DJ Johnnie Walker ends 58-year career with last BBC show

Veteran DJ Johnnie Walker mentioned “the day has come I’ve all the time dreaded” as he introduced his remaining Sounds Of The 70s present on BBC Radio 2.

The presenter, 79, introduced earlier within the month he was retiring from radio after 58 years attributable to ailing well being.

For his remaining broadcast on Sunday, Walker confirmed he wouldn’t be taking any requests this time as all of the music decisions can be made by himself, including: “I am enjoying all those I really like.”

An emotional remaining present featured messages from his spouse Tiggy and Sir Rod Stewart, earlier than Walker ended by telling listeners “might we stroll into the long run with our heads held excessive and happiness in our hearts”.

Walker grew to become the presenter of Sounds of the 70s in 2009, however his profession in British radio has spanned virtually six a long time.

After opening his final present with George Harrison’s observe What Is Life, Walker then devoted his second music, Sister Sledge’s We Are Household, to his listeners.

Walker was joined on air by his former co-presenter Sally Boazman, who mentioned being partnered with him was the “greatest luck” of her life.

The pair labored collectively on BBC Radio 2 Drivetime for seven years from 1999.

In a pre-recorded message, Sir Rod Stewart praised Walker for serving to the careers of many rock bands.

Sir Rod informed Walker he had “propelled the careers of a bunch of unknown layabouts to the highest of the charts, and in a single day fame and all the things that goes with it”.

The rock star ended the message by making Walker a suggestion: “So if I do handle to get by means of the pearly gates, I will have a pint of Guinness, please mate, and guess what? I will decide up the tab.

“So long, Johnny. Rock on mate, rock on.”

Walker joined BBC Radio 1 in 1969, having been a DJ on the pirate station Radio Caroline within the Sixties.

He left the BBC in 1976 and later moved to San Francisco, the place he recorded a weekly present broadcast on Radio Luxembourg.

He returned to the BBC within the Eighties and on 17 January 1987, Walker re-joined Radio 1, presenting the Saturday afternoon present The Stereo Sequence.

He has remained on the BBC ever since, and hosted his final episode of The Rock Present on Friday by enjoying a few of his “favorite rock anthems”.

Walker’s spouse Tiggy, who sat in on the present because it aired from their house in Dorset, praised her husband for persevering with to broadcast after he grew to become “very ailing” in January.

The radio legend was identified with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis – a extreme respiratory sickness that may make respiration very troublesome.

“I am the one one who is aware of how onerous it has been for you, and I simply wish to say effectively accomplished for maintaining going so long as you’ve got, since you make lots of people very comfortable,” Tiggy mentioned.

“I do know there will probably be a whole lot of tears on the market at this time, together with mine.”

Walker admitted he may shed a tear or two in addition to he thanked her for all her “fantastic care”, including: “I actually could not have accomplished the present with out that so thanks for that.”

After saying his retirement, Walker informed the BBC: “I get playing cards from folks saying: ‘You’re the pal I’ve by no means met’ and issues like that. So it will likely be unhappy to say goodbye.”

Bob Harris will taking up from Walker because the presenter of Sounds of the 70s in November.