A veteran BBC DJ Johnnie Walker It is reported that he died at the age of 79.
Walker, hosted Radio II of the sounds of the 70s and The radio 2 Rock Show, began his career as a pirate DJ on Caroline’s 60s radio, before joining Radio 1 in 1969 to play album tracks.
After a period in California, he returned to the UK in the early 80s and returned to Radio 1 in 1987 to present the Saturday afternoon Stereo Sequence, as well as working on several stations on Radio 5 (now 5 Live), before joining Radio 2, eventually taking the Drive slot.
In June 2003, he announced to the nation that he was taking time off to treat cancer, eventually receiving a diagnosis of non-invasive Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He returned nine months later and won Gold at the Sonys. In 2006 he was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honors list.
In 2020, Walker began broadcasting his shows from his Dorset home due to a diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an inflammation of the lungs.
In June 2024, Walker and his wife Tiggy spoke about information from doctors that the condition was terminal. On their podcast, Walker and Walker: Johnnie and Tiggy, Tiggy said they were told by a consultant that Johnnie was “preparing to leave at any moment”.
“[Tiggy] He always helps me get into bed and kisses me good night, and then he wonders if I’m still alive in the morning,” said Johnnie. “That must be hard enough for her.”