Eamonn Holmes has paid a heartfelt tribute to Nadine Whale, widow of veteran broadcaster James Whale, following the latter’s passing at the age of 76 after a prolonged battle with kidney cancer.
The news of Whale’s death was confirmed by Nadine, who told The Express on Monday: “James slipped away very gently this morning. It was a beautiful passing and he left with a smile on his face.”
Holmes, a long-time friend of Whale since 1986, took to Instagram to honour the late presenter and express his admiration for Nadine’s unwavering devotion during her husband’s illness. Sharing a photograph of the couple, Holmes wrote: “He was my friend since 1986… she was a gift from God to him. This is James Whale’s wife Nadine. His pain is now gone. For poor Nadine it is just beginning. Nadine, no one could have done more for him. Thank you.”
The tribute underscores the deep personal connection between the two broadcasters and Holmes’s recognition of Nadine’s strength and support throughout James Whale’s final chapter.
James Whale, the veteran broadcaster known for his outspoken style and decades-long career in radio and television, passed away at the age of 76 following a battle with kidney cancer. He is survived by his wife Nadine, whom he married in 2021—three years after the death of his first wife, Melinda Maxted, in 2018. Whale and Melinda had been married since 1970 before she succumbed to stage four lung cancer.
Mere hours before the announcement of his death, Whale’s final column was published in the Daily Express, in which he candidly reflected on his end-of-life journey and shared his contentment with entering a hospice. The broadcaster revealed he had recently moved into the Heart of Kent Hospice and described a profound sense of peace and gratitude toward the staff caring for him.
“What’s surprised me most is how much better in myself I feel since finally moving into a hospice near my home in Kent a week or so back,” he wrote. “I began to feel better immediately. More positive. I feel at peace here, even though I’m not a religious person. I know I’ve reached the end of my life but I’m quite sanguine about it. Despite everything, I’m happy to go now—and a lot of that is due to the people who work here, because they make dying as peaceful and pain-free as possible.”
In his closing remarks, Whale encouraged readers to have open conversations with their loved ones about death and end-of-life preferences. He emphasized the importance of planning and communication while still able. In a final act of generosity, he urged the public to support the hospice financially, highlighting the substantial costs required to operate such vital care facilities.
Whale’s reflections offered a poignant and dignified farewell, consistent with his lifelong candor, and served as a powerful reminder of the value of compassionate end-of-life care.#newsafro_
