Farewell to James Valentine: ABC host and musician dies at 64

The ABC veteran of 30 years died in his home, using voluntary assisted dying, two years after his diagnosis, the national broadcaster reported.

"James passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family, who adored him," Valentine's family said in a statement.

"Throughout his illness, James did it his way, which lasted all the way until the end when he made the choice to do Voluntary Assisted Dying."

Valentine was familiar voice in Australian homes - a daily companion through long afternoons, traffic snarls and quiet moments alike.

Only recently announcing his retirement from the ABC Sydney to listeners in February, Valentine described the decision as deeply personal and coming after confronting medical advice and months away from the microphone.

After hosting Afternoons for the past 25 years, he first took a leave of absence in March 2024 following a diagnosis of oesophageal cancer. He later stepped back again in June when additional tumours were discovered.

He is survived by his wife Joanne and his children Ruby and Roy.

Another ABC veteran, Lindsay 'The Doctor' McDougall was thankful to have one last "hilarious" conversation with James in recent times, glad to have been given that chance by fate.

"We got to skewer the same enemies and laugh at the same bad jokes for one more time and make saxophone jokes as well," he told The Senior.

Lindsay, now a presenter on ABC Illawarra, remembered fun jaunts with James when he co-hosted the breakfast program on Triple J with Jay Whalley. There James would bring in his instrument for games like ''80s sax offenders".

"Having an actual revered musician at your disposal was pretty great, we loved doing that," Lindsay said.

His first memories of James were on ABC TV. James was the host of the now defunct, The Afternoon Show, forward announcing shows like Degrassi Junior High encouraging little tackers to get their mum or dad's permission before continuing to watch.

James had an ability to feel like a mate in your loungeroom, or wherever you might be watching or listening, Lindsay recalled.

"He would tell these stories or ask these questions, so that people felt they were included," he said.

"They could call up [James' ABC radio show] and talk to him and have these conversations."

The pair even got to share the stage and perform together a couple of times, including a send of for Mark Scott when leaving the ABC - a collaboration including James, Lindsay, Myf Warhurst, Murray Bridge and more.

Born in Ballarat in the Victorian Goldfields region, James was educated at Ballarat Grammar school where is love of saxophone began.

As a musician, Valentine was a member of new wave band Models when they released their number one single Out of Mind, Out of Sight in 1985.

During the late 1980s he hosted the youth television program The Afternoon Show as well as working on other programs like TVTV, Exhumed and The Mix.

He went on to join ABC Radio Sydney in 1998, back when it was still known as 2BL, and became one of its most enduring and distinctive voices.

In February, he said he was "so grateful" for the calls from listeners over the years, who would respond to his and his team's fanciful ideas and suggestions each afternoon.

"We were laughing just as much at what people were saying as we were at the fact that people actually just called in," he said.

"There was something about the fact that somebody's prepared to call in and tell me things about themselves.

"It was fantastic, I loved it a lot."

Celebrity chef Matt Moran shared a tribute to Valentine on social media, writing: "My dear friend James Valentine has passed away with his family by his side.

"Love you Jimmy and will miss you so much."

Fans also shared condolences for the late broadcaster on social media, saying he had long been heir favourite part of their mornings.

"So incredibly sad," fan Jen Baxter wrote on Facebook.

"He was more than a radio presenter, he was part of the fabric of growing up and living in NSW. He will be very sadly missed and always fondly remembered. One of the absolute greats!"

Jenna Matick called his death "heartbreaking" adding she was so hopeful that James would pull through.

"Miss his wonderful voice, great talent and marvelous sense of humour."

ABC listener Jean Braund also paid tribute to Valentine, writing, "Bless him, I loved watching and listening to him. Deepest condolences to his family and fans."