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BBC Radio 2 presenter and broadcasting legend Johnnie Walker will retire at the end of this month due to ill health. The 79-year-old has decided to step down from his hosting duties on Sounds of the 70s and The Rock Show after a career which has spanned 58 years. Speaking live on air, he assured his listeners that he would make his final shows “as good as I possibly can.” Bob Harris will take over Sounds of the 70s, while Shaun Keaveny will be the new presenter of The Rock Show.
Walker has suffered from pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that inhibits breathing by scarring the lungs. During his broadcast on Sunday, he read out a letter from a listener whose father had loved the show but had passed away in 2022 due to the same disease. Citing his own struggles with the condition, Walker made the difficult decision to end his career.
Born in 1945, Walker began his radio career in 1966 on Swinging Radio England before moving to Radio Caroline. In 1969, he joined BBC Radio 1, then later in 1997, Radio 2, where he remained for the rest of his career. Throughout his decades in broadcasting, Walker charmed audiences with his witty and charismatic style and impeccable taste in music.
Following the announcement of his retirement, tributes flooded in from colleagues and fans alike. Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, paid tribute to her retiring colleague, calling him a “broadcasting legend.” Harris, who will continue to host Radio 2’s Country Show, said he felt “proud and honoured” to be taking over Sounds of the 70s from Walker. Meanwhile, Keaveny, one of Walker’s “ultimate radio heroes,” said he was at a loss as to how he would manage to cope without hearing Walker on the airwaves. Walker’s final shows will air on Radio 2 at the end of October
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