James Whales' best friend of 30 years breaks down in tears as she tells of heartbreak over radio legend's death
TalkRadio star James Whale passed away following a five year battle with terminal cancer at the age of 74.
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His best friend Lizzie Cundy appeared on the speech radio station to pay a tearful tribute to her close pal.
Talking to the airwaves alongside Peter Cardwell, she recounted some of her favourite moments with the former Celebrity Big Brother star.
She spoke of the monent she was told of his passing as she admitted: "I got the news this morning.
"I got the phone call from his lovely wife Nadine and I just burst into tears. Because I knew this day was coming but I never wanted it to come.
"I was with James on Friday at his hospice, and he looked frail and weak but still the same old Whaley was there.
"He asked what the hell I was wearing! He just made jokes and made me laugh and the nurses laugh."
On her Instagram, Lizzie told her thousands of followers that she met James 30 years ago when he was first diagnosed with cancer.
She helped him with his kidney cancer charity and they stayed close pals ever since.
Holding back tears on air, she continued: "He was like a father to me Peter, he helped me through a lot of ups and downs, through my divorce.
"He told me when I was being an idiot, he told me straight and I loved that in James."
James Whale dead aged 74- Ex-Celebrity Big Brother star and radio legend has died after battle with cancer
But as the news sunk in, she clasped a tissue from under her computer as the tears started to flow.
"He was a one off, you know I will never meet anyone like James Whale ever again." Lizzie cried.
"He really was an extraordinary person."
"I really think his work at TalkTV kept him going and living even longer than he ever thought.
I just burst into tears because I knew this day was coming but I never wanted it to come
Lizzie CundyTalkRadio
"It gave him such a focus, he loved his work, he loved all the crew, he loved just being with everyone."
She added: "And I was so lucky to be a part of that, we will have times that we will cherish forever."
She also spoke about his final moments after getting the dreaded phone call of his wife Nadine Lamont Brown.
Lizzie explained: "The last final days when she rang me, she said she was chatting to him, holding his hand.
"And he just slowly passed away, closed his eyes and she said he couldn't have gone more peacefully, and with her holding his hand.
"And that really gets me, but it was for James and she really was the love of his life."
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