James Whale made MBE in New Years Hours List 2024

Kidney Cancer UK are delighted that our founder and life-time President,  James Whale has been awarded an MBE in The King’s New Years Honours List.

James is a well know and very popular radio and TV presenter, having worked at The BBC, talkSport, talkRadio, has presented his own TV chat show and was a contestant on the TV smash, Big Brother. Currently James presents his own shows on talkRadio and talkTV and writes regular columns in The Daily Express.

James founded the Charity in 2006, with the support of our retired COO, Nick Turkentine, following a diagnosis of kidney cancer and the removal of his kidney in 2000. Unable to find any meaning full support, James formed the charity, initially call The James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer, changing its name to Kidney Cancer UK in in 2016. James’ kidney cancer returned in 2020, and he was diagnosed with brain metastases. James, along with wife Nadine, currently present a weekly podcast of his kidney cancer journey called ‘Tales from The Whales’, which you can listen to HERE.

James said: “ I’m so incredibly proud of getting this honour, particularly as I’ve enjoyed every moment of my life in broadcasting. But, then at the age of 49 I was diagnosed with kidney cancer for the first time and my left kidney was removed and, for the next 20 odd years, I lived a perfectly healthy life until it reappeared in 2020. During that 20-year period, a number of us started the Charity, which was first called The James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer, though Kidney Cancer UK as a much catcher title. I am very proud of the Charity and everything that it’s been able to do for people in my position. A part of this honour is down to them, thank you.”

Malcolm Packer, CEO Kidney Cancer UK said: “We are delighted at the news of James’s well-deserved MBE. Establishing the Charity following his own experience of feeling uninformed and lost for support following the removal his kidney in 2000 has helped educate and inform thousands of patients across the UK. Through the support and information, we have provided over the last 23 years, patients can now be more knowledgeable when it comes to involvement in their treatment, and in a better place to deal with the emotional and physical trauma a kidney cancer diagnosis brings through our support services. James’ journalistic knowledge, his celebrity status and hard has helped drive the charity forward and enable us to make a real difference to anyone touched by kidney cancer in the UK.”