Veteran BBC DJ Johnny Walker has died at the age of 79, it has been announced.
Mr. Walker served as master of ceremonies. Radio 2's 70s sounds and Radio 2 Rock Shaw started his career as a pirate DJ on Radio Caroline in the 60s and joined Radio 1 in 1969. He described the Bay City Rollers as “musical trash” and left the station after a controversial conflict with his superiors. About sticking to playing album tracks.
After a brief stint on the air in California, he returned to the UK in the early '80s and rejoined Radio 1 in 1987, hosting the Saturday afternoon show 'The Stereo Sequence', as well as Radio 5 (now He worked for many stations including 5 Live). He joins Radio 2 and eventually gets a drive time slot.
In June 2003, he announced to the nation that he would be taking time off to undergo cancer treatment, finally overcoming a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the colon. He returned nine months later and won a gold medal at Sony. In 2006, he was awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year Honors List.
Walker began broadcasting the show from his home in Dorset in 2020 after being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an inflammation of the lungs.
In June 2024, Walker and his wife Tiggy spoke out about being told by doctors that he was terminally ill. Speaking on the podcast Walker and Walker: Johnny and Tiggy, Tiggy said Johnny was told by his consultant to be “ready to go at any time.”
“[Tiggy] She very lovingly helps me into bed and kisses me goodnight. Then she'll wonder if I'll still be alive in the morning,” Johnny said. “That must be quite difficult for her.”
