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Johnnie Walker’s farewell message on final episode of BBC Radio 2’s The Rock Show

Published

4 weeks ago

October 28, 2024

Johnnie Walker’s farewell message on final episode of BBC Radio 2’s The Rock Show

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Johnnie Walker has signed off his closing episode because the host of BBC Radio 2’s The Rock Present with a touching farewell message.

The veteran presenter introduced his plans to retire from radio after 58 years resulting from ailing well being, having beforehand been identified with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Based on the NHS, the situation causes the lungs to turn into scarred and makes respiratory harder.

As he started his present, Walker instructed listeners he was “taking up” and could be selecting a few of his favorite rock anthems to play.

His first observe was “Candy Jane” by the Velvet Underground’s 1970 album Loaded, and ended with The Who’s “Gained’t Get Fooled Once more”, which he described as a “traditional”.

Walker additionally performed Nathaniel Rateliff & The Evening Sweats’ “I Want By no means Get Outdated” through the hour-long episode.

Referencing the title, he stated: “if solely that had been true, I wouldn’t be giving up The Rock Present.”

BBC Radio 2 veteran DJ Johnnie Walker is retiring from the broadcaster (PA Wire)

Every week the programme asks visitors to call their “rock god” – Walker picked Bruce Springsteen, saying he was a “beautiful man”.

As he signed off, he inspired listeners to tune into Shaun Keaveny, who will take over as host of The Rock Present from 1 November.

“I at all times say on the finish the present due to Liz ‘Queen of Rock’ Barnes, she is the ‘Queen of Rock’, and she or he has put in a lot work, placing this rock present collectively, crafting it fantastically, and mixing up previous songs and new songs and I do know you’ve appreciated the previous and the brand new collectively,” Walker stated.

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He added that his producer had achieved a “magnificent job” and stated “thanks” to her.

Walker’s spouse Tiggy, who can also be his carer, shared a picture of him on social media getting ready for the present, sporting an enormous curly wig and pink shirt.

She wrote: “For his closing Rock Present Johnnie thought he’d costume for the event…”

Walker’s closing episode of his different present, Sounds of the 70s, will air this weekend. He can be changed on the programme by former The Outdated Gray Whistle Take a look at presenter Bob Harris from 3 November.

The Birmingham-born DJ started in pirate radio with Swinging Radio England in 1966 earlier than transferring to the offshore Radio Caroline.

He departed after the station closed for BBC Radio 1 in 1969, persevering with till 1976 and later transferring to San Francisco, the place he recorded a weekly present broadcast on Radio Luxembourg.

Within the early Nineteen Eighties he returned to the BBC and has remained there ever since.

Extra reporting by Related Press.