DJ Johnnie Walker dies aged 79

The broadcaster passed away after a long illness which forced him to retire earlier this year…

Live on BBC Radio 2 this afternoon presenter Bob Harris, on Sounds of the 70s, announced the death of Johnnie Walker at the age of 79, two months after hosting his final edition of Sounds of the 70s and ending a 58-year radio career due to increasing ill health.

Harris took over the 70s music slot following Walker’s retirement, and opened today’s episode with the news, ‘And to start the programme, I bring you some very sad news because we’ve heard from Tiggy Walker that Johnnie Walker has passed away. I’ve known Johnnie since the 1960s when I first started listening to him on pirate radio. And we know what an incredible, warm, wonderful, superb broadcaster he was.’

Bob Harris continued, ‘We also know how passionate he was about his music, went out on a limb, many times, to defend the music that he loved, and he was passionate about radio. And as the 60s moved into the 70s he and I became increasingly close friends, a friendship that endured right up until the present day.’

“Very sad that Johnnie Walker has passed away today. He was a nice man and a fine broadcaster.” – Tony Blackburn

‘Walker had pulmonary fibrosis, which is scarring of the lungs, a condition which makes breathing difficult’ BBC News reported, they also noted, ‘he stepped down from presenting Sounds of the 70s and the Rock Show, also on Radio 2, at the end of October.’

Born Peter Waters Dingley on the 30th of March 1945, Johnnie Walker began his radio career in 1966 on Swinging Radio England, an offshore pirate station, before moving to the legendary Radio Caroline, becoming a household name by hosting a hugely popular night-time show.

After the closure of Radio Caroline, Johnnie joined BBC Radio 1 in 1969, continuing until 1976 and establishing a reputation as a DJ who prioritised records above chat. On his lunchtime show, which launched in 1971, he pioneered new names like Steve Harley, Lou Reed, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles and Steely Dan. Pop The Question and Tuesday Chart Rundown were other well remembered features of the show. Following his departure from Radio 1, he moved to San Francisco in 1976, where he recorded a weekly show which was broadcast on Radio Luxembourg.

“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 Walker, Johnnie’s wife

Johnnie returned home in the early 80s, and following stints with ILR Radio West and Wiltshire Radio in the West Country, he returned to Radio 1 to present The Stereo Sequence in 1987. In the following years, he also presented shows on the new BBC local station BBC GLR and BBC Radio 5 Live.

Johnnie then joined Radio 2 in 1997, presenting documentaries and depping for shows across the station, presenting his own Saturday afternoon show in 1998. Over 30 years of music knowledge was then channelled into Radio 2’s Drive show (5-7pm) which he hosted from 1999. In June 2003, Johnnie broke the news to his listeners that he had cancer, and would be taking a break. He returned to his show in March 2004, with Eric Clapton’s Hello Old Friend.

“Johnnie was a truly wonderful broadcaster, and a devoted music fan. There was nothing he loved more than introducing new artists, such as The Eagles, Rod Stewart, Lou Reed and Elton John in the early 70s on his Radio 1 show which attracted millions of listeners. We’re incredibly lucky to have had such a unique presenter as Johnnie on the BBC airwaves for so long.” – Lorna Clarke, BBC Director of Music

Johnnie left Radio 2 Drive in 2006 to present a new Sunday show on the station, whilst also deputising for Terry Wogan on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, as well as presenting station specials. That same year he was awarded an MBE in HM The Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for Services to Broadcasting, collecting his award from the then Prince Charles.

Johnnie went on to present two shows on Radio 2 – Sounds of the 70s (from April 2009) and The Rock Show, which Johnnie launched in 2018 with his first guest Ozzy Osbourne.

Johnnie’s last episode of The Rock Show aired on Friday 25 October, 11pm-12am, and his final episode of Sounds of the 70s aired on Sunday 27 October, 3-5pm. In recent times he has also presented specials for Boom Radio, a station aimed at an older ‘forgotten’ audience across the UK, alongside his wife Tiggy.

In the summer of 2024 Johnnie and Tiggy Walker also featured on the Jeremy Vine Show on Radio 2 as part of a discussion around Carers Week on the programme. The Beeb note that Radio 2 will be paying tribute to Johnnie today in shows and also in the New Year. A collection of programmes showcasing Johnnie’s life and career will be available in BBC Sounds shortly.

“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.” – Tim Davie, BBC Director General