Legendary BBC Radio 2 DJ Johnnie Walker has died at the age of 79 – two months after calling time on his 58-year broadcasting career.
The terminally ill radio star, who hosted Sounds Of The 70s and The Rock Show, stepped down in October – as he heartbreakingly admitted he was ready to die.
‘Sometimes I go to bed and think, “It would be nice, really, if this is the night I go,’ he said at the time.
Walker, who has been a joyous presence in the lives of Brits for more than half a century, was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis five years ago.
It is a rare, progressive illness that scars the lungs and increasingly robs him of breath.
He hasn’t left his home in Shaftesbury, Dorset, since January when his health deteriorated at a terrifying rate or, as his funny, fearless wife Tiggy puts it, ‘he fell off a cliff’.
At the end of October, he presented his final Sounds Of The 70s show on BBC Radio 2 and hosted his last episode of The Rock Show as he retired due to ill health.
He signed off his last broadcast saying: ‘Walk into the future with our heads held high, and happiness in our hearts.’
Today, Johnnie’s grieving wife Tiggy said: ‘I couldn’t be more proud of Johnnie – how he kept broadcasting almost to the end and with what dignity and grace he coped with his debilitating lung disease.
Johnnie Walker has died, aged 79, after a battle against ill-health. He is pictured with his fearless wife Tiggy
Walker in 1971. The legendary radio star had a career that spanned more than 50 years
‘He remained his charming, humorous self to the end, what a strong, amazing man. It has been a rollercoaster ride from start to finish.
‘And if I may say – what a day to go. He’ll be celebrating New Year’s Eve with a stash of great musicians in heaven. One year on from his last live show.
‘God bless that extraordinary husband of mine, who is now in a place of peace.’
Tributes have already started pouring in, with Tim Davie – the BBC’s director general – saying he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the news of Walker’s death.
‘Johnnie was a pop radio pioneer and a champion of great music, entertaining millions of beloved listeners on the BBC across decades, most recently hosting two shows on Radio 2,’ he added.
‘No-one loved the audience as much as Johnnie and we loved him back.’
Helen Thomas, head of BBC Radio 2, said: ‘Everyone at Radio 2 is heartbroken about the passing of Johnnie, a much-loved broadcasting legend.
‘He made Sounds of the 70s and The Rock Show appointments to listen to, sharing his personal memories and tales each week. He loved radio and inspired a generation of presenters, passionately promoting the artists and music he cared about so deeply.
Johnnie hosted hosted Sounds Of The 70s and The Rock Show. He is pictured in 2004
And here the DJ star is shown during his younger days, pictured on December 21, 1971
Tributes have already started to pour in for the legendary radio host
‘Johnnie’s wry sense of humour and his warm, open style of presenting ensured he was adored by his audience.
‘The airwaves simply won’t be the same again. He will be very much missed by Radio 2 presenters, staff and listeners alike, and our thoughts are with his wife Tiggy and his children.’
Walker was born in Birmingham and left school at the age of 15 to train to become a mechanic, later taking a job as a car salesman.
He found an outlet for his passion for music with a Friday night slot as a disco DJ under the name Peter Dee.
Walker began his radio career in 1966 on Swinging Radio England, an offshore pirate station.
He later moved to Radio Caroline, where he became a household name hosting the hugely popular night-time show.
Walker went on to join BBC Radio 1 in 1969, continuing until 1976, with him later moving to San Francisco, where he recorded a weekly show broadcast on Radio Luxembourg.
Walker was born in Birmingham and left school at the age of 15 to train to become a mechanic, later taking a job as a car salesman. He is pictured at his home in April 2024
In 2006, Johnnie collected an MBE from Buckingham Palace for services to broadcasting
He returned to the UK in the 80s and presented Radio 1’s Saturday Stereo Sequence.
After working on various BBC stations, he left Radio 1 for good in 1995 and three years later he was offered his own weekly show on Radio 2, before taking over Drivetime.
He earned a reputation as a DJ who accorded more importance to the records he played than the chat between tracks, with names he pioneered including Lou Reed, Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles.
In October 2003, Walker underwent chemotherapy and an emergency operation for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
He told his listeners live on air of the diagnosis and later revealed that he ‘died’ on the operating table three times during surgery to repair his burst intestine.
The condition IPF is one ‘in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult’, according to the NHS.
The NHS website says it is not clear what causes the condition and that treatments can reduce the rate at which it worsens, but that there is ‘currently no treatment that can stop or reverse the scarring of the lungs’.
