- Home
- audio
- Radio
- Greg James reveals death of dog Barney in emotional post as he misses his BBC Radio 1 breakfast show
❚ We may earn commission from links on this page. Our editorial is always independent (learn more).
Greg James reveals death of dog Barney in emotional post as he misses his BBC Radio 1 breakfast show
"I can’t believe our little mate has gone."
Ricky Vigil M /Getty Images
- Molly Moss
Published: Tuesday, 4 August 2026 at 10:55 am
Subscribe to Radio Times: 10 issues for £10
Radio host Greg James has announced the tragic death of his dog Barney, saying that he's "completely floored by it".
Ad
James, who presents the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show, shared in a post on Instagram on Monday night (3 August) that his chocolate Labrador had been put to sleep.
The presenter added that he would be absent from his presenting duties on Tuesday.
Sharing a photo of Barney, James wrote in the caption alongside: "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."
He continued: "I know how loved this unbelievably daft farty brilliant dog was and I adored sharing him with everyone on here but I hope you understand why comments are off and can I just ask you to not pile in with DMs particularly for Bella for a bit please.
"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."
Want to see this content?
This page contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Instagram may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Instagram and its required purposes.
Accept and continue
Charlie Hedges stood in for James on Tuesday following James's announcement on Monday evening.
He told listeners that he wanted to “send a massive hug” to James, before adding: “We love you Greg so so much – and want to keep the vibes positive for him today and have some fun.”
James and his author wife Bella Mackie adopted Barney from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in 2019.
Want to see this content?
This page contains content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes.
Accept and continue
The canine friend was a regular feature on James's social media pages over the years, and was also the subject of the segment Barney, Are You There?! on James's show.
He had amassed a loyal fanbase among Radio 1 listeners by the time of his passing.
Read more:
- Presenter Tony Livesey departs BBC Radio 5 Live after 16 years
- Chris McCausland talks first-ever radio show: "People are waking up – they don’t want to be hearing about Nigel Farage"
Ad
Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what else is on. For more TV recommendations and reviews listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
Molly MossTrends Writer
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
Ad
Ad
Subscribe for £1 per week
Too much to watch this autumn? Let Radio Times magazine and app do the choosing, with expert picks across TV, streaming and film.
Loading...
Ad
Loading...