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Radio Icon Johnnie Walker Passes Away at 79
Veteran BBC DJ Johnnie Walker has died at the age of 79, two months after concluding his illustrious 58-year radio career due to declining health. The renowned broadcaster, who had been living with pulmonary fibrosis, a lung condition causing breathing difficulties, passed away on December 31, 2024. His wife, Tiggy Walker, recently shared poignant details about his final days.
Wife Tiggy Walker Shares Heartfelt Tribute
Speaking on her inaugural solo radio program, broadcast on what would have been Walker’s 80th birthday, Tiggy Walker commemorated her late husband and revealed his touching final wish. Married to the celebrated DJ for 23 years, Tiggy recounted how, despite his illness, Johnnie was determined to host one last “kitchen disco.”
She explained that this final gathering in August marked his last performance for a live audience, concluding with a poignant Bette Midler ballad.
Final Kitchen Disco: A Symbolic Farewell
“Johnnie decided he wanted to host a final kitchen disco,” Tiggy disclosed to listeners. “He often did this at the end of dinner parties, either retiring early to bed or initiating music and dancing, with the evening’s trajectory unpredictable.”
Tiggy continued, “However, this time he specifically requested a kitchen disco. I repeatedly questioned his certainty, but he remained resolute.”
This personal insight was shared during Tiggy Walker’s Boom Radio show, broadcast on Sunday at 8pm.
Last Performance Filled with Joy and Music
Tiggy recalled transforming their home for the occasion, “I cleared all the furniture, adorned the space with fairy lights, and invited a group of friends.”
She emphasized the significance of the event for her husband: “This was a genuinely symbolic occasion for him, as he recognized it would be his final time playing live music for an audience. Our friends joyfully danced to his curated songs until 11 pm, at which point he declared he had ‘had Enough’.”
Bette Midler’s “The Rose” was the final song Johnnie Walker played for his intimate audience, marking the end of an era.