Celebrity Big Brother star James Whale has admitted he doesn’t think he will make it to Christmas after being diagnosed with kidney cancer five years ago as treatment isn’t an option

James Whale has said he won’t make it to Christmas as he shared a heartbreaking cancer update. The TV and radio legend was diagnosed with stage-four kidney cancer five years ago.

He has now said he is “at the end” of his cancer journey. The 73-year-old has announced his long-running TalkTV programme could be coming to an end within weeks.

James sadly revealed his condition has worsened and that treatment is no longer an option. Making the announcement with his Talk co-host Ash Gould by his side, he shared: “I’m at the end of my cancer journey. There is no treatment I can have anymore.”

He added: “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 fears he won’t make it to Christmas ( 
Image:
PA)

James said his recent ill health had taken its toll on him. He had a severe bout of flu which led to an intensive care stay. 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.”

In December, James revealed he had spent Christmas in intensive care after being hospitalised with flu. His wife revealed the scary news while confirming he was able to return home to recover.

She said at the time: “After a worrying week I am happy to report that @THEJamesWhale is out of ICU and back at home, having batted off the Grim Reaper yet again.

“This time he tried with a bout of Influenza A, but without success. Our hero is home for NYE.” James was diagnosed with stage-four kidney cancer five years ago.

He continued to defy the odds despite fears he wouldn’t see another Christmas. In April last year as he collected his MBE, he admitted he feared his time was nearing its end.

The broadcaster says treatment isn’t working ( 
Image:
THEJamesWhale/X)
James has been facing cancer since 2000 when he first had a kidney removed. In 2020, the TalkTV host disclosed that the cancer had aggressively returned, affecting his remaining kidney, spine, brain, and lungs.

Speaking to PA news agency following his MBE award, he admitted he was surprised he had been able to attend. He said: “I didn’t think I’d be here to receive this. But who knows?

“I’ve been terminally ill now for nearly four years. Twenty five years ago I had the original cancer. So I might make the end of this year, I might not. I might be around next year.”

He remained upbeat despite the prognosis, however, adding: “I think you’ve got to be positive. I know it’s getting a bit worse than it was. You just have to go with the flow really.

“You have to do that to get through it. One in two of us is going to go on this journey until they find a cure. They will find a cure. But you have to make the most of it.”

He also mused: “When you’re my age and I’ve had a good life you say maybe you have another year left. Four years ago, we thought we had months.”

The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call us on 0808 808 0000.