DJ Johnnie Walker says goodbye to BBC Radio 2 as he leaves due to terminal illness
by Owen Younger · ChronicleLiveLegendary DJ Johnnie Walker has said a final goodbye to Radio 2 as he leaves due to a terminal illness. The 79-year-old left listeners in tears as he thanked them for their loyal support during his 58-year-long career.
On Friday October 25, he presented The Rock Show for the last time and on Sunday, he hosted his final Sounds of the 70s. It was earlier this month that the broadcaster announced his retirement live on the show.
On his final Sounds of the 70s show, he said this to his listeners: "So it doesn’t really matter how long you’ve been listening to the old JW here, we’ve had a great time doing Sounds of the 70s. It really developed into a sort of a Sunday Afternoon Club, I always got the feeling, and lots of people preparing their Sunday roast, maybe pulling the cork on a bottle of wine, other people doing their gardening, pottering in a shed, doing ironing.
"It was just great spending Sunday afternoons with you and it’s going to be very strange for me next Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock to think that I won’t be speaking to you. It’ll be somebody else, namely Bob Harris, who’ll be doing Sounds of the 70s. So, I’ll miss you a lot and it’s been great connecting up for all these years. We’ve done a lot of living together you and I."
He finished the show by saying: "So here we are, the end of a 15 year run on Sunday afternoons, Sounds of the 70s, and 58 years on British radio, and it’s going to be very strange not to be on the wireless anymore but also, by the same token, life will be slightly less of a strain really, trying to find the breath to do programmes.
"So thank you for being with me all these years and take good care of yourself and those you love and may we walk into the future with our heads held high and happiness in our hearts. God bless you."
Music legend Rod Stewart sent a message for Johnnie, saying: "I have to thank you my man, thank you from the bottom of my heart for playing not only my songs, but The Faces and just about every other rock band in the world on your wonderful show over the years. By doing so you propelled the careers of a bunch of unknown layabouts to the top of the charts and overnight fame and everything that goes with it. It goes without saying, without your support we never may have got there.
"So, if I do manage to get through the Pearly Gates, I’ll have a pint of Guinness please mate and guess what, I’ll pick up the tab. See ya later, Johnnie. Rock on mate, rock on."
During the programme, Johnnie added one last song - Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird - into his famous 'Johnnie's Jukebox' before sealing it forever. During the show he played his own selection of favourite tracks from the decade, including hits from Elton John, Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond, Simon and Garfunkel, David Bowie and The Rolling Stones.
Shaun Keaveny will be the new presenter of The Rock Show from Friday November 1, and Bob Harris is taking over as presenter of Sounds Of The 70s from Sunday November 3.
Listen back to Johnnie’s final Sounds of the 70s here.
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