That is so sad to hear. He was a genuinely good bloke. Chose to go out on his own terms.
AusGeno on
Did he used to host Hack back in the day? That was my afternoon drive time show for a long time.
Colon8 on
He will be sorely missed.
clovisson on
This one cut deep. Only 64. What a brilliant man.
senor_incognito_ on
I remember watching him on The Afternoon Show after school. A talented guy and a really nice dude by all accounts. Rest in peace mate.
pigslovebacon on
I turned on my radio just before Hamish came on to make the statement and it floored me.
James was an amazing presenter and human observer/encourager. I’m so thankful that I was able to spend so much time listening to his show over the last 10yrs particularly.
Lovely to hear from Richard Glover back on the radio too but I wish it wasn’t in this circumstance.
*Edit* and Simon Marnie too! Never thought he’d come back to ABC for anything, which goes to show how loved and respected James was to his colleagues.
Affectionate-Sell915 on
That’s so sad, he will be sorely missed.
Ok-Giraffe-4718 on
Aww bummer. RIP to this lovely man. Very sad news to hear.
Wooden_Sample_8979 on
Bugger, Vale James Valentine. He was a delight whether on radio or TV
Improvedandconfused on
So sad. Cancer is just horrible, I know from personal experience. I am a survivor and my mum is currently undergoing treatment.
The airwaves are now that much dimmer. I hope that James wasn’t suffering at the end and he was able to pass away peacefully. My thoughts are with his wife, kids and the rest of his family and all his loved ones. May his memory be a blessing.Â
MagicPocket on
It’s terribly sad we lost him. I grew up listening to and watching him, his voice is iconic. However I am so glad he was able to get voluntary assisted dying and go on his own terms. I know of three people who had to pass away in great and unnecessary pain because voluntary assisted dying was full of so many hoops to jump through and took so long. If I get a terminal diagnosis I will definitely be signing up for it, I don’t want to go the way they did.
spookysadghoul on
This is so sad, and he was so young too. 💔
-Davo on
Fuck cancer!
jezap on
Such a genuine, kind, positive and encouraging person. Rip James.
maton12 on
The Models saxophonist too
Rest in peace James, thoughts to your family and friends
Zestyclose-Back8987 on
Terribly sad news! I used to listen to him every day on ABC local radio. He was very, very funny, very honest and had great insight into things. I loved the way his show would have funny segments like “Petty Crimestoppers” which was extremely funny. He would also have great regular guests like the food technologist Gary Kennedy. This must be such an awful time for his 2 children and his wife. I once heard him discussing relationships and he said about his wife, “Do I love my wife? I feel about my wife the same way I feel about air…” it was a very beautiful thing to say. He loved humour, but he also said the right things at the right time. The ABC was very fortunate to have him for so long. And 64 is way too young to leave. A very sad loss. Rest in peace James.
NicholeTheOtter on
I remember touring the ABC’s Ultimo studios in 2011 and I saw presenters like Joe O’Brien doing his news bulletin, Jimmy Rees filming a *Giggle & Hoot* segment (even got a photo with him) and of course, James Valentine recording his show.
Farewell to an ABC radio icon.
trialex on
Damn. It was only February when he had his “farewell” show, and he sounded happy. Obviously he acknowledged he was facing a challenge, but I hoped he could go on and do that in private. To be gone two months later is a shock.Â
Ahyao17 on
RIP
He was one of my favourite along with Richard Glover who retired.
prairie-bunyip on
Truly one of the all time greats of radio. Afternoons really felt like a community, and he made that happen. I called in many times over the years (and those years have been most of my adult life) to tell James he was completely right or completely wrong about one thing or another, and was lucky enough to have a few quick chats in person here and there. Such a kind, lovely, and very funny man who deeply cared about what he did and understood the importance of local radio in people’s lives.
Forsaken_Alps_793 on
Vale – will be missed.
i_dreddit on
Dang… I remember him doing the after school show on the ABC
..when the would play real Ghostbusters, bananaman, YCDTOTV and the goodies. Much preferred him than MaynardÂ
quoththeraven1990 on
Very sad. I was really lucky to chat with him on air about an article I wrote, and he was warm and genuinely interested. He was a great supporter of the arts.
Extension_Section_68 on
Ahhh shucks. Collective sadness. Our radio hosts keep us so much company in the endless hours spent alone in the car. Just today after I dropped the kid off the school turned on the radio on the way home to the news. So glad we have the abc for news articles and programs that speaks to so many of us away from the commercial crap.
docdoc_2 on
Terrible situation. Glad he could access voluntary assisted dying to go out on his own termsÂ
HilarityEnsued on
Thought this might be coming sooner rather than later after he announced his retirement, but this hurts more than I thought it would. I first started listening to James properly about 20 years ago during some very difficult teenage years that let me listen to him when I should have been at school – his voice and humour made it just a little bit easier. I haven’t listened to much ABC Sydney radio in years, but I’d still often wonder how he was doing ever since his diagnosis. RIP mate.
InfamousChannel2407 on
People of my generation would remember him from “The Afternoon Show,” even if we were little kids. Either that or as the sax player in the Absent Friends music video, “I Don’t Wanna Be With Nobody But You” with Wendy Matthews on vocals. Sad news indeed.
