Radio 1 presenter Greg James missed his Tuesday morning show after revealing that his beloved rescue dog Barney has died. The 40-year-old broadcaster shared the sad news on Instagram on Monday night, telling followers that he could not stop crying after having to put his pet to sleep.
James and his wife Bella Mackie adopted Barney from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2019. The dog featured regularly on both of their social media accounts and had his own Instagram account with 67,000 followers.
Writing on Instagram, James shared a picture of Barney and 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 can't stop crying."
James asked followers to turn off comments and requested that people avoid sending direct messages, particularly to Mackie. He wrote: "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 fucking sad. He was the best." He concluded his post by adding that he would not be on his radio show the following morning.
Support from Radio 1 colleagues
Charlie Hedges stepped in to host the Radio 1 show on Tuesday morning. Opening the broadcast, Hedges told listeners she was standing in for "one of the best people on the planet, Mr Greg James, who I just want to send a massive hug to."
Hedges added during the show: "We love you Greg so so much, and want to keep the vibes positive for him today and have some fun." She also thanked listeners for sending in supportive messages, promising to pass them along to James.
Barney was a familiar presence to Radio 1 listeners and was frequently mentioned on air. The show even featured a recurring segment titled "Barney, Are You There?!"
Health issues and adoption history
In recent years, Barney suffered from severe and progressive joint issues, including extensive arthritis in multiple joints. He received extensive orthopaedic care and underwent multiple surgeries to address his mobility problems.
Despite his health struggles, James and Mackie celebrated Barney's birthday last month with a video showing him enjoying a birthday cake. Celebrating the milestone, James thanked Battersea Dogs and Cats Home for bringing Barney into their lives, writing that the dog had "ruined our lives in the best possible way and I wouldn't change any of it."
Speaking recently to PETA, James recalled that Barney was anxious and panicky when they first met him. He described the process of helping rescue animals trust and love humans again as life-affirming.
