Broadcasting icon James Whale has died at the age of 74, just hours after sharing he was “happy to go now.” His wife, Nadine, confirmed he passed peacefully at The Heart of Kent Hospice, smiling in his final moments. “It was a beautiful passing,” she said.

James was first diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2000 and had one kidney removed. The cancer returned in 2020, spreading to his spine, brain, and lungs. In his final weeks, James said, “I feel at peace here… despite everything, I’m happy to go now.”

He spent his last days raising awareness about hospice care and encouraging people to talk openly about death. “We all need to take death seriously and plan ahead,” he urged. He also highlighted the hospice’s need for funding, noting it costs millions each year to operate.

James married Nadine Lamont-Brown in 2021, following the death of his first wife, Melinda, in 2018. He leaves behind two sons and two grandchildren. TalkTV paid tribute, saying, “James will be deeply missed by all of us.”