BBC Radio 2 DJ Johnnie Walker shares fears about dying after terminal illness diagnosis

The BBC radio presenter announced earlier in the month that he was retiring from radio after 58 years due to ill health, having been previously diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Johnnie Walker, the terminally ill DJ, has expressed that he is "not worried about dying", but has shared his concerns about what his final moments might be like due to his health condition.

Earlier this month, the BBC radio presenter announced his retirement from radio after a 58-year career, citing ill health and a previous diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The 79 year old informed listeners that he would be stepping down from presenting Sounds of the 70s and The Rock Show on BBC Radio 2 at the end of October.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, he said: "I’m not worried about dying. I have an unshakeable belief in an after-life. I think it’s a beautiful place. Unless you’ve done some awful things down here, I don’t think there’s anything to fear," He added: "What I am a little bit frightened of is what the end will be like when you’re fighting for breath. It doesn’t sound a very nice way to go."

His condition, IPF, is one where "in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult", according to the NHS.

The NHS website states that the cause of the condition is unclear and while treatments can slow its progression, there is currently no treatment that can stop or reverse lung scarring. The Birmingham-born presenter began his radio career in 1966 on Swinging Radio England, an offshore pirate station.

He later moved to Radio Caroline, where he became a household name hosting the popular night-time show.

Walker joined BBC Radio 1 in the pivotal year of 1969, continuing his spell there until 1976. He then relocated to San Francisco, from where he created a weekly programme that was broadcast on Radio Luxembourg.

Walker's trajectory brought him back to the BBC in the early '80s, and he has been with the broadcaster ever since. Now wheelchair-bound and dependent on oxygen supplied by a machine, Walker is looked after by his wife Tiggy, who he has been married to for over two decades, as reported.

On October 6, Walker made an emotional announcement on air, informing his listeners that he would be departing from radio broadcasting and expressed his commitment to "make the last three shows as good as I possibly can". Paying tribute, Radio 2 head Helen Thomas described Walker as "quite simply a broadcasting legend", highlighting his immense contribution to the industry.

Bob Harris is set to succeed him on Sounds of the 70s, while Shaun Keaveny will become the new face of The Rock Show commencing November 1. The culmination of Walker's radio career with The Rock Show is scheduled for October 25 between 11pm-12am, while his final episode of Sounds of the 70s will fill the airwaves on Sunday, October 27 from 3pm-5pm.

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Reflecting on his career to the Daily Mail, Walker shared: "It will be a huge wrench to hang up my headphones. I feel quite a connection with my listeners because of the passing years."

He recalled the loyalty of his audience, adding, "I get emails from people who say, ‘I was with you when you were on Radio Caroline’, so we’re talking 58 years ago. Imagine what we’ve been through together."

He revealed: "I feel a great sadness. But I didn’t want to reach a point where the BBC was going to say, ‘Johnnie, we don’t think you’re well enough. Your breathlessness is affecting the show too much’."

"I’d rather it was my decision. It just seemed to be the right time because it was getting increasingly challenging to record my shows."

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