Radio 2 DJ Johnnie Walker retires from BBC

The BBC vigor presenter Johnnie Walker has announced he's hanging up his headphones aft a 58-year vocation due to the fact that of sick health.

He volition measurement down from presenting Sounds of the 70s and The Rock Show connected BBC Radio 2 astatine the extremity of this month.

The 79-year-old made the announcement unrecorded connected aerial connected Sunday, telling listeners that helium would marque his last shows "as bully arsenic I perchance can".

He volition beryllium replaced connected Sounds of the 70s by Bob Harris, portion Shaun Keaveny volition beryllium the caller presenter of The Rock Show.

Walker has pulmonary fibrosis, which is scarring of the lungs which makes breathing difficult.

During his amusement connected Sunday, helium work retired a missive from a listener whose dada had loved the show, but had passed distant successful 2022 owed to pulmonary fibrosis.

"Now, that leads maine to beryllium making a precise bittersweet announcement," helium said.

"The struggles I’ve had with doing the amusement and trying to benignant of support up a nonrecreational modular suitable for Radio 2 has been getting much and much difficult, hence my small jokes astir Puffing Billy, truthful I’ve had to marque the determination that I request to bring my vocation to an end."

Walker began his vigor vocation successful 1966 connected Swinging Radio England, an offshore pirate station, earlier moving to Radio Caroline.

He joined BBC Radio 1 successful 1969, and joined Radio 2 successful 1997.

Among those paying tribute to him was Helen Thomas, caput of Radio 2, who called him a "broadcasting legend".

"Everyone astatine Radio 2, and I’m definite his millions of listeners, would similar to convey Johnnie for entertaining america for truthful galore decades with his brilliantly crafted shows." she said.

"He volition beryllium overmuch missed connected the airwaves and by his listeners, who person adored listening to his shows implicit the years."

Harris, who volition proceed to big Radio 2's The Country Show, said helium was "proud and honoured" to beryllium taking implicit the helm of Sound of the 70s from Walker.

He added: "I volition bash everything I tin to support his bequest and curate the programme with the precise champion euphony from that unthinkable decade."

Keaveny, who has hosted assorted shows connected BBC Radio 6 Music and has sat successful for Walker connected The Rock Show before, called him 1 of his "ultimate vigor heroes".

"I americium not definite however I americium going to get done the week without proceeding him, and his spot successful vigor fable is assured," helium said.

Walker's past occurrence of The Rock Show volition aerial connected 25 October, and his last occurrence of Sounds of the 70s volition aerial 2 days later.