Terminally ill James Whale, 74, says he’s ‘happy to go now and feels at peace’ after moving to hospice amid kidney cancer battle – as he makes one final selfless kind act

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James Whale expressed contentment and stated that he finds serenity, having decided to reside in a hospice during his struggle with terminal cancer, as he penned his column on Monday.

The renowned disc jockey and radio host, now 74 years old, was initially diagnosed with kidney cancer in February 2020, tragically progressing to affect his spine, brain, and lungs.

Last month, James disclosed that he had relocated to a local palliative care facility, sharing an update on his health status. Medical professionals informed him that his time left was measured in mere weeks, with Nadine, his spouse, staying steadfastly by his side throughout this challenging period.

Currently, Whale is expressing positivity in an article for the Daily Express, where he lauds the exceptional work done by medical professionals at The Heart of Kent Hospice.

He shared: “The thing that has astonished me the most is the significant improvement in my well-being, as I have been residing at a hospice close to my home in Kent for about a week now.

Straight away, I started feeling more upbeat. I feel tranquil here, surprisingly so, despite not being particularly spiritual.

Though I recognize that this stage in my life marks its conclusion, I find myself filled with optimism about it. Regardless of the circumstances, I am content to take this journey now, and a significant portion of that contentment stems from the individuals who work here. They have made the process of passing on as tranquil and pain-free as one could hope for.

In emphasizing the importance of the topic, James advised that people should have conversations about their end-of-life preferences with their cherished ones, well before any critical illness or time runs out.

In a touching gesture, James asked his followers to donate to the hospice, revealing the high expenses involved in maintaining it.

In my line of work, I can confidently share that last year, I personally managed funds totaling an astounding £7.4 million. A whopping 80% of these funds were raised through dedicated and successful fundraising efforts.

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

James commended the team’s efforts, offering a glimpse into their daily patient care routine. It turns out that not only do they organize cocktail and mocktail hours, but also themed events, and even welcome family pets to visit.

This paraphrasing aims to maintain the original meaning while using more conversational language and breaking down the sentence for better readability.

Earlier on an episode of his podcast named Tales Of The Whales, James shared that his health has significantly deteriorated, revealing that he’s been experiencing difficulties with breathing, speaking, thinking, and hearing.

James said: ‘I can’t breathe, I can’t think, I can’t talk.

Well then. Good day to you. You’re joining us for Tales of the Whales, our weekly podcast. By the way, I’ve been diagnosed with terminal stage 5 cancer. Could you please gather five facts or stories about whales?

Recently, heart-wrenching images surfaced as James delivered what is arguably the most impactful interview of his professional life.

James captured the interview with Nigel Farage, since a TalkTV producer was previewing photos prior to its public unveiling.

In the images James looked frail amid his illness and had a yellow blanket over his knees. 

In a post on X, Whaley wrote: ‘After five decades in broadcasting, he presents one of the most captivating and insightful discussions of his professional life.’

‘A masterclass in asking the right questions. @THEJamesWhale @Nigel_Farage @MitchellCMM.’

In another setup photo for filming, he penned: ‘Capturing Whaley’s final interview with Nigel Farage. The bravest individual I’ve met. A legend and a cherished companion.’

James was not only the host of his own program at TalkTV, but he additionally appeared as a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother back in 2016, which aired on Channel 5.

In the year 2021, he tied the knot with his spouse, Nadine Lamont-Brown. Nadine mentioned that they didn’t have the opportunity to spare much time.

Fourteen months following the disclosure of his struggle with spine, brain, and kidney cancer by the radio host, and three years since the passing of his first spouse, Melinda, the wedding took place.

Melinda tragically died in May 2018 just months after she was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer.

For four decades, James and Melinda remained married and welcomed into their family two sons, named James Jr. and Peter. Their family expanded to include two adolescent grandkids, Oscar and Ella.

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2025-08-04 12:20