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TalkTV host James Whale announces he has terminal cancer

James Whale at the 2022 Curry Awards (PA)
James Whale at the 2022 Curry Awards (PA)

TalkTV host James Whale says is dying of terminal cancer.

The controversial presenter, who was originally diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2000, said last year the disease had spread to his spine, brain and lungs.

Speaking at the Curry Awards, Whale said his cancer had continued to progress: "I know a lot of you won’t like me, but this time next year I won’t be here. I have terminal cancer."

Whale went on to discuss how the disease affected him: "As you might be able to hear, I am having chemotherapy which makes it harder for me to breathe, but I’m OK. Don’t worry. I am in my 70s now and I just want to say don’t waste your time on stupid things that don’t matter."

James Whale becomes the sixth person to be evicted from the Celebrity Big Brother House 2016
James Whale was the sixth person to be evicted from the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2016. (PA)

Watch: A Place In The Sun presenter Jonnie Irwin explains why he kept cancer diagnosis secret

Whale recently praised A Place in the Sun presenter Jonnie Irwin who publicly revealed he had untreatable cancer: "I found it very difficult to talk about mine because I didn’t want people to think I was using it to get sympathy or for any other reason."

Read more: James Whale considered euthanasia after cancer diagnosis

In his Express column, he added: "But along with a number of other people in the public eye, I am at stage four. There is no stage five. I don’t want sympathy; I’ve had a good life but I do find talking about it helps me and although that might sound selfish, hopefully it helps others too."

James Whale arrives at the British Curry Awards 2022 at Evolution London. Picture date: Monday November 28, 2022.
James Whale arrives at the British Curry Awards 2022 at Evolution London. Picture date: Monday November 28, 2022.

Whale also lost his first wife Melinda to lung cancer in 2018 though the 71-year-old has since remarried.

His broadcasting career began in the 1970's when he became the store DJ for Topshop on Oxford Street. He later moved to BBC Radio Derby working alongside Terry Christian for a morning phone-in.

Whale is best known for his long run at Talksport where he was sacked after twice urging listeners to vote for Boris Johnson for Mayor of London in 2008.