Emotional farewell of Johnnie Walker from his BBC Radio 2 program, remembered with tributes after his passing

This is Johnnie Walker’s emotional send off from his BBC Radio 2 show – as tributes are pouring in following his death aged 79.

In late October, Walker wrapped up his final Sounds Of The 70s show on BBC Radio 2 and bid farewell with his last episode of The Rock Show, marking his retirement due to health issues.

He signed off his last broadcast saying: ‘[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.

Expressing gratitude towards his listeners, he conveyed well wishes for their health and happiness as he embarked on his new journey: “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.”

Having been a beloved figure among Brits for over fifty years, Walker disclosed his battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a rare and degenerative lung condition that has been progressively affecting his ability to breathe for the past five years.

He hadn’t left his home in Shaftesbury, Dorset, since January when his health deteriorated at a terrifying rate or, with his wife Tiggy saying ‘he fell off a cliff’.

Yesterday, Johnnie’s grieving wife, Tiggy 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.’

Tiggy also also shared a picture of a bottle and glass of champagne in a post on X and described her late husband as ‘courageous, wise, strong, creative and never dull’.

‘What does a new widow do on NYE? She listens to BBC Radio 2, opens a bottle and toasts her amazing husband,’ she said.

‘Courageous, wise, strong, creative and never dull. They didn’t call him the pirate for nothing. Above all – the most devoted loving husband. (Please) raise a (glass) to Johnnie Walker.’

Tony Blackburn, 81, called Walker ‘a fine broadcaster and very good friend’.

Blackburn continued: ‘We were both very proud of the fact in the 60s we were trying to break the monopoly of the BBC, which of course, we did eventually, and then we ended up at the BBC, where we all had a great time.’

Former Radio 2 host Ken Bruce, 73, posted: ‘So sorry to hear the news about the great Johnnie Walker. 

‘Not only was he a wonderful broadcaster but also a man of great strength and kindness.’

Walker’s colleague Sally Boazman, known as Sally Traffic, said: ‘He was the real deal.’

In October, Walker had told listeners he had to make a ‘very sad announcement’.

‘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 […], so I’ve had to make the decision that I need to bring my career to an end,’ he said.

He also heartbreakingly admitted he was ready to die as he stepped down in October.

‘Sometimes I go to bed and think, ‘It would be nice, really, if this is the night I go’,’ he said at the time.

In a crushingly honest interview with Mail+ before his death, Johnnie said: ‘I’m not worried about dying. I have an unshakeable belief in an afterlife. 

‘I think it’s a beautiful place. Unless you’ve done some awful things down here, I don’t think there’s anything to fear.

‘What I am a little bit frightened of is what the end will be like when you’re fighting for breath. It doesn’t sound a very nice way to go.’