Eamonn Holmes brands late pal James Whale’s wife Nadine ‘a gift from God’ while lauding her devotion – following star’s death aged 76

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As a devoted admirer, I felt compelled to express my heartfelt tribute to the beloved wife of the late, great James Whale, upon hearing the devastating news of his passing at the age of 76.

James, who had been fighting kidney cancer, peacefully passed away as reported by Nadine. She shared the news with The Express on Monday, stating, “James departed gracefully this morning. His passing was serene and he left with a content smile.

On Instagram, Eamonn posted a picture of James and Nadine, whom he referred to as a “blessing from heaven,” expressing gratitude for the widow’s dedication.

In the title, he wrote: ‘He had been my friend since 1986 … she was a divine blessing to him. This is James Whale’s wife, Nadine. His suffering has ended. For poor Nadine, however, her ordeal is just starting. Nadine, no one could have shown more love and care for him. Thank you.’ (In this version, the word ‘captions’ has been replaced with ‘title’ to provide a more natural context, and the phrase ‘his pain is now gone’ has been rephrased as ‘his suffering has ended’ to convey the same idea in a more straightforward manner.)

James and Nadine have been married for four years, having gotten married in 2021. This union came about following the passing of his previous wife, Melinda Maxted, in 2018. Melinda, who he had married back in 1970, succumbed to stage four lung cancer.

Just moments prior to the announcement of James’ passing, his last article as a broadcaster was published, where he shared that he felt content and ready to depart, having found peace following his admission to a hospice.

As a fervent admirer putting pen to paper for the Daily Express, I shared how I found myself in an optimistic frame of mind, extolling the virtues of the dedicated team at The Heart of Kent Hospice whom I had the privilege to commend.

He shared that what has amazed him the most is the significant improvement in his wellbeing, as he’s only been living at a hospice close to his home in Kent for about a week.

Right off the bat, I noticed an improvement in my mood. I became more optimistic. Despite not being particularly spiritual, I find a sense of tranquility in this place.

Even though I acknowledge that this marks the conclusion of my life, I remain optimistic about it. In spite of all that has transpired, I am content to take this next step now. A significant part of that contentment is owed to the individuals working here, for they make the process as tranquil and painless as possible during these final moments.

Encouraging a sober approach, James emphasized the necessity of sharing one’s end-of-life preferences with dear ones, preferably before any grave illness sets in or it may be too late.

In a touching, unselfish gesture, James asked his followers to contribute to the hospice, revealing the substantial expenses involved in maintaining its operations.

Last year, it was disclosed that the total expense amounted to an astounding £7.4 million, with approximately 80% of this sum being acquired solely through fundraising efforts.

James said they need £12billion more to build a new hospice.

In appreciation for the team, James gave a peek into the daily patient care, disclosing that they go beyond the norm by serving cocktails and mocktails among other things, organizing themed activities, and welcoming family pets to make visits more enjoyable.

Back in 2000, the well-regarded radio host was initially told by physicians that he had approximately three months left to live due to cancer. However, before a surgery was performed to take out one of his kidneys, this grim prognosis was issued.

Six years after a successful procedure, he established the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer, aimed at financing research and increasing understanding about this illness.

Sadly, in 2020, his cancer came back, and it was discovered that it had progressed to affect his spine, brain, and lungs as well.

He is survived by wife Nadine and his two sons James and Peter. 

In May, James revealed he was no longer receiving treatment. 

In an episode of his Talk TV show with Ash Gould, he shared that he has reached the final stage of his cancer battle. He stated that no further treatments are available for him to undergo.

I just wanted to express my immense gratitude for allowing me to speak on-air and be seated alongside Ash. It might seem challenging at times, but I’ve enjoyed this experience for the past 25 years!

James mentioned that his recent poor health has left him feeling quite drained, as he spent the holiday season recovering from a particularly harsh case of the flu in intensive care.

Regardless of his health issues, James found a way to make light of the situation: “There’s a chance this could help, who knows? I try not to let it affect my decision-making, yet the medications I’m taking are making me quite erratic.

I plan to continue for a while longer, either a few more weeks or a few months. However, once I am no longer able to perform, I will stop.

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2025-08-05 11:35