Radio 2 Remembers Johnnie Walker is a special collection of programmes now available on BBC Sounds, following the sad news of his passing on New Year’s Eve.
Johnnie began his radio career in 1966 on offshore pirate station, Swinging Radio England, before moving to the legendary Radio Caroline and becoming a household name by hosting a hugely popular night-time show.
He joined Radio 1 in 1969, continuing until 1976 when he moved to San Francisco. Returning to the UK in the early 80s, he worked on a few commercial radio stations before going back to Radio 1 in 1987 and then joined BBC Radio 2 in 1997.
Johnnie stepped down from Radio 2 just a few weeks ago due to poor health and his wife Tiggy announced the news of his passing on 31 December.
Radio 2 Remembers Johnnie Walker programes include:
Walker & Walker: Johnnie and Tiggy
The voice of radio legend Johnnie Walker has been a constant companion to many, from his days unveiling the latest charts on Radio 1, through guiding us home in Drivetime on Radio 2, and more recently on Sounds of the 70s, as well as the weekly edition of The Rock Show.
His radio career and life challenges have been well documented and in this programme exclusively for BBC Sounds, Johnnie and his wife, producer and writer Tiggy, discussed life, love and death, in a frank and searingly honest conversation. They intimately shared the story of their life together.
Walker On Walker
DJ Johnnie Walker takes a deep and very personal recollection of his colourful life, with many decades in broadcasting, since those early days of pirate radio to BBC Radio 1, KSAN in the USA, Radio West, GLR, 5Live and ultimately Radio 2. Along the way he soundtracks the ups and downs of his adventurous life with the music that mattered most and which defined the key moments.
In this programme, Johnnie completely opened up to give a truly genuine account of his life and shared his deep, personal thoughts.
It’s a real ride through all the ups and downs, from the rebel who refused to tow the line, to the cheeky music afficionado, to the profoundly spiritual person, who touched the lives of millions. Johnnie Walker we salute you!
Clash of the Pirates
Radio 2 presents Clash of the Pirates with Johnnie Walker as the juggernaut in the blue corner (his favourite colour) and in the red corner it’s the towering Tony Blackburn. These two heavyweights pull no punches, as they musically battled to become ‘Captain of The Pirates’!
Having both operated outside of the boundaries of traditional broadcasting, both Tony and Johnnie used their freedom of expression to make real names for themselves as the original pirate radio DJs.
Radio 2’s musical maestros go head-to-head, selecting the ultimate playlist in a fun show of one-upmanship and through a series of tightly themed rounds. Strategic song selections, quick thinking, timely responses and playful respect are essential ingredients. They even try to out-do each other whilst doing a mock Top Ten chart rundown…
What an occasion, these learned legends celebrating their vast knowledge of contemporary music across the decades and genres to entertain the audience and come out on top.
Who will be drawing deep, using their ninja knowledge to rock the boat and turn the beat around to ultimately be crowned the champion?
Expect energetic performances and entertaining banter. One thing’s for sure, the music is at its absolute best. There’s escape, nostalgia, companionship and, of course, much laughter in a unique and joyous two hours.
TOMY with Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker chooses his Tracks Of My Years in this omnibus edition.
Johnnie made his name in the 60s with the pirate ship Radio Caroline, and his night-time show was essential listening. When he moved to Radio 1 in 1969 Johnnie established a reputation as a DJ who accorded more importance to the records he played than the chat in between.
After his spell broadcasting in America and returning home in the early 80s to work on ILR stations Radio West and Wiltshire Radio in the West Country, he returned to Radio 1 to present ‘The Stereo Sequence’.
Over 30 years of music fandom was then channelled into Radio 2’s Drivetime show which he hosted until March 2006.
This programme is presented by Vernon Kay and was first broadcast in 2023.