Down_Blunder on
I’m just old enough to remember him on ABC TV in the afternoons, and listened to him for years on the radio. I also met him once many years ago when he MC’d an event I was at. Nice guy, and had great personality. I had no idea he was this unless, and am genuinely upset at his passing. At least he was able to go out on his terms, and may he rest in peace.
29 Comments
Very sad news, poor guy.
That is so sad to hear. He was a genuinely good bloke. Chose to go out on his own terms.
Did he used to host Hack back in the day? That was my afternoon drive time show for a long time.
He will be sorely missed.
This one cut deep. Only 64. What a brilliant man.
I remember watching him on The Afternoon Show after school. A talented guy and a really nice dude by all accounts. Rest in peace mate.
I turned on my radio just before Hamish came on to make the statement and it floored me.
James was an amazing presenter and human observer/encourager. I’m so thankful that I was able to spend so much time listening to his show over the last 10yrs particularly.
Lovely to hear from Richard Glover back on the radio too but I wish it wasn’t in this circumstance.
*Edit* and Simon Marnie too! Never thought he’d come back to ABC for anything, which goes to show how loved and respected James was to his colleagues.
That’s so sad, he will be sorely missed.
Aww bummer. RIP to this lovely man. Very sad news to hear.
Bugger, Vale James Valentine. He was a delight whether on radio or TV
So sad. Cancer is just horrible, I know from personal experience. I am a survivor and my mum is currently undergoing treatment.
The airwaves are now that much dimmer. I hope that James wasn’t suffering at the end and he was able to pass away peacefully. My thoughts are with his wife, kids and the rest of his family and all his loved ones. May his memory be a blessing.Â
It’s terribly sad we lost him. I grew up listening to and watching him, his voice is iconic. However I am so glad he was able to get voluntary assisted dying and go on his own terms. I know of three people who had to pass away in great and unnecessary pain because voluntary assisted dying was full of so many hoops to jump through and took so long. If I get a terminal diagnosis I will definitely be signing up for it, I don’t want to go the way they did.
This is so sad, and he was so young too. 💔
Fuck cancer!
Such a genuine, kind, positive and encouraging person. Rip James.
The Models saxophonist too
Rest in peace James, thoughts to your family and friends
Terribly sad news! I used to listen to him every day on ABC local radio. He was very, very funny, very honest and had great insight into things. I loved the way his show would have funny segments like “Petty Crimestoppers” which was extremely funny. He would also have great regular guests like the food technologist Gary Kennedy. This must be such an awful time for his 2 children and his wife. I once heard him discussing relationships and he said about his wife, “Do I love my wife? I feel about my wife the same way I feel about air…” it was a very beautiful thing to say. He loved humour, but he also said the right things at the right time. The ABC was very fortunate to have him for so long. And 64 is way too young to leave. A very sad loss. Rest in peace James.
I remember touring the ABC’s Ultimo studios in 2011 and I saw presenters like Joe O’Brien doing his news bulletin, Jimmy Rees filming a *Giggle & Hoot* segment (even got a photo with him) and of course, James Valentine recording his show.
Farewell to an ABC radio icon.
Damn. It was only February when he had his “farewell” show, and he sounded happy. Obviously he acknowledged he was facing a challenge, but I hoped he could go on and do that in private. To be gone two months later is a shock.Â
RIP
He was one of my favourite along with Richard Glover who retired.
Truly one of the all time greats of radio. Afternoons really felt like a community, and he made that happen. I called in many times over the years (and those years have been most of my adult life) to tell James he was completely right or completely wrong about one thing or another, and was lucky enough to have a few quick chats in person here and there. Such a kind, lovely, and very funny man who deeply cared about what he did and understood the importance of local radio in people’s lives.
Vale – will be missed.
Dang… I remember him doing the after school show on the ABC
..when the would play real Ghostbusters, bananaman, YCDTOTV and the goodies. Much preferred him than MaynardÂ
Very sad. I was really lucky to chat with him on air about an article I wrote, and he was warm and genuinely interested. He was a great supporter of the arts.
Ahhh shucks. Collective sadness. Our radio hosts keep us so much company in the endless hours spent alone in the car. Just today after I dropped the kid off the school turned on the radio on the way home to the news. So glad we have the abc for news articles and programs that speaks to so many of us away from the commercial crap.
Terrible situation. Glad he could access voluntary assisted dying to go out on his own termsÂ
Thought this might be coming sooner rather than later after he announced his retirement, but this hurts more than I thought it would. I first started listening to James properly about 20 years ago during some very difficult teenage years that let me listen to him when I should have been at school – his voice and humour made it just a little bit easier. I haven’t listened to much ABC Sydney radio in years, but I’d still often wonder how he was doing ever since his diagnosis. RIP mate.
People of my generation would remember him from “The Afternoon Show,” even if we were little kids. Either that or as the sax player in the Absent Friends music video, “I Don’t Wanna Be With Nobody But You” with Wendy Matthews on vocals. Sad news indeed.
I’m just old enough to remember him on ABC TV in the afternoons, and listened to him for years on the radio. I also met him once many years ago when he MC’d an event I was at. Nice guy, and had great personality. I had no idea he was this unless, and am genuinely upset at his passing. At least he was able to go out on his terms, and may he rest in peace.