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Eamonn Holmes paid tribute to his late friend James Whale’s widow Nadine following the shock jock’s death aged 76.
The star passed away after a battle with kidney cancer, in news announced 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.’
Taking to Instagram, Eamonn shared an image of James and Nadine, who he described as a ‘gift from God’ before thanking the widow for her devotion.
In the caption, he penned: ‘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’.
James has been married to Nadine for four years, having tied the knot in 2021, following the death of his first wife Melinda Maxted in 2018. Melinda, who James wed in 1970, passed away after battling stage four lung cancer.
Mere hours before James’ death was announced, the broadcaster’s final column was published in which he revealed he was ‘happy to go now and feels at peace’ after moving into a hospice.
Writing for the Daily Express, James revealed he was in a ‘positive’ headspace as he praised the doctors and nurses at The Heart of Kent Hospice.
He explained: ‘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.
‘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.’
While urging people to ‘take death seriously’, James said it’s important to discuss your wishes with our loved ones before it’s too late or becoming seriously ill.
In one final selfless act, James urged his fans to support the hospice as he shared the sheer cost of running the facility.
He revealed it cost a staggering £7.4million last year, in which 80 percent of the money was obtained through fundraising alone.
James said they need £12billion more to build a new hospice.
Praising the staff, James shared an insight into the day-to-day care for patients, revealing they even pass around cocktails and mocktails, as well as running themed events and allowing family pets in for visits.
The beloved radio presenter was first diagnosed with cancer in 2000, and doctors predicted he had three months to live before he underwent surgery to remove one of his kidneys.
The operation proved to be successful, and six years later he launched the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer, to fund research and raise awareness of the disease.
Tragically, his cancer returned in 2020 and it was revealed it had also spread to his spine, brain and lungs.
He is survived by wife Nadine and his two sons James and Peter.
In May, James revealed he was no longer receiving treatment.
Speaking on his Talk TV show with Ash Gould, he said: ‘I’m at the end of my cancer journey. There is no treatment I can have anymore.
‘I can’t tell you how grateful I am to Talk to actually let me on the air and sit next to Ash, which is a real pain in the butt, but I’ve been doing it for 25 years!’
James said his recent ill health had taken its toll on him due to a severe bout of flu which led to an intensive care stay over Christmas.
Despite his health, James managed to joke: ‘It might actually be helping me, you never know, so I don’t let that cloud my judgment – but on the medication I am on, I’m all over the place.
‘I’m hoping to go on for another few weeks, few months but as soon as I can’t do the show anymore, I won’t.’
