SAD NEWS: BBC Radio 1 star absent from hosting after devastating d3ath news
Greg James has taken a short break from his BBC Radio 1 show (Image: Getty)
BBC favourite Greg James has taken a break from his Radio 1 show after his dog Barney was put to sleep. On Tuesday (August 4), the presenter took to Instagram to share the heartbreaking news while he and his wife grieve their loss. He wrote: “I’m sorry to bring such horrible news, but we had to put our lovely Barn to sleep earlier today.
“I can’t really get my head around it. But he was peaceful; we were with him at home in the garden in the sunshine, and I couldn’t stop crying. I know how loved this uneblievably daft, farty, brilliant dog was, and I adored sharing him with everyone on here.
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He concluded his post tearfully: “We’re completely floored by it, and I can’t believe our little mate has gone, and it’s very real and very raw and just so f***ing sad. He was the best.”
The 40-year-old radio star turned off his comments and asked fans not to send him or his wife direct messages as they process the death of their furry friend. Barney was a massively popular part of Greg’s radio shows, even becoming the subject of a recurring segment called, Barney, Are You There?”
His four-legged friend even had his own Instagram page, which boasted over 67,000 followers. In 2023, Barney developed a limp, prompting Greg to call in a favour from TV supervet Noel Fitzpatrick, whom he met long before he and his wife first adopted Barney from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in 2019.
Barney’s ankle was eventually replaced, and he lost lots of weight, with his owners saying he was “happier than ever and pain-free” after the operation. It’s unclear what health conditions Barney was suffering from before his death.
Greg has had a soft spot with his dog over the years, having once recommended we all think a bit more like Barney to recover from post-Covid anxieties. Greg has been supported by his colleagues at the BBC, including host Charlie Hedges, who told listeners this morning how sad he was to hear of Barney’s passing.
He gushed: “Charlie Hedges in for one of the best people on the planet, Mr Greg James, who I just want to send a massive hug to. We love you, Greg, so, so much – and want to keep the vibes positive for him today and have some fun.”
