BBC Radio 1 presenter Greg James hopes for a "calmer and less intense" period ahead after navigating a difficult year marked by family illness and bereavement.
The 40-year-old broadcaster lost his chocolate Labrador, Barney, who was euthanised earlier this month, following his father Alan Milward’s stroke and heart surgeries.
To process their grief, James and his wife Bella Mackie, 43, took a "grief trip" across the country, travelling through Lancashire en route to the Lake District.
Posting photos from the journey online, James wrote: "Drove 1000 miles around the UK in a Renault Espace from 1999 and listened to the Phoebe Bridgers’ album 87 times so yeah I think I’m dealing with it all just fine thanks!"
James thanked his social media followers for their supportive messages following Barney’s death, as well as for their comfort during his father Alan Milward’s stroke and surgeries earlier this year.
He wrote: “To be serious for a moment… thank you for your lovely messages about Barney. And my dad.
“And just about everything this year. Whether out and about or via our parasocial relationship. It has meant a great deal.
“It’s been in some ways the worst but in many ways the best year. If I think back to all the fun of the show which included all the Comic Relief stuff, I feel so lucky to have a life like this and to have such brilliant people in it. Whether on here or in person.
“I just hope things can be a little calmer and less intense for a bit. But I’m healing well! So much fun to come through and I can’t wait to be back on the show tomorrow!”
During the trip, James and Mackie stopped off at The Inn at Whitewell in Lancashire, where they were told the late Queen stayed on her 80th birthday.
The couple also went paddleboarding, with James saying Barney “would’ve been proud” of Mackie and later went swimming in Windermere.
James adopted the chocolate Labrador from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in 2019 and his pet built up a loyal fanbase as James and Mackie shared regular updates about him.
The dog was a patient of Supervet star Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, who previously said Barney had multiple treatments for his arthritic joints, including a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament.
James’ father suffered a stroke during a planned heart operation in March. He later had to undergo another heart surgery in June, with the radio presenter saying he would have “a long road to recovery.”
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