Sir Rod Stewart, 79, shares heartfelt message to BBC DJ Johnnie Walker, 79, as he ends 58-year career amid health woes

Sir Rod Stewart, 79, was one of many famous faces paying tribute to legendary radio host Johnnie Walker on Sunday as he presented Sound of the 70s for the final time on BBC Radio.

Walker, 79, has decided to end his near-six-decade-long career on the airwaves after being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The illness, otherwise known as IPF, is defined as a severe respiratory illness that can make breathing difficult. It meant Walker would often broadcast from his home in Dorset.

Walker bid farewell to The Rock Show on BBC Radio 2 on Friday and on Sunday afternoon, it was time to say goodbye to Sound of the 70s.

In doing so, he told listeners: “So it doesn’t really matter how long you’ve been listening to the old JW here, we’ve had a great time doing Sounds of the 70s.

“It really developed into a sort of a Sunday Afternoon Club, I always got the feeling, and lots of people preparing their Sunday roast, maybe pulling the cork on a bottle of wine, other people doing their gardening, pottering in a shed, doing ironing.

It’s showtime! And i have a guest…
⁦@TiggyWalker⁩ ⁦@lizziebarn⁩ ⁦@Dr_Paul_Thomas⁩ ⁦@BBCRadio2⁩ #SOT70s #fondfarewell pic.twitter.com/uJsuUHm2N4

— Johnnie Walker (@piratejw) October 27, 2024

“It was just great spending Sunday afternoons with you and it’s going to be very strange for me next Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock to think that I won’t be speaking to you.

“It’ll be somebody else, namely Bob Harris, who’ll be doing Sounds of the 70s. So, I’ll miss you a lot and it’s been great connecting up for all these years. We’ve done a lot of living together you and I.”

In the show’s final moments, he told his listeners: “So here we are, the end of a 15-year run on Sunday afternoons, Sounds of the 70s, and 58 years on British radio.

“It’s going to be very strange not to be on the wireless anymore but also, by the same token, life will be slightly less of a strain really, trying to find the breath to do programmes.

“So thank you for being with me all these years and take good care of yourself and those you love and maybe walk into the future with our heads held high and happiness in our hearts. God bless you.”

Elsewhere in the show, Walker revealed Maggie May hitmaker Stewart had been in touch to thank him for the impact he had on his career after the two shared decades after decades in the spotlight.

“I have to thank you, my man, thank you from the bottom of my heart for playing not only my songs, but The Faces and just about every other rock band in the world on your wonderful show over the years,” Stewart said.

“By doing so you propelled the careers of a bunch of unknown layabouts to the top of the charts and overnight fame and everything that goes with it. It goes without saying, that without your support, we never may have got there.

“So, if I do manage to get through the Pearly Gates, I’ll have a pint of Guinness please mate and guess what, I’ll pick up the tab. See ya later, Johnnie. Rock on mate, rock on,” Stewart concluded.

The emotional listen was made even more so when Walker welcomed his wife Tiggy to join him during his final-ever show.

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She told him: “I just want to say well done for keeping going as long as you have, because you make a lot of people very happy and I know there will be a lot of tears out there today, including mine.”

Walker replied: “And maybe one or two from me as well. Thank you very much for saying that and thank you for all your wonderful care.

“I certainly couldn’t have done this show without that, so thank you for that.”