The veteran BBC DJ Johnnie Walker has died at the age of 79, it has been announced.
Walker, who hosted Radio 2’s Sounds of the 70s and the Radio 2 Rock Show, began his career as a pirate DJ in the 60s on Radio Caroline, before joining Radio 1 in 1969. He left the station after causing controversy by describing the Bay City Rollers as “musical garbage” and clashing with his bosses over an insistence on playing album tracks.
After a period broadcasting in California, he returned to the UK in the early 80s and rejoined Radio 1 in 1987 to present a Saturday afternoon show, The Stereo Sequence, as well as working on other stations including Radio 5 (now 5 Live), before joining Radio 2, eventually taking on the Drivetime slot.
Walker’s death was announced on air by his friend and colleague, Radio 2’s Bob Harris, who took over presenting Sounds of the 70s in November.
Walker’s 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.”
In June 2003, Walker announced to the nation that he was taking time off to be treated for cancer, eventually beating his diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the colon. He returned nine months later and won the Gold award at the Sonys. In 2006 he was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s new year honours list.
In 2020, Walker began broadcasting his shows from his Dorset home as a result of being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an inflammation of the lungs.
The BBC’s director general, Tim Davie, 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.”
In June 2024, Walker and his wife talked about having been informed by doctors that the condition was terminal. On their podcast, Walker and Walker: Johnnie and Tiggy, Tiggy said her husband had been told by a consultant to “prepare to go at any moment”.
“[Tiggy] very lovingly helps me get into bed and gives me a nice kiss goodnight, and then she has to wonder whether I’m still going to be alive in the morning. Which must be pretty hard for her,” Walker said.
Walker was born in Birmingham and left school at 15 to train to become a mechanic, later taking a job as a car salesperson.
