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31 December 2024
It is with great sadness that it has just been announced that THE pirate of the airwaves, Johnnie Walker, has died today at the age of 79. To those of us who listened to him in the 1960's on Swinging Radio England and Radio Caroline South, and who followed his involvement in the continuation of commercial radio in the UK from the day most of the offshore pirate radio stations were outlawed on 14 August 1967, to his involvement with BBC Radios 1 and 2, it was clear that his passion for free radio never diminished. There will no doubt be many tributes to the great man, and rightly so, but meanwhile we must send our love and condolences to his wife Tiggy. Our Christmas carousel was due to cease tonight, but we will keep it running with Johnnie Walker content that we will, albeit hastily, put together. With kind permission of the BBC, here is reproduced their online announcement of his death, and below a video clip of how Johnnie's good friend Bob Harris, now presenting 'Sounds of the 70's', announced his death on BBC Radio 2. God bless you Johnnie.
Radio 2 DJ Johnnie Walker dies at the age of 79
Emma Saunders
Culture reporter
- Published31 December 2024, 16:10 GMT
Updated 8 minutes ago
Radio presenter Johnnie Walker has died at the age of 79, two months after calling time on his 58-year career because of ill health.
DJ Bob Harris, who took over BBC Radio 2's Sounds of the 70s show after Walker's retirement, announced his former colleague's death live on the station on Tuesday.
Walker had pulmonary fibrosis, which is scarring of the lungs, a condition which makes breathing difficult.
He stepped down from presenting Sounds of the 70s and The Rock Show, also on Radio 2, at the end of October.
'Rollercoaster ride'
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."
Tiggy Walker said she "couldn't be more proud" of her husband and "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," she said.
"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."
BBC director general Tim Davie described Walker as a "pop radio pioneer and champion of great music", adding: "No-one loved the audience as much as Johnnie, and we loved him back."
Walker had announced live on air earlier in October that he would be hanging up his microphone to retire.
He explained the reason he was retiring after reading 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.
"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."
Walker's last episode of The Rock Show aired on 25 October, and his final episode of Sounds of the 70s was broadcast on 27 October.
At the end of his final show, Walker said: "[It's] going to be very strange not to be on the wireless anymore. Also, by the same token, life will be slightly less of a strain really, trying to find the breath in order to do the programmes."
"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."
With Harris taking the helm for Sounds of the 70s, Shaun Keaveny took the reins for Walker's Rock Show.
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 remained until his retirement.
BBC
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RECENT UKRA ARCHIVE:
JOHNNIE WALKER
The last weekend in October saw the last radio broadcast from the legend that is Johnnie Walker. We all wish him the very best of wishes. For many of us he was instrumental in growing an appreciation, especially for the author at least, of American soul from the Atlantic and Stax stables. And his contribution to the birth of music radio in the 1960s via offshore ship based stations 'Swinging' Radio England and Radio Caroline (South) cannot be underestimated. The music however lives on. He leaves only one offshore radio pioneer left on British radio, Tony Blackburn, heard on BBC Radio 2 'Sounds of the 60s' every Saturday morning at 6am. Johnnie and Tony took part in some gentle sparring during 'Clash of the Pirates', a special feature in the summer of 2024. It was a joy to hear (video clip below), and is available on BBC Sounds. Johnnie's last BBC Radio 2 'Sounds of the 70s' show (video clip below) was aired on Sunday 27 October 2024 and was also a joy, but tinged with sadness. It is available on BBC Sounds too, along with other programmes about or featuring him. Just search "Johnnie Walker" in Sounds. God bless you Johnnie. The end of an era.
Our archive will include both the 'Clash of the Pirates' and an airchecked version of Johnnie's last 'Sounds of the 70s' show at a later date.