Littler and girlfriend Faith shared loved-up selfie on flight Murphy added: 'I thought it was disrespectful for him not to be on the stage at the end. 'Whether he does an interview or not is up to him, but not to be there when Luke is receiving the trophy, that is disrespectful. 'Just stand there for a minute and applaud, and then say, 'I don't want to talk.' 'There's a serious side with James of course. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 'We know about his mental health and his mental illnesses that he suffers with and that he's trying to combat all the time. 'But I think he maybe needs a little bit of guidance and support with that. 'If he's not up to doing a press conference straight after a match, maybe he should be approaching the PDC and asking about facilitating his press conference when he returns for the next round in a better frame of mind.'
