BBC Presenter Makes ‘Very Sad Announcement’ Live on Air
A veteran BBC presenter, Johnnie Walker, has made a heartfelt announcement, revealing his retirement after nearly six decades in broadcasting. During Sunday’s edition of Sounds Of The 70s on BBC Radio 2, Walker disclosed to his listeners that he would be stepping down from the show, as well as The Rock Show. The 79-year-old broadcaster shared that due to health reasons, particularly his battle with pulmonary fibrosis, he has decided to bring his illustrious career to a close.
Walker began the emotional announcement by recounting a letter from a listener whose father had been a fan of the show but had sadly succumbed to pulmonary fibrosis in 2022, a condition that Walker himself was diagnosed with earlier this year. The presenter expressed the growing difficulties he faced in maintaining the high professional standards required by Radio 2, leading him to the bittersweet decision of retiring after 58 years on the airwaves.
In a touching moment, Walker played the Rolling Stones’ 1978 single ‘Miss You’ for his listeners, reflecting on the band’s appearance on America’s Saturday Night Live in 1978. He shared that former Old Grey Whistle Test presenter Bob Harris would succeed him on the show. Despite his health challenges, Walker credited his radio shows for providing him with purpose and stated that without them, he might not have lived as long.
Johnnie Walker’s final broadcasts include The Rock Show on Friday, October 25, and Sounds Of The 70s on Sunday, October 27. The Birmingham-born presenter’s career began in 1966 on offshore pirate stations before joining BBC Radio 1 and later returning to the BBC in the early 1980s. A dedicated box-set collection on BBC Sounds will enable listeners to cherish some of Walker’s memorable moments post-retirement.
Walker’s decision to retire marks the end of an era in British broadcasting, as he bids farewell to a remarkable career that has spanned over half a century. Fans and colleagues alike honour his contributions to radio and wish him well in his retirement.