James Whale issues heartbreaking health update as he calls TalkTV friends

TalkTV star and Express columnist James Whale called into the programme to share a devastating health update as he continues to battle terminal cancer. The broadcaster, 74, first received a cancer diagnosis in 2000, having his left kidney removed to combat it, but it sadly returned in 2020 and spread to his other kidney, spine, brain and lungs.

Now speaking to his Talk co-stars André Walker and Ash Gould via phone-in on Saturday (June 28), James admitted: "I'm not doing terribly well at the moment. I'm just doing a phone call, calling in, to prove I'm still around."

His pal told him encouragingly: "Well you sound fantastic, you know what I mean? Maybe you don't look it and that's why you're calling in but you sound on full tip top form, man."

James replied: "That's very nice of you but let me just tell you that I can't... to get up out of the chair is almost impossible. To stand up is almost impossible. I've got my charming wife here dealing with the pain of it all as well. We thought we'd have a night off of trying to look fantastic, didn't we darling?"

James is married to Nadine Talbot-Brown, tying the knot in 2021 at a ceremony in Tenterden, Kent. His first wife was Melinda Maxted, with whom he shares two sons - James and Peter. Melinda sadly died in 2018 from stage four lung cancer.

Trying their best to give him encouragement, James' co-stars told him: "Yeah just letting it all hang out man, just chilling on the couch with the animals."

Fans rushed to social media to send James their love, with one writing: "It was wonderful to hear from James, we all love him so much." Another added: "Emotional listen. It was good to hear from you, James. I always think of little sis when I watch your show. Thanks for being you. Hugs to you."