BBC broadcaster Johnnie Walker steps down from radio shows with 'sad announcement'
Johnnie Walker announced he'd be stepping down from the BBC at the end of the month
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Veteran broadcaster Johnnie Walker has announced he will be giving his final broadcast later this month.
He shared 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.
Johnnie Walker announced he'd be stepping down from the BBC at the end of the month
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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."
During his Sounds of the 70s show on Sunday, Johnnie Walker confirmed the news
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Walker started his radio career in 1966 on Swinging Radio England, an offshore pirate station, before moving to Radio Caroline, becoming a household name by hosting the popular night-time show.
After the closure of Radio Caroline, Walker joined BBC Radio 1 in 1969, continuing until 1976 and establishing a reputation as a DJ who prioritised records above chat.
On his lunchtime show, which launched in 1971, he pioneered new names like Steve Harley, Lou Reed, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles and Steely Dan.
Pop The Question and Tuesday Chart Rundown were other well remembered features of the show. Following his departure from Radio 1, he moved to San Francisco in 1976, where he recorded a weekly show which was broadcast on Radio Luxembourg.
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Johnnie Walker has been a broadcasting legend since the 1960s
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He returned home in the early 80s, and following stints with ILR Radio West and Wiltshire Radio in the West Country, he returned to Radio 1 to present The Stereo Sequence in 1987. In the following years, he also presented shows on the new local station BBC GLR and BBC Radio 5 Live.
Johnnie then joined Radio 2 in 1997, presenting documentaries and depping for shows across the station, going on to present his own Saturday afternoon show in 1998.
More than 30 years of music knowledge was then channelled into Radio 2’s Drivetime show (5-7pm) which he hosted from 1999.
Walker left Radio 2 Drivetime in 2006 to present a new Sunday show on the station, whilst also depping for Terry Wogan on the Radio 2 Breakfast show, as well as presenting station specials.
That same year he was awarded an MBE in HM The Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for Services to Broadcasting, collecting his award from the then HRH Prince Charles.