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Johnnie Walker, the DJ and radio presenter has died aged 79.
Born in Martch 1945 just over a month before the end of the Second World War, Walker, born, Peter Waters Dingley (and assumably gave himself the stage name namesake after the famous alcoholic whisky beverage), had a varied career, graduating from Pirate Radio stations such as Radio Caroline to present on BBC Radio 1 in the 1970s; one of the founding presenters of the original Radio 5 in 1990, presenting programmes such as This Family Business and The AM Alternative. After stints on commercial radio, he eventually arrived on Radio 2 in the mid 1990s, sitting in for John Dunn's Drivetime programme before taking over himself in 1998, amnd staying on and off until 2006. He had a few difficulties during his stint on Drivetime; he was suspended from Radio 2 due to drug use mentioned in the Sunday ted-top tabloids in 1999 although he was invited back after the situation passed. In 2003 he took leave when he was treated for illness and Noel Edmonds took over his slot. I mentioned in another obituary thread a couple of months ago that I would start Walker's tribute on here when the time came, and here it is.
I have to admit that when I listened to his Sunday afternoon show on Radio 2 earlier on this year, it was more than apparent from his voice that he was very ill, such as when I listened on the coach coming back from my birthday trip to Cardiff at the start of September 2024, where he played Earth, Wind and Fire's September, and also Daniel Boone's Beautiful Sunday on the show, as well as a pre-recorded interview with David Essex. It wasn't surprising that he was to hand his headphones up at the end of October and let Bob Harris take over on Sundays. It wasn't the same Johnnie Walker that I associated him with; someone who was full of life and courage as a broadcaster.
It was only around three or four years ago when he mis-pronounced a place name - "Belvoir" - on air on his Sunday afternoon programme - and he didn't pronounce it "beaver" either! I emailed him to say that he pronounced it wrong and he responded to my email. What a gentleman.
I was hoping that he would outlive 2024 and would still be with us in 2025, but alas, it wasn't to be. My sympathies to his family and friends - a legend has been lost on the final day of the year in 2024.
Born in Martch 1945 just over a month before the end of the Second World War, Walker, born, Peter Waters Dingley (and assumably gave himself the stage name namesake after the famous alcoholic whisky beverage), had a varied career, graduating from Pirate Radio stations such as Radio Caroline to present on BBC Radio 1 in the 1970s; one of the founding presenters of the original Radio 5 in 1990, presenting programmes such as This Family Business and The AM Alternative. After stints on commercial radio, he eventually arrived on Radio 2 in the mid 1990s, sitting in for John Dunn's Drivetime programme before taking over himself in 1998, amnd staying on and off until 2006. He had a few difficulties during his stint on Drivetime; he was suspended from Radio 2 due to drug use mentioned in the Sunday ted-top tabloids in 1999 although he was invited back after the situation passed. In 2003 he took leave when he was treated for illness and Noel Edmonds took over his slot. I mentioned in another obituary thread a couple of months ago that I would start Walker's tribute on here when the time came, and here it is.
I have to admit that when I listened to his Sunday afternoon show on Radio 2 earlier on this year, it was more than apparent from his voice that he was very ill, such as when I listened on the coach coming back from my birthday trip to Cardiff at the start of September 2024, where he played Earth, Wind and Fire's September, and also Daniel Boone's Beautiful Sunday on the show, as well as a pre-recorded interview with David Essex. It wasn't surprising that he was to hand his headphones up at the end of October and let Bob Harris take over on Sundays. It wasn't the same Johnnie Walker that I associated him with; someone who was full of life and courage as a broadcaster.
It was only around three or four years ago when he mis-pronounced a place name - "Belvoir" - on air on his Sunday afternoon programme - and he didn't pronounce it "beaver" either! I emailed him to say that he pronounced it wrong and he responded to my email. What a gentleman.
I was hoping that he would outlive 2024 and would still be with us in 2025, but alas, it wasn't to be. My sympathies to his family and friends - a legend has been lost on the final day of the year in 2024.
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