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| Radio 2 DJ Johnnie Walker retires from BBC | Radio 2 DJ Johnnie Walker retires from BBC |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The BBC radio presenter Johnnie Walker has announced he's hanging up his headphones after a 58-year career because of ill health. | The BBC radio presenter Johnnie Walker has announced he's hanging up his headphones after a 58-year career because of ill health. |
| He will step down from presenting Sounds of the 70s and The Rock Show on BBC Radio 2 at the end of this month. | He will step down from presenting Sounds of the 70s and The Rock Show on BBC Radio 2 at the end of this month. |
| The 79-year-old made the announcement live on air on Sunday, telling listeners that he would make his final shows "as good as I possibly can". | The 79-year-old made the announcement live on air on Sunday, telling listeners that he would make his final shows "as good as I possibly can". |
| He will be replaced on Sounds of the 70s by Bob Harris, while Shaun Keaveny will be the new presenter of The Rock Show. | He will be replaced on Sounds of the 70s by Bob Harris, while Shaun Keaveny will be the new presenter of The Rock Show. |
| Walker has pulmonary fibrosis, which is scarring of the lungs. The condition makes breathing difficult. | |
| During his show on Sunday, he read out a letter from a listener whose dad had loved the show, but had passed away in 2022 due to pulmonary fibrosis. | During his show on Sunday, he read out a letter from a listener whose dad had loved the show, but had passed away in 2022 due to pulmonary fibrosis. |
| "Now, that leads me to be making a very sad announcement," he said. | "Now, that leads me to be making a very sad announcement," he said. |
| "The struggles I’ve had with doing the show and trying to sort of keep up a professional standard suitable for Radio 2 has been getting more and more difficult, hence my little jokes about Puffing Billy, so I’ve had to make the decision that I need to bring my career to an end." | "The struggles I’ve had with doing the show and trying to sort of keep up a professional standard suitable for Radio 2 has been getting more and more difficult, hence my little jokes about Puffing Billy, so I’ve had to make the decision that I need to bring my career to an end." |
| Johnnie Walker pictured in a radio studio in 1971 | Johnnie Walker pictured in a radio studio in 1971 |
| Walker began his radio career in 1966 on Swinging Radio England, an offshore pirate station, before moving to Radio Caroline. | Walker began his radio career in 1966 on Swinging Radio England, an offshore pirate station, before moving to Radio Caroline. |
| He joined BBC Radio 1 in 1969, and joined Radio 2 in 1997 where he has remained ever since. | |
| Among those paying tribute to him was Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, who called him a "broadcasting legend". | Among those paying tribute to him was Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, who called him a "broadcasting legend". |
| "Everyone at Radio 2, and I’m sure his millions of listeners, would like to thank Johnnie for entertaining us for so many decades with his brilliantly crafted shows." she said. | "Everyone at Radio 2, and I’m sure his millions of listeners, would like to thank Johnnie for entertaining us for so many decades with his brilliantly crafted shows." she said. |
| "He will be much missed on the airwaves and by his listeners, who have adored listening to his shows over the years." | "He will be much missed on the airwaves and by his listeners, who have adored listening to his shows over the years." |
| Harris, who will continue to host Radio 2's The Country Show, said he was "proud and honoured" to be taking over the helm of Sound of the 70s from Walker. | Harris, who will continue to host Radio 2's The Country Show, said he was "proud and honoured" to be taking over the helm of Sound of the 70s from Walker. |
| He added: "I will do everything I can to maintain his legacy and curate the programme with the very best music from that incredible decade." | He added: "I will do everything I can to maintain his legacy and curate the programme with the very best music from that incredible decade." |
| Keaveny, who has hosted various shows on BBC Radio 6 Music and has sat in for Walker on The Rock Show before, called him one of his "ultimate radio heroes". | Keaveny, who has hosted various shows on BBC Radio 6 Music and has sat in for Walker on The Rock Show before, called him one of his "ultimate radio heroes". |
| "I am not sure how I am going to get through the week without hearing him, and his place in radio legend is assured," he said. | "I am not sure how I am going to get through the week without hearing him, and his place in radio legend is assured," he said. |
| Walker's last episode of The Rock Show will air on 25 October, and his final episode of Sounds of the 70s will air two days later. | Walker's last episode of The Rock Show will air on 25 October, and his final episode of Sounds of the 70s will air two days later. |