James Whale gives update on ‘very difficult' situation amid terminal cancer diagnosis
The 74-year-old broadcaster has been living with stage four kidney cancer for the past five years, telling listeners in May that he had stopped treatment and was 'at the end of [his] cancer journey'.
During Friday's (6 June) episode of his series James Whale Unleashed, broadcast on talkRADIO and TalkTV, Whale addressed a guest whose husband had died of cancer.
'Until very recently, everything was quite normal for me, everything was fine, and then you do get to a stage like I am now, and things get to be very, very difficult,' said Whale.
'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 okay, I get told I look OK – it's all make-up.'
Whale has been a fixture of British radio and TV for five decades and was awarded an MBE for his services to broadcasting and to charity in the 2024 New Year Honours List.
He was first diagnosed with cancer in 2000, with treatment requiring him to remove one of his kidneys. Whale's first wife, Melinda Maxted, died of lung cancer in 2018.
In 2020, Whale revealed that his own cancer had returned in his kidney, spine, brain and lungs.
He spoke about his condition last month on air, suggesting that he intended to continue work as a radio and TV host for 'another few months'.
'I'm at the end of my cancer journey,' he said, alongside Talk co-host Ash Gould. 'There is no treatment I can have anymore. I'm hoping to go on for another few months, but as soon as I can't do the show anymore, I won't.'
'I can't tell you how grateful I am to Talk to actually let me on the air and sit next to Ash, which is a real pain in the butt, but I've been doing it for 25 years!'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Krays' gun licence could fetch thousands at auction
Several items connected to notorious London gangsters the Kray twins are to come up for auction. A gun licence issued to gangster Ronnie Kray, letters his twin Reggie wrote from prison and their brother Charlie's ring are being auctioned by Bearnes, Hampton and Littlewood in Exeter. They are being sold by Dean Buffini who is the stepson of the twins' brother Charlie Kray. He has decided to sell the items after the death last year of his mother Diane, who was Charlie Kray's partner for 27 years. The lots include a four-page letter which Reggie Kray wrote to his mother Violet Kray from Brixton prison in 1969. He told his mother he enjoyed seeing her and his father on their recent visit and "I liked that suit you was wearing, it's a nice colour." He described life in prison including watching the Des O'Connor Show and suggested his mother use honey in her tea rather than sugar, because "its good for your health". He told her he was "going to do a few yoga exercises now" and listen to Radio Luxembourg and would think of her when he was in church. He also discussed a visit from a woman believed to be called Coral or Carol who may be Carol Skinner, or "Blonde Carol" who rented the flat in Hackney where Reggie Kray killed Jack "The Hat" McVitie in October 1967. Reggie, who died in 2000, signed off the letter to his mother "Keep smiling. God bless you. All my love." Another letter going under the hammer is a four page letter Reggie wrote from Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight to Ronnie in 1982. He told his twin brother prison rule limited his correspondence "so I will not be able to write to you often". An18ct gold diamond ring that belonged to their older brother Charlie is expected to fetch between £3,000 to £4,000. It is being sold together with a photograph of Charlie Kray wearing the ring at a family wedding. The auction also includes three photographs featuring Ronnie Kray, Reggie Kray's first wife Frances Shea and 1958 receipts from the Krays' Double R Club in east London, as well as business cards for the club and The Kings Arms in Shoreditch. Lots also include letters of condolence to the twins after their mother's death. Auctioneer Brian Goodison Blanks said there was "an interest in crime" and The Krays had a major impact on London's history and culture in the 1960s. "These are historical pieces and historical documents. There is an interest in the darker side of history". He said the collection was difficult to value but the whole set is expected to fetch more than £10,000, with the gun licence alone estimated at about £5,000 to £8,000. The auction will be held on 12 and 13 August. More news stories for Devon Listen to the latest news for Devon Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Notorious gangster's letters to be sold at auction Kray letter about Cornish houses up for auction Related external link Bearnes Hampton and Littlewood
