Entertainment
Celebrity Big Brother star James Whale reveals mystery engagement three years after his wife’s death
Long-standing radio presenter James Whale has revealed he is engaged, three years after his late wife Melinda died from cancer.
The broadcaster, who’s been working as a DJ and presenter since 1970 and currently hosts The James Whale Show podcast and a night-time show for talkRADIO, is keeping schtum on the identity of his affianced.
James took to Twitter to reveal the news on his birthday weekend, as he turned 70.
He wrote on his personal account: ‘Breaking news over this weekend of my birthday I have to announce that I have become engaged- to whom I will reveal later!’
Listeners rushed to congratulate the radio host on his happy news on Twitter.
One commented: ‘Congratulations James I hope you and your better half are very happy.’
Another posted: ‘Congratulations. Don’t tease – tell us.’
James joined in jokingly with the speculation, posting a photo with singer Leee John, to rule him out as a potential candidate.
‘My very good friend Leee John lead singer with imagination I know we are not getting engaged’, he wrote.
The radio veteran was married to Melinda for 48 years, before her death from lung cancer.
In 2000, James was diagnosed with kidney cancer, for which he underwent an operation but declined chemotherapy.
He launched the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer in 2006, which has since been renamed Kidney Cancer UK.
In August 2020, James disclosed that his cancer had spread to his spine, brain and lungs.
The Celebrity Big Brother contestant, who took part in the reality TV competition in 2016, shared photos of himself undergoing treatment in the summer and declared then that he had ‘no intention of dying’ just yet.
Last summer, James revealed how he was determined not to let his cancer get in the way of continuing with life or ‘undermine’ him, as he eyed up becoming the oldest working man on British radio.
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