Busted's James Bourne says brother Chris donated him a kidney

Mixed · 2Busted guitarist James Bourne said on Monday 26 October 2026 that his younger brother Chris donated him a kidney, saying doctors had told him he had "a few years left to live". 1 2 Mixed · 2Bourne, 43, called Chris a "hero" and wrote that they were both recovering from surgery "just fine"; the Daily Mail gives Chris's age as 33 and says the message was shared on Bourne's Spotify account. 2 1 Centre · 1Bourne wrote that he could not believe how much better he was already starting to feel, though he would still need time to recover. 1

Mixed · 2Chris had stood in for his brother on the Busted and McFly arena tour in September 2025, after Bourne pulled out a day before it began citing health problems. 1 2 Right · 1At the time, bandmates Charlie Simpson and Matt Willis told fans Bourne was "really f****** sick", according to the Daily Mail, and Bourne said in a statement he was not well enough to play the shows. 2 Mixed · 2Bourne later said he needed surgery to extend his life; the Daily Mail says he disclosed in September that he was awaiting "life-extending" surgery. He has not given further details of his condition. 2 1

Mixed · 2Chris posted his own message on X saying "We did it brother", according to the BBC, while Bourne posted "Health update. I'm still alive and kicking and it's all thanks to my brother", according to the Daily Mail. 1 2 Centre · 1Busted, formed in the early 2000s with Simpson and Willis, had four UK number one singles and split in 2005; Bourne and Willis joined McFly to form McBusted in 2013, and Simpson rejoined Busted for a reunion in 2015. 1