USA Today
28 minutes ago
- USA Today
August's Sturgeon full moon: 5 zodiac signs could feel 'undeniably massive effects'
August's powerful full moon falls in the middle of the month, and according to astrologers, it could leave its mark on your soul. "This full moon will carry ample reminders that we are loved, that someone cares about us," said astrologer Evan Nathaniel Grim in a video posted to Instagram. Every full moon reveals something hidden in one's subconscious, but this moon, also known as the Sturgeon Moon, could reveal more. During this "extra special" full moon, Jupiter and Venus will align in the sign of Cancer, and the energy it creates will allow people to get settled into a support system they find within themselves, family members and/or a group of close friends, according to Grim. When is the August full moon? The full moon peaked early Saturday, Aug. 9, at 3:55 a.m. ET. Which signs will be most affected by the full moon? These signs will face "undeniably massive effects" during the full moon, according to Grim: "Both Scorpios and Tauruses, by the way, are going through some changes in their families," Grim said. "And are maybe reconnecting with certain family members for the first time in a while." What should you do during the full moon? During this full moon, people should engage with those around them and share "share outside-the-box ideas and visions," according to Grim. Having a brainstorming session will allow people to combine their thoughts and envision the next big idea. They will also be able to see that they have the power to change the world. Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Vernon Kay hits back ‘how stupid do you think I am' after Tess Daly question
Radio presenter Vernon Kay joked 'how stupid do you think I am' when discussing a segment on his show about people who give their partners the 'ick'. Co-star Tina Daheley posed the question after reading the news on Vernon's BBC Radio 2 show yesterday (Friday, August 8). Vernon's co-star tried to explain the concept of the 'ick' by describing it as bad habits that "drive you mad". Examples included not putting the toilet seat down, eating loudly, laughing at your own jokes and the way they talk to their mum. READ MORE: Michelle Keegan unveils sweet tribute to her 'three' as she heads on holiday READ MORE: Christine McGuinness says Paddy was 'fine' with her 'free spirit' sexuality in love life update But dad-of-two Vernon would not be drawn on whether he finds anything annoying about wife, Strictly Come Dancing presenter Tess Daly. He said: "How stupid do you think I am? Behave yourself. I'm full of a cold. I've got the flu. I've got a bit icky myself. "I'm looking forward to a nice quiet weekend. I don't want to have a nice, quiet weekend on my own." Tina quickly clarified that she was asking if Tess has any 'icks' about him, with Vernon retorting: "Oh, there's loads." Vernon, 51, and Tess, 56, tied the knot in 2003. They share daughters Phoebe, 20, and 15-year-old Amber. It comes after the TV and radio star admitted he was mocked by staff in a supermarket over a "senior moment" as he was almost "done for thieving'. He was doing some shopping in an unnamed supermarket earlier this week when he was shocked to realise he had not paid for his food. Fortunately for Vernon he had only just left the store and was able to return and sheepishly apologise for his transgression. Vernon told the story on his radio show: 'I had a senior moment this morning, it could have got me into trouble. I went to a very famous supermarket which is in Marylebone Station and I scanned my food, walked out. 'I went, 'Ah!' Could have been horrendous, could have been absolutely horrendous and the lady, when I walked back, she was just absolutely laughing her head off. She went, 'I saw you, didn't say anything because I knew you'd realise'. 'It was so funny, imagine that, shocking, but it was one of those things where I just scanned my food and wondered off, didn't even think about it because I thought I'd tapped, I hadn't. You know you're old when you get done for thieving.' Vernon got his big television break as a presenter on T4 back in 2000. His other major credits include All Star Family Fortunes and as a co-presenter on the short-lived reality TV show Splash! He also came third in season 20 of I'm A Celebrity.... Get Me Out of Here! The series, held in Wales rather than the Australian jungle due to Covid-19, saw podcaster Giovanna Fletcher win with Radio 1 presenter Jordan North finishing runner-up.
