Latest news with #KidneyCancerUK
The Sun
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Radio pioneer who reinvented the wheel – James Whale's life blighted by cancer that almost drove him to Dignitas
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 13 13 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 13 13 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 13 13 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 13 13
The Independent
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
James Whale remembered as ‘broadcasting legend' after death from cancer
James Whale, the long-serving radio DJ and TV personality, has died at the age of 74 after a prolonged battle with cancer. His wife, Nadine Lamont-Brown, said he 'slipped away very gently', while TalkTV, his employer, paid tribute to him as a 'broadcasting legend for over 50 years'. Whale was diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer in 2020, having previously survived the disease in 2000, which inspired him to launch Kidney Cancer UK. Known for pioneering late-night phone-in shows, he had a career spanning five decades across ITV, Sky, BBC, TalkSport, and LBC, and received an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours. Whale's colleague Mike Graham said: 'James Whale broke the rules, he shaped the airwaves, and did it all on his own terms ... he was a companion, a provocateur, and a good friend that we'll all never forget.'
Scottish Sun
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
James Whale dead aged 74: Ex-Celebrity Big Brother star and radio legend has died after battle with cancer
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EX-CELEBRITY Big Brother star and radio legend James Whale has died aged 74 following a battle with cancer. The revered Talk presenter, who took part in the reality show in 2016, had been diagnosed with stage-four kidney cancer in 2020. 3 James Whale has died aged 73 following a battle with cancer Credit: PA 3 The star had featured in Celebrity Big Brother in 2016 and had a long established career in radio Credit: talktv 3 He had received an MBE in 2024 for his services to broadcasting and charity Credit: PA In a heartbreaking update during his show, James revealed this month he had just weeks to live as he moved into the final stages of his terminal battle. 'I'm actually in my last couple of weeks. Last time I saw my oncologist, he said I probably have only got weeks to go," James, 74, told viewers from his home on Saturday June 21. 'Over the 50 years, I have interviewed and chatted to some of the most amazing people. It may have been you. Maybe we'll catch up for the last time." On Monday it was revealed he was "happy to go now" after moving into a hospice. Later, when a viewer named Paula called in, he confessed how emotional he has been about his prognosis. He told her: "I spend a lot of time crying. And it really, it's a bit embarrassing, Paula, to be quite honest with you. 'I'm heading into the sunset and I talk about it regularly on the show and you know it's interesting because now everybody talks about it. "Not me, not mine, but their own, you know, they don't feel that they're doing it quite right without having a cancer to talk about." Back at the beginning of May, James told viewers that his condition had worsened, treatment was no longer working and he would "be lucky to make it to Christmas". He explained: "I'm at the end of my cancer journey. There is no treatment I can have anymore." That same month, James celebrated his 74th birthday with loved ones. Watch James Whale's ups and down in the Celebrity Big Brother house It comes after he spent Christmas in intensive care before being discharged from the ICU on December 30. His relieved wife Nadine told fans at the time: "After a worrying week I am happy to report that @THEJamesWhale is out of ICU and back at home, having batted off the Grim Reaper yet again. "This time he tried with a bout of Influenza A, but without success." After battling kidney cancer in 2000, James launched the charity Kidney Cancer UK to increase knowledge and awareness, funding research into the causes, prevention and treatment of the disease. He had fathered two kids with Melinda Maxted, James and Peter, before she herself was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. Melinda died in May 2018, just three months after James made the announcement of her diagnosis. In 2020, James revealed the disease had returned and spread to his spine, brain and lungs, and has shared his ongoing cancer battle candidly with listeners and viewers over the past few years. A year later, on his 70th birthday, James announced his engagement to Nadine Lamont-Brown, before marrying her in October of that year. The powerhouse presenter had been a staple of the airwaves for over 50 years and was awarded an MBE in the 2023 King's New Year Honours List for his outstanding contribution to broadcasting. At the time, he told The Sun: "I'm exceptionally thrilled as somebody who's been able to enjoy their job for their entire life and receiving an award like this is just the best." James celebrated the milestone with hundreds of pals at an £80,000 bash in Mayfair - paid for by millionaire Charlie Mullins and organised by his pals Chuck Thomas and Andre Walker. He had also received the first-ever TRIC Recognition Award for his outstanding work across 50 years. James began his career with Metro Radio in 1974 where he pioneered the concept of the late night radio phone-in. Five decades later, James was still heard hosting the phone-in, every Saturday night, on TalkTV and TalkRadio. His late-night series, the James Whale Show, which was broadcast live simultaneously on Radio Aire in Leeds and ITV in the 1980s, made the genre famous. In 1988, after gaining a loyal legion of listeners who loved his unique acerbic and incisive style, The James Whale Radio Show was simulcast live on television every Friday night on ITV, pulling in over one million viewers. 