James Whale RIP

weadick

I can't imagine he had too many Irish listeners but I used to listen to James Whale late night on Talk Radio UK in the 90's (I had a lonely childhoold!). His show was completely different to anything you would hear on Irish radio at the time, or even today. I remember him saying he was a big fan of the Saw Doctors once, he covered a few Irish topics over the years and was very witty. He spoke about his illness a lot over the last few years and even did a podcast from his death bed.

https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2025/0804/1526867-broadcaster-james-whale-dies-aged-74/

TheBMG

I knew him through his Friday night radio show that was rebroadcast late on ITV in about 1988/9.

JVince

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123696879#Comment_123696879

He had quite a large audience here for that show in the 20-35 age group.

I think it was live or near live broadcast as it was on after midnight on radio.

George White

He used to weirdly have a lot of Irish bands on his TV show, who otherwise didn't get breaks on UK TV.

Bagatelle, the Four of Us, probably others.

thejuggler

it’s said that he did some shows with Atlantic 252 during its early years- possible as cover for Charlie Wolf on breakfast. I don’t remember hearing him on 252 though.

SodiumCooled

I came across his show on Talksport as a teenager who used to (and still do) fall asleep listening to the radio or more so podcasts nowadays. Listening on MW through much static I really got into listening to him for a while before switching to BBC5L at some point instead. Haven’t heard anything about him in many many years until seeing this post today about his death.

donegal_man

Didn't he have a TV show back in the day with one of the least funny comics ever?

Danzy

Listened to him bits, working class lad who didn't forget his roots and enjoyed life, and understood what life was above.

Rest in peace James.

alan partridge aha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123697252#Comment_123697252

Poignantly Linda Nolan was a regular on that tv show who also passed from cancer in January. May James and Linda rest in peace. 🙏

Fuascailteoir

Spewed bile for a long time over the airwaves

George White

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123697136#Comment_123697136

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123697265#Comment_123697265

He was a bit of a bullshitter. Claimed to have been an extra in Z Cars and Dr Who. He wasn't.

Great video from the mighty Millard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3EKCJMH17o

TheBMG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123697136#Comment_123697136

Think he had a weekend show in the very early days. It was a weird fit tbh .. don’t seem to remember him doing much and musically it was the usual straight ahead 252 format.

Bogey Lowenstein

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123697465#Comment_123697465

He must have been a big influence on Steve Coogan for Alan Partridge.

ford fiesta

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123697136#Comment_123697136

As well as filling in for Charlie Wolf, James had his own weekly show on Atlantic 252 (think it was a Friday mid mornings) and he used to travel to Mornington House in Trim to present the show.

I remember James on Channel 4 TV Friday nights and he had an Atlantic 252 mug on his studio desk. Remember him also on Talk radio UK 1053 / 1089 Medium Wave (the old BBC radio 1 frequencies) from 1995.

fatbhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123697252#Comment_123697252

I loved The James Whale Show on late-night TV. I knew he was sick for a good few years so his death isn't a surprise to me.

I loved Charlie Chuck, one of the comedians you're talking about, although I found him hilarious…"it's nowt to do wi'you"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3kW5J7PDi8

ednwireland

I used to listen to him on radio aire in the early80s rip

Gorteen

I lived in London in the late 80's and 90's and I loved to listen to James Whale on Talk Radio UK. He was, for me, compulsive listening. May he Rest in Peace 

Antenna

Distinctively remember him doing ads broadcast on Atlantic 252 for a UK 0898 prefix chatline in the early 1990s

can hear one 7:30 into this:

dxarchive.com/downloads/irish/atlantic252/910622_atlantic_252_1230-1430_vg_am_quality_c120_303_kb.mp3

yes he also had a show himself on Atlantic 252 for a short time then? on Sundays?