'QUITE WEIRD'
Broadcaster James Whale thought he was the ‘new messiah’ when under the influence of cancer medication
BROADCASTER James Whale has revealed that he thought he was the "new messiah"; when under the influence of cancer medication.
The 69-year-old star opened up about his devastating diagnosis during an appearance on this evening.
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James was told that he has cancer of the kidney, spine, brain and lungs two weeks ago - two years after his beloved wife Melinda died of lung cancer and 20 years after he had a kidney removed because of a tumour.
He is undergoing immunotherapy and hormone replacement treatment to beat the illness, and admitted tonight that the medication made him think he was the "messiah".
James told Dan: "While I was under the influence of these drugs, by the way, I had a period of thinking that I may be the new messiah.
"It only lasted a day; I became a rabid vegetarian, I walked around my garden looking at flowers and saying to everyone: 'How beautiful are these?'
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"Friends came round and I gave them clothes, I said to them: 'I don't need these'.
"It was really quite weird. I remember doing it, and I suddenly thought: 'I wonder if this will continue?'"
He added: "You have different thoughts about things and I'm still thinking differently about all kinds of situations."
James went on to joke: "I never did illegal drugs in the '70s, but I begin to realise why some of these great artists who did drugs painted such amazing picture and had so many weird and wonderful songs."
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The star previously told The Sun how he considered going to Dignitas when he was first given the devastating diagnosis, but now he has vowed to fight the disease so he can return to the airwaves.
He said in an exclusive interview: "This little bastard has spread. It’s in my remaining kidney. I’ve got a couple of small lesions in my lungs. I’ve got it in my spine. I’ve got it in my brain."
Recalling being told the diagnosis two weeks ago, James added: “The woman looked worried and she said ‘I’m so sorry. I’ve got really, really bad news for you. I’m afraid 20 years ago you had kidney cancer. Well, it looks like it’s probably come back. You’ve got a tumour on your kidney.’
“And I thought, ‘OK, well, 20 years later I’ll have to do all over again.’ And then she said, ‘I’m sorry. Sadly it’s spread. You’ve got small lesions in your brain and your lung, in your spine, in your pituitary gland.’”
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James’ immediate reaction, driven by shock and trauma, was to consider euthanasia.
“I came home, had a little think about things. I decided I’m just booking myself a trip to Dignitas. You might as well just go and get it over with,” he says in his trademark brutally honest style.
“I’d looked into it quite some time ago because Melinda died two years ago and it’s been something in the back of my mind.”
But James was supported by his son, also James, to seek help from the charity Kidney Cancer UK that he set up after his first battle with the disease in 2000.
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James Whale reveals late wife Melinda 'secretly supported' Peter Stringfellow through illness before her death from lung cancer
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His treatment has been guided by Professor Thomas Powles, director of London’s Barts Cancer Centre where he is lead for solid tumour research.
James is one of the UK’s leading radio broadcasters. His late-night series, the James Whale Radio Show, which was broadcast live simultaneously on Radio Aire in Leeds and ITV in the 1980s, made the genre famous.
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He spent 13 years presenting weeknights on talkSPORT from 1995 before moving onto a drivetime show on LBC broadcasting every weekday for four years, sparking a huge ratings rise.
He now hosts between 7pm and 10pm on News UK’s booming station talkRADIO alongside long-time co-host Ash Gould.
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