'GIANT OF RADIO AND TELEVISION' James went on to host Whale On, Dial Midnight and Central Weekend Live for ITV, Talk About for BBC One, and more recently appeared on Channel 5's Celebrity Big Brother. 2008 saw his autobiography, A Lifetime Of Night-Time, published as well as him falling into hot water after he urged listeners on TalkSport to vote for Boris Johnson in that year's London mayoral election. The acerbic and outspoken host was reportedly suspended again in 2018 after appearing to laugh at a guest who was speaking about her rape on air. The much-loved presenter had also hosted a range of shows on BBC local radios and LBC, before appearing on Celebrity Big Brother in 2016 for its eighteenth series. He was the sixth person to be evicted on the reality show, coming in ninth place overall. Late in 2016, James began covering shows on TalkRadio, before becoming a host himself of a Monday to Thursday evening show. Most recently, he held the 10pm to 1am slot on a Friday night on TalkRadio, a time described as his "spiritual home". In early 2024, James was awarded the first ever TRIC Recognition Award for his 50 years in broadcasting, with his 'true grit and determination to entertain and inform the nation every week', not least in the face of his illness. At the time of the award, Richard Wallace, Head of TalkTV, said: 'There are legends - and then there's James Whale. "This award is a fitting acknowledgment of a maverick talent who has entertained TV and radio audiences with inimitable style for more than 50 years.' Dennie Morris, Director of Audio, News Broadcasting, added: 'James is not only a giant of radio and television, but one of the loveliest men I've ever met. "His contribution to the industry and to charity over the years has been remarkable. "I can think of no one more deserving of this honour.'
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Experts' warning over 'silent' cancer most people have never heard of as cases soar in under 50s - the symptoms everyone MUST know
A kidney cancer campaigner has urgently warned people not ignore the early signs of the disease that most people either don't know about or don't take seriously. In the UK, around 13,000 people are diagnosed with kidney cancer—38 every day. The 'silent' cancer, which is among the fastest growing, is often symptomless in early stages so is often not diagnosed until later stages, when it has spread to other areas of the body and survival rates plummet. This warning has come over fears a lack of awareness of seemingly harmless symptoms is putting lives in danger. Despite being the sixth most common cancer, Malcolm Packer, CEO of Kidney Cancer UK, told the Huffington Post, it is 'dangerously under-recognised'. 'Kidney cancer is one of the fastest-growing cancers in the UK,' he said. He warned a lack of awareness and funding to tackle the condition which has no routine screening programme has 'real consequences'. 'Unlike some other cancers, there are no routine screening programmes and symptoms can be vague or easily dismissed. 'As a result, many people aren't diagnosed until stage two or three—at which point treatment becomes more complex,' he said. Mortality rates for kidney cancer have risen by 73 per cent in the UK since the 1970s, with cases soaring among those under 50. However, the CEO, highlighting the importance of knowing the early signs, said: 'Catching kidney cancer early can dramatically improve outcomes.' He shared the key symptoms to look out for, including those that 'seem mild or unrelated at first glance'. Blood in the urine—even once— is the most common and potentially most telling early sign. And the discolouration is not always obvious, according to Mr Packer. It may appear bright pink or red, but it can also feature a very slight tinge. Either way, it shouldn't be ignored. A dull or persistent discomfort in the lower back or either side of your spine below the ribs, known as the flank, can be caused by kidney cancer, he added. As can a mass or swelling in your side, which could be a tumour in or near the kidney area. If weight loss is sudden and unexplained, particularly if you are experiencing other symptoms, this is also a red flag. This warning comes not long after high profile former American basketball point guard Dwayne Wade revealed he had kidney cancer. NBA legend Dwayne Wade, 43, revealed subtle stomach pains and a routine check-up led to his kidney cancer diagnosis. He shared earlier this year that he had 40 per cent of one of his kidneys removed in December 2023, after finding a stage one cancerous tumour. He said: 'I talked about just having a slow stream, like sometimes when I would go to the bathroom, my urine would come out little slow. 'I had some cramps, some pain, a little bit at times in my stomach that I did not understand. 'But I didn't think nothing of it. And so, once I finally went in, I was like, 'OK, I just want to know everything''. Both Wade's father and grandfather had battled prostate cancer—a fact that had always kept him worried about his health. He told TODAY: '[The doctor] expressed to me that it was very early, but they thought they saw something on my kidneys. 'I didn't go in for my kidneys. I went in to check what was going on my stomach and my prostate'. A report by Kidney Cancer UK published earlier this year revealed that almost all cases of the disease are spotted by accident. That means patients are only being diagnosed when they have a scan for an unrelated condition or in an emergency department. Just one in five of the patients polled by the charity said their condition was spotted because they were sent for relevant tests by their GP. Risk factors for the cancer include smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease or family history. Treatment may include surgery, cryotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, targeted medicines, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. But, individual treatment plans depend on what type of cancer you have, where it is, how big it is, if it has spread, and your general health.
