ABC radio presenter James Valentine retires after more than 30 years on air due to cancer
Veteran ABC radio presenter James Valentine has announced he will not return to the microphone following his latest cancer treatment.
Since joining the ABC in the late 1980s, Valentine has been a beloved voice on ABC Radio Sydney, mostly on the Afternoon programmes.
Valentine has been off the air since June after being diagnosed with omentum cancer, which affects the layer of tissue above the stomach and intestines.
“My whole life, my entire 64 years of life, is buried in ABC,” Valentine said. (ABC Radio Sydney: Declan Bowring)
He made a brief return to 702 ABC Radio Sydney Afternoons on Monday to announce his retirement.
“This is sad news, absolutely sad news for me,” Valentine, 64, said.
“It’s been a tough decision for me to make, but look, I think my health is sending me a pretty clear message that there might still be some time before I can get back and continue broadcasting.
“[It] It may be another year or six months before I have the energy or strength to return. I just think it’s too long. I think it’s time to say, come on, let someone else come and give it a shot.
“I need to focus on getting better, being with my family and friends, and making sure I’m doing the best I can for my health.”
In March 2024, Valentine announced his first diagnosis of esophageal cancer and took leave to undergo treatment.
After she was first diagnosed with cancer, doctors gave her the choice between major surgery to remove her esophagus, the standard protocol for this cancer, or simply removing the tumor.
Valentine opted for minor surgery and returned to the station later that year, hosting Afternoons until June, when new tumors were discovered.
Valentine announced in March 2024 that he had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. (ABC Radio Sydney: Declan Bowring)
While writing about the cancer’s return in June, she reflected on her decision not to have major surgery and said there were risks associated either way.
“There may be debate about whether complete removal would have prevented this, but given that the initial tumor may have been there for a while, undetected and asymptomatic, there is a possibility that the cancer cells have been looking for a place to call home in my body for some time, and full surgery would not have prevented them from spreading,” he wrote in June.
“I’m not that interested in this, how it could happen, why it could happen.”
Audience embraced ‘crazy ideas’
Valentine has been accompanying audiences in the afternoons for more than 20 years.
Unlike the frenetic energy of Breakfast or the news-focused agenda of Mornings, the Afternoons program gave Valentine the freedom to experiment.
“The Afternoons’ audience was so giving that I was so happy to try all that kind of stuff,” he said in his farewell on Monday.
Valentine, a talented saxophonist, was giving concerts until last year. (Provided by: James Valentine)
Less concerned with listeners’ views on the latest public policy decisions, Valentine preferred to have fun with segments that explored social dilemmas or allowed callers to vent their nerves.
He thanked listeners for sharing their personal stories, embracing their “crazy ideas” and the laughs they enjoyed together.
“I might ask callers to make up things, make up stories, fit whatever imaginary thoughts we have about the city,” he said.
“What a pleasure it was when you called in response to something I suggested.”
‘Keep it in my head’
Before joining ABC Radio Sydney, Valentine spent his early 20s in rock band Models and continued to play saxophone, performing with jazz bands until last year.
While presenting a children’s television show on ABC in the late 1980s, he decided to try local radio.
Valentine first joined ABC in 1987 as host of ABC children’s television. (ABC)
Peter Wall, manager of ABC Radio Sydney, then known as 2BL, gave Valentine his first opportunity.
“The chances of finding such a suitable job for me were almost non-existent. Actually, I think the reason why it suited me so well was the audience that suits me so well.“
A self-described “show-off,” Valentine would perform his daily three-hour demonstration, often without taking notes.
“I often looked like I wasn’t doing anything. After my first few years, I didn’t write much.
“I felt like I could think about it, keep it in my mind, and bring it up again during the show.”
The genius of the Valentine’s Day show was recognized internationally, winning the Bronze Award for Best Two-Way Phone Call/Interview Program at the 2020 New York Festival Radio Awards.
Pushing talkback into new areas
Valentine said he sees each listener as a potential caller, challenging them to figure out what they’ll be looking for.
“If I did something like a storytelling contest about the worst wedding you’ve ever been to, it would get someone’s attention, which would really shock me.
“And then someone else will say, ‘Oh, I went to a much worse one than that.’ That will make them want to call. [in] additionally.”
Among his most popular talkback segments were Rant and This is What I Live With.
During the programme’s episode, Anna Minns, wife of NSW Premier Chris Minns, called to complain about her husband’s habit of pausing television programs after a funny joke.
The musical section, titled Soundtrack of Your Life, once caught the attention of Icehouse frontwoman Iva Davies.
While the discussion turned to songs that remind people of winter, the iconic Australian singer called and suggested Joni Mitchell’s song River.
Listeners will have the chance to enjoy Valentine’s Day pranks once again with a two-hour retrospective on 702 ABC Radio Sydney Afternoons on Friday.
“I wanted to capture what we’ve done over these 25 years, look at how we’re taking feedback into a whole new area.”
Valentine said.
James O’Loghlin has been presenting Afternoons since June but no permanent replacement has yet been announced.
Valentine has this advice for his successor: “Come and take a look at this magnificent transformation and do what you can with it… That’s the great thing about Afternoons – there are no restrictions. It’s sort of endless.”
