Tony Blackburn has officially bid farewell to his Soul on Sunday listeners on BBC Radio London.
Taking to the airwaves for the last time on Soul on Sunday this past weekend, Blackburn, 80, thanked his loyal fanbase who tuned in each week to hear him play the best Soul and Motown tracks.
"Michael Jackson and We're Almost There... and we are," Blackburn said as the penultimate track on his show came to a close.
He continued: "That's it, I've been with you a long time here at BBC Radio London playing this wonderful music and I want to thank you very much indeed for being a part of it (and) listening in every week.
"And also for being a part of Radio London's Soul Night Out.
"I want to thank all of the people I've worked with here at this radio station," he added before paying a special mention to the show's producer.
Tony Blackburn has ended Soul on Sunday
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Blackburn signed off: "I'm gonna leave you with this one which means a lot to us who came along to the Soul Night Out, we had so much fun, didn't we? Fatback Band and I Found Love.
"Thank you so much and have a lovely Christmas and from me, Tony Blackburn, bye-bye," Blackburn concluded as the song played out.
The veteran DJ has reiterated it was his own decision to step down from Soul on Sunday duties amid the BBC's ever-changing roster of presenters.
His departure from Radio London comes following a number of other high-profile exits in recent months, including Clara Amfo's Radio 1 departure and Helen Skelton's decision to leave BBC Radio 5 Live.
But Blackburn will remain part of the fray at Radio 2 and other local BBC Radio stations.
When he first broke the news of his departure earlier this month, Blackburn penned on X, formerly Twitter: "Hi everyone, just thought I’d let you know that after many happy years on @BBCRadioLondon.
"I have decided to leave the station and this Sunday will be my last Soul On Sunday. Over the years we have had a lot of fun with some fantastic live shows for Children in Need and have played some great music.
"I will still be continuing @BBCBerkshire, @BBCOxford and @BBCRadioSolent on Sunday afternoon and off course on the great @BBCRadio2.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Thanks John, yes I will be bringing you great music as long as I possibly can I promise. https://t.co/IjFKvdetjn
— Tony Blackburn (@tonyblackburn) December 18, 2023
"This is totally my decision and thanks to the many happy years there, but time to move on. Thanks for listening."
His announcement led several fans to fear Blackburn was retiring for good, although he allayed these fears on the social media platform.
Replying to one fan who described the news as a "shame" to see him "cut back", Blackburn replied: "I’m certainly not going to be cutting back."
And in a series of responses to other followers, Blackburn insisted "I’m not retiring and never will" as well as reiterating: "I’m not ever going to think of retiring."
