Johnnie Walker’s wife shares touching tribute after his death at 79 and reveals she spent her first New Year’s Eve without him listening to Radio 2 in honour of her ‘devoted, loving husband’

The wife of Radio 2 presenter Johnnie Walker paid tribute to her husband after he passed away yesterday at the age of 79 as she spent her first New Year’s Eve without him.

Tiggy Walker, who married Johnnie in 2002, encouraged others to raise a glass to her late husband in a post on social media.

She wrote: ‘What does a new widow do on NYE? She listens to BBC Radio 2, opens a bottle and toasts her amazing husband. Courageous, wise, strong, creative and never dull. 

‘They didn’t call him the Pirate for nothing. Above all – the most devoted loving husband. Pls raise a glass to Johnnie Walker.’

Johnnie Walker was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis five years ago. It is a rare, progressive illness that scars the lungs and increasingly robbed him of breath.   

Speaking after his death yesterday, Tiggy said: ‘I couldn’t be more proud of Johnnie – how he kept broadcasting almost to the end and with what dignity and grace he coped with his debilitating lung disease.

‘He remained his charming, humorous self to the end, what a strong, amazing man. It has been a rollercoaster ride from start to finish.

‘And if I may say – what a day to go. He’ll be celebrating New Year’s Eve with a stash of great musicians in heaven. One year on from his last live show.

Johnnie Walker has died, aged 79, after a battle against ill-health. He is pictured with his fearless wife Tiggy

‘God bless that extraordinary husband of mine, who is now in a place of peace.’    

In June, Tiggy admitted her husband may have weeks left to live as they came to terms with his terminal illness. 

In October, Walker had told listeners he had to retire from the radio over his illness.  

‘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 […], so I’ve had to make the decision that I need to bring my career to an end,’ he said.

He also heartbreakingly admitted he was ready to die as he stepped down in October.

‘Sometimes I go to bed and think, ‘It would be nice, really, if this is the night I go’,’ he said at the time.

In a crushingly honest interview with Mail+ before his death, Johnnie said: ‘I’m not worried about dying. I have an unshakeable belief in an afterlife.

‘I think it’s a beautiful place. Unless you’ve done some awful things down here, I don’t think there’s anything to fear.

‘What I am a little bit frightened of is what the end will be like when you’re fighting for breath. It doesn’t sound a very nice way to go.’

Tiggy (pictured) paid tribute to her late husband after a long battle with his terminal illness

Johnnie hosted hosted Sounds Of The 70s and The Rock Show. He is pictured in 2004 

Tiggy Walker shared a picture of a bottle of champagne as she spent her first New Year’s Eve without him listening to Radio 2

Walker in 1971. The legendary radio star had a career that spanned more than 50 years 

Walker was born in Birmingham and left school at the age of 15 to train to become a mechanic, later taking a job as a car salesman.

He found an outlet for his passion for music with a Friday night slot as a disco DJ under the name Peter Dee.

Walker began his radio career in 1966 on Swinging Radio England, an offshore pirate station.

He later moved to Radio Caroline, where he became a household name hosting the hugely popular night-time show.So influential was he on Radio Caroline, he was still receiving mail from fans who listened to his broadcasts – as well as messages from well-wishers, including the likes of Elton John.

He met Tiggy 2001, a year after he divorced his first wife Frances Kum, with whom he has a daughter, Beth, and son, Sam.

The pair married in 2002 and Johnnie fell terribly ill on their honeymoon in Kerala, India, with what turned out to be non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Tiggy went from new bride to full-time carer. Johnnie recovered and went back to work in 2004.

In 2013, Tiggy was diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer, from which she has now recovered.

DJ Johnnie Walker and his wife Tiggy Walker were married for over 20 years

Radio 2 star Johnnie insisted on continuing broadcasting from home throughout his illness

In 2006, Johnnie collected an MBE from Buckingham Palace for services to broadcasting 

Johnnie previously recalled how his wife was not an easy patient as she prefers to be in control.

Tiggy said the chemo made her fat and she felt like dying.

However Johnnie too, she said, was ‘awful’ when he had chemo.

Tributes from fellow radio presenters poured in yesterday for their colleague.

Tony Blackburn, 81, called Walker ‘a fine broadcaster and very good friend’.

Blackburn continued: ‘We were both very proud of the fact in the 60s we were trying to break the monopoly of the BBC, which of course, we did eventually, and then we ended up at the BBC, where we all had a great time.’

Former Radio 2 host Ken Bruce, 73, posted: ‘So sorry to hear the news about the great Johnnie Walker.

‘Not only was he a wonderful broadcaster but also a man of great strength and kindness.’

Walker’s colleague Sally Boazman, known as Sally Traffic, said: ‘He was the real deal.’

Johnnie Walker with his wife Tiggy after his recovery from Non-hodgkin’s Lymphona

At the end of October, Walker presented his final Sounds Of The 70s show on BBC Radio 2 and hosted his last episode of The Rock Show as he retired due to ill health 

Johnnie signed off his last ever broadcast saying: ‘[It’s] going to be very strange not to be on the wireless anymore. Also, by the same token, life will be slightly less of a strain really, trying to find the breath in order to do the programmes’

BBC broadcaster Nicky Campbell added: ‘Goodbye Johnnie. Sweet and brilliant man. I am so lucky to have known you. You were an inspiration.’

Tim Davie – the BBC’s director general – saying he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the news of Walker’s death.

‘Johnnie was a pop radio pioneer and a champion of great music, entertaining millions of beloved listeners on the BBC across decades, most recently hosting two shows on Radio 2,’ he added.

‘No-one loved the audience as much as Johnnie and we loved him back.’

Helen Thomas, head of BBC Radio 2, said: ‘Everyone at Radio 2 is heartbroken about the passing of Johnnie, a much-loved broadcasting legend.

‘He made Sounds of the 70s and The Rock Show appointments to listen to, sharing his personal memories and tales each week. He loved radio and inspired a generation of presenters, passionately promoting the artists and music he cared about so deeply.

‘Johnnie’s wry sense of humour and his warm, open style of presenting ensured he was adored by his audience.

‘The airwaves simply won’t be the same again. He will be very much missed by Radio 2 presenters, staff and listeners alike, and our thoughts are with his wife Tiggy and his children.’