'They would laugh'
Peter Stringfellow ‘secretly supported’ CBB star James Whale’s wife through illness before her death from lung cancer
The radio host paid tribute to the legendary nightclub owner on Good Morning Britain
PETER Stringfellow supported his pal James Whale's late wife through her own battle with cancer before she passed away last month, the radio star has revealed today.
The radio host, 67, opened up about the loss of his wife Melinda and their nightclub owner friend within a few weeks of each other on Good Morning Britain.
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Speaking about his wife's death just weeks before Peter, 77, to Susanna Reid and Ben Shepherd, the talkRADIO host said: "My wife died just a few weeks ago sadly.
"She developed lung cancer at Christmas. Very quick. And she wasn't a smoker, like Peter, and it's just one of those things.
"A lot of people get lung cancer who don't smoke and I don't think a lot of people realise. Melinda had had a cough for some time.
"Melinda had had a cough for quite some time, but she said it wasn't a really serious cough and she kept brushing it off.
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"I just wish I'd made her go to the doctor."
Bringing the late businessman into the conversation, Susanna asked: "They gave each other a lot of support didn't they? And a lot of laughs?"
James said: "They did. Their chemo. They talkied about what sort of therapy they were having.
"Melinda was having some immunotherapy and Peter was having different things. They talked about it on the phone.
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"One of the few times towards the end, when Melinda was getting very ill, that she laughed was chatting to Peter.
"They were winding each other up."
The legendary businessman, who passed away in the earlier hours of this morning, made his final TV appearance on Good Morning Britain in October last year.
He leaves behind his third wife former ballet dancer Bella, and their four children.
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Stringfellow's publicist, Matt Glass, told the Press Association: "It's very sad news. He passed away in the early hours of this morning.
"It was kept very private, he didn't want to tell. He wanted to keep it a secret."
His eponymous London club on Covent Garden's Upper St Martins Lane will continue to operate "as normal", Mr Glass said.
He was born in Sheffield in 1940, the oldest of four boys.
Flamboyant nightclub owner Peter Stringfellow dies aged 77
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