Veteran broadcaster Johnnie Walker has announced he will be giving his final broadcast later this month.
He announced the “sad announcement” in an emotional statement on Sunday, where he explained he’d be stepping down from hosting duties for his Radio 2 and BBC Sounds shows, Sounds of the 70s and The Rock Show.
During his Sounds of the 70s show on Sunday, he confirmed the era-ending news.
It came after he read a letter from a loyal fan who shared how their late father had loved listening to the presenter before he died of pulmonary fibrosis in 2022.
The touching message prompted Walker, who suffers with the same condition, to announce the update.
“Now, that leads me to be making a very sad announcement,” he began, continuing: “The struggles I’ve had with doing the show and trying to sort of keep up a professional standard suitable for Radio 2 has been getting more and more difficult, hence my little jokes about Puffing Billy, so I’ve had to make the decision that I need to bring my career to an end after 58 years, and so I’ll be doing my last Sounds of the 70s on the 27th of October.”
Assuring fans he planned to end on a high, he added: “So I’ll make the last three shows as good as I possibly can.
“Now, this week in 1978, The Rolling Stones were special guests on America’s Saturday Night Live TV show and they appeared in a couple of sketches and performed three tracks from their latest album, Some Girls.
“Well, one of the tracks on the album seems quite suitable at the moment,” he shared before playing the band’s track, Miss You.
Walker continued: “And by the way, I can also reveal not only my last Sounds of the 70s, but the person taking over the show will be the one and only Bob Harris, so Bob Harris will be in charge of Sounds of the 70s from the third of November.”
On the 79-year-old’s departure, Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, stated: “Johnnie is quite simply a broadcasting legend, someone who has shaped the sound of pop music radio since its earliest days on the pirate ships.
“Everyone at Radio 2, and I’m sure his millions of listeners, would like to thank Johnnie for entertaining us for so many decades with his brilliantly crafted shows.
“He leaves the station with our love, huge thanks and best wishes. He will be much missed on the airwaves and by his listeners, who have adored listening to his shows over the years.
“We are in awe of his incredible legacy which speaks for itself.”
More to follow…