BBC radio legend Johnnie Walker dies after ‘debilitating’ lung disease as tributes pour in
BBC radio legend Johnnie Walker has died at the age of 79.
The veteran presented his final Sounds Of The 70s show on BBC Radio 2 and hosted his last episode of The Rock Show at the end of October as he retired due to ill health.
Walker had announced in early October that he was retiring from radio after 58 years having been previously diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
He was born in Birmingham and left school at the age of 15 to train to become a mechanic, later taking a job as a car salesman.
He found an outlet for his passion for music with a Friday night slot as a disco DJ under the name Peter Dee.
Walker 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.
Walker went on to join BBC Radio 1 in 1969, continuing until 1976, with him later moving to San Francisco, where he recorded a weekly show broadcast on Radio Luxembourg.
He returned to the UK in the 80s and presented Radio 1’s Saturday Stereo Sequence.
After working on various BBC stations, he left Radio 1 for good in 1995 and three years later he was offered his own weekly show on Radio 2, before taking over Drivetime.
He earned a reputation as a DJ who accorded more importance to the records he played than the chat between tracks, with names he pioneered including Lou Reed, Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles.
In October 2003, Walker underwent chemotherapy and an emergency operation for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
He told his listeners live on air of the diagnosis and later revealed that he “died” on the operating table three times during surgery to repair his burst intestine.
The condition IPF is one “in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult”, according to the NHS.
The NHS website says it is not clear what causes the condition and that treatments can reduce the rate at which it worsens, but that there is “currently no treatment that can stop or reverse the scarring of the lungs”.
Tributes flooded in for the BBC radio legend with his wife describing him as an “extraordinary husband”.
'I've known Johnnie since the 1960s'
BBC Radio 2 Sounds Of The 70s presenter Bob Harris has told listeners the “very sad news” of the death of the show’s former presenter Johnnie Walker.
Introducing Tuesday’s edition of the show, he said he had heard the news from the late presenter’s widow Tiggy.
Harris said on the show: “I’ve known Johnnie since the 1960s when I first started listening to him on pirate radio and we know what an incredible, wonderful, superb broadcaster he was.
“We also know how passionate he was about his music, went out on a limb many times to defend the music that he loved and he was passionate about radio, and as the 60s moved into the 70s he and I became increasingly close friends, a friendship that endured right up to the present day.
“We had many shared experiences, not least our support of each other during our various health experiences.
“In fact, Johnnie and I were exchanging texts through the time after I took over the show, he wished me well at the beginning of the first programme that I did.
“‘Sending you lots of love’ he said, ‘relax and enjoy, the listeners are lovely, and they’ll look after you, all the very best from Johnnie’.”
Harris opened the show with David Bowie’s Golden Years and also spoke about Walker helping him after his aortic dissection.
Tiggy Walker, Johnnie’s wife, said: “I couldn’t be more proud of Johnnie – how he kept broadcasting almost to the end and with what dignity and grace he coped with his debilitating lung disease.
“He remained his charming, humorous self to the end, what a strong amazing man. It has been a rollercoaster ride from start to finish.
“And if I may say – what a day to go. He’ll be celebrating New Year’s Eve with a stash of great musicians in heaven.
“One year on from his last live show. God bless that extraordinary husband of mine who is now in a place of peace.”
Helen Thomas, Head of BBC Radio 2, said: “Everyone at Radio 2 is heartbroken about the passing of Johnnie, a much loved broadcasting legend.
“He made Sounds of the 70s and The Rock Show appointments to listen to, sharing his personal memories and tales each week.
“He loved radio and inspired a generation of presenters, passionately promoting the artists and music he cared about so deeply.
“Johnnie’s wry sense of humour and his warm, open style of presenting ensured he was adored by his audience.
“The airwaves simply won’t be the same again.
“He will be very much missed by Radio 2 presenters, staff and listeners alike, and our thoughts are with his wife Tiggy and his children.”
Tim Davie, BBC Director General, said: “We are deeply saddened by the news of Johnnie’s passing and our thoughts are with his family and friends, as well as everyone at Radio 2.
“Johnnie was a pop radio pioneer and a champion of great music, entertaining millions of beloved listeners on the BBC across decades, most recently hosting two shows on Radio 2.
“No-one loved the audience as much as Johnnie, and we loved him back.”