Radio 2's Johnnie Walker emotional final interview - "I'm frightened of what the end will be like"

BBC Radio 2 presenter Johnnie Walker, who has been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has shared his fears about what his last moments may be like

Johnnie Walker has told how although he is terminally ill he is not afraid of dying. In an emotional interview the DJ has shared his concerns about his final moments.

The BBC radio presenter announced earlier this month that he was retiring from radio after a 58-year career due to ill health, having been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The 79 year old told listeners he would be stepping down from presenting Sounds of the 70s and The Rock Show on BBC Radio 2 at the end of October.

Speaking to the Daily Mail he said: "I’m not worried about dying. I have an unshakeable belief in an after-life. I think it’s a beautiful place. Unless you’ve done some awful things down here, I don’t think there’s anything to fear.

"What I am a little bit frightened of is what the end will be like when you’re fighting for breath. It doesn’t sound a very nice way to go", he said.

His terminal condition, IPF, is one "in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult", according to the NHS. The NHS website states that the cause of the condition is unclear and while treatments can slow its progression, there is "currently no treatment that can stop or reverse the scarring of the lungs".

The Birmingham-born presenter 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.

He joined BBC Radio 1 in 1969 and continued until 1976, before moving to San Francisco where he recorded a weekly show broadcast on Radio Luxembourg. He returned to the BBC in the early 1980s and has remained ever since.

The much-loved presenter, who now needs a wheelchair to get around and relies on oxygen from a machine due to his condition, is cared for by his wife of over two decades, Tiggy, according to the paper. On October 6, He announced his departure from radio on air, describing it as a "making a very sad announcement" and promising to "make the last three shows as good as I possibly can".

Helen Thomas, Radio 2 boss, described the presenter as "quite simply a broadcasting legend." She added: "We are in awe of his incredible legacy which speaks for itself."

Bob Harris, former presenter of The Old Grey Whistle Test, will replace him on Sounds of the 70s while Shaun Keaveny becomes the new presenter of The Rock Show on November 1. Johnnie’s final episode of The Rock Show airs on October 25 from 11pm-12am and his last episode of Sounds of the 70s will air on Sunday October 27 from 3pm-5pm.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: "It will be a huge wrench to hang up my headphones. I feel quite a connection with my listeners because of the passing years. I get emails from people who say, ‘I was with you when you were on Radio Caroline’, so we’re talking 58 years ago. Imagine what we’ve been through together."

He expressed: "I feel a great sadness. But I didn’t want to reach a point where the BBC was going to say, ‘Johnnie, we don’t think you’re well enough. Your breathlessness is affecting the show too much’. I’d rather it was my decision. It just seemed to be the right time because it was getting increasingly challenging to record my shows."