BBC star Johnnie Walker steps down from Radio 2’s Sounds of the 70s and The Rock Show as replacements revealed-Lillie Rohan-Entertainment – Metro

Johnnie Walker will give his final broadcast later this month (Picture: Geoff Pugh/REX/Shutterstock)

One of the nation’s most legendary broadcasters, Johnnie Walker has announced to listeners in an emotional statement that he will give his last broadcast later this month.

Appearing on his afternoon gig of Sounds of the 70s today, Johnnie, 79, revealed he will be stepping down from his hosting duties on the Radio 2 and BBC Sounds shows – Sounds of the 70s and The Rock Show.

He made the emotional announcement after reading a letter from one of his loyal listeners, who wrote in to share that their late father loved listening to the broadcaster before he died ofpulmonary fibrosis in 2022.

The admission prompted Johnnie, who also has the condition, to made 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, hence my little jokes about Puffing Billy, so I’ve had to make the decision that I need to bring my career to an end after 58 years,’ he said.

He added that his last Sounds of the 70s show will be on October 27.

Johnnie’s last day hosting for Sounds of the 70s will be October 27 (Picture: Jeff Gilbert/REX/Shutterstock)

Promoting that he would make his final shows ‘as good as I possibly can,’ he added that this week in 1978, The Rolling Stones guest starred on Saturday Night Live and performed three tracks from their album, Some Girls.

‘Well, one of the tracks on the album seems quite suitable at the moment,’ Johnnie told listeners before playing the hit song, Miss You.

After sharing the tough news, Johnnie told fans his replacement for Sounds of the 70s will be none other than Bob Harris, aka. Whispering Bob.

‘Bob Harris will be in charge of Sounds of the 70s from the 3rd of November,’ he said.

BBC later announced in a statement that Johnnie’s last hosting day of The Rock Show will be on Friday, October 25, between 11pm-12am.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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