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Terminally ill BBC DJ Johnnie Walker has shared “a very sad announcement” with his listeners.

Walker, who has worked at the BBC since 1969, began his career at Radio 1 before moving to Radio 2 in 1998, where he currently hosts Sounds of the 70s and The Radio 2 Rock Show.

However, the DJ, who was previously told he should “prepare to die at any moment”, is officially retiring at the end of October due to his declining health.

Walker, 79, shared a message live on air on Sunday (6 October) during the latest episode of Sounds of the 70s, in which he told his listeners: “The struggles I’ve had with doing the show and trying to sort of keep up a professional standard suitable for Radio 2 has been getting more and more difficult.

“So I’ve had to make the decision that I need to bring my career to an end after 58 years. And so I’ll be doing my last Sounds of the 70s on 27 October.”

Walker said he will “make the last three shows as good as I possibly can”.

Back in June, the DJ suggested his popular radio show was keeping him alive, stating: “As long as I can keep doing the show I will. It gives me a purpose. If I stopped doing it I’d probably die a lot sooner.

Since Walker was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an inflation of the lungs, he has been presenting his radio shows from his home in Dorset.

Walker needs round-the-clock care and is being looked after, full-time, by his wife, Tiggy.

The couple opened up about Walker’s terminal illness on BBC Sounds podcast, Walker and Walker: Johnnie and Tiggy, in honour of Carers Week back in June.

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In the special, the DJ opened up about having “only a finite amount of time left here in the physical before I pass over”, calling it “a very reflective time for us”.

Walker, who was previously cared for by Tiggy when he was diagnosed with cancer shortly after their marriage in 2006, told his wife: “Here we are at the end of my life when you’re having to care for me all over again.”

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He said of Tiggy: “You definitely saved my life when I went through cancer. I’m positive I wouldn’t have made it without you. Your love was just so sustaining, it gave me so much to look forward to. And your caring for me now makes my life so much better.”

Tiggy said she has required help in “grieving” the life they had together, stating: “It’s only by going to the doctors and going on antidepressants that I have kept going because I was crying every single day and I was overwhelmed.”

She recalled how the couple were told by a consultant that Johnny should “prepare to go at any moment”, before adding: “Equally, you might be around for six months.”

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Tiggy said she “internally thought, ‘Oh my goodness, how can I keep up this level of caring for six months?’ Because it’s just about my own energy. Caring is hard”.

Walker said that at night Tiggy “very lovingly helps me get into bed and gives me a nice kiss good night, and then she has to wonder whether I’m still going to be alive in the morning, which must be pretty hard for her”.

Walker worked at Radio 1 from 1969 until 1976, when he had a dispute with his managers after describing successful group The Bay City Rollers as “musical garbage”.

He left the station for 11 years before returning to host his Saturday afternoon show The Stereo Sequence.

MATT Baker has revealed the future for his Channel 4 show Travels with Mum and Dad.

The presenter, 46, has appeared in the programme opposite his parents Mike and Janice since its 2022 launch.

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Taking to Instagram, Matt shared a short video revealing the show’s fate.

He captioned the clip: “Hi all, I can’t believe tomorrow is the last Travels with Mum and Dad this series!

“We’ve had such a lovely year making these programmes together.

“Huge thanks to our production team who’ve put their hearts into each episode and to all the lovely people we’ve met along the way we’ve made memories we’ll treasure forever.

“Exclusive… We’ll see you soon for some Christmas Specials!”

Throughout the show, Matt and his parents have visited a variety of locations.

Some examples include The Lake District, Durham Cathedral and Bamburgh Castle.

He previously said: “These travels are real treasures, it’s such a treat for me to be able to head off and explore with my parents, we have such a laugh!

“But if taking my folks and a caravan out and about isn’t challenging enough, this time we’re taking a puppy along for the ride! 

“All of these the trips are planned around what I think my parents are going love and I’m proud to say we haven’t picked a duff one yet.

“I feel very lucky to be able to make new memories with them, making the most of the time we have together, all whilst celebrating the wonderful North of England.”

It comes as the star opened up about his horror panto fall while continuing to undergo rehab.

During rehearsals for a panto last December, the former One Show presenter suffered an injury.

In April, Matt revealed how he was unable to bend over following the fall.

Matt Baker’s career to date

1999 – Joined Blue Peter as a presenter

2005 – Played himself in an episode of Doctor Who

2006 – Joined The One Show as a reporter

2009 – Became the co-host of Countryfile

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2010 – Took part in Strictly Come Dancing

2011 – Became a permanent presenter of The One Show

2015 – Hosted The Gift with Mel Giedroyc

2019 – Stand in presenter for Classic FM and Magic Breakfast

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2020 – Hosted The Big Night In

2020 – Left The One Show

2021 – Fronting Travels with Mum and Dad for Channel 4

He told The Sun: “It’s a pain, it’s really challenging to get back and get fully fit again.

“I’m still like really… yeah it’s really tough.

“I’m just trying to do rehab all the time and stretch and do strength training exercises and that.”

Series one to three of Matt Baker: Travels with Mum and Dad are available to watch on Channel 4‘s streaming app.

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Strictly Come Dancing viewers have been left “distracted” over an “awful” blunder on the BBC series.

The competition continued this weekend with movie night, which saw “the right choice” of celebrity being eliminated after last week’s upset.

As the stars performed, with Punam Krishan receiving particular praise for her historic performance and Love Island star Tasha Ghouri topping the leaderboard once again, some couldn’t help but notice a filming mistake taking place behind head judge Shirley Ballas, who repeatedly gave her comments without realising what was going on.

Whenever the camera cut to Ballas, due to the lighting in the studio, two pairs of audience members’ dangling legs could be seen positioned either side of her, with viewers complaining that it looked like they were sat in a toilet cubicle.

“Rather unfortunate positioning of two audience members on Strictly Come Dancing tonight,” one viewer complained, adding: “Looks like the loo door has been left open.”

Others expressed their frustration in the comments section on X/Twitter, with one adding: “I’m glad it wasn’t just me: annoyed me all evening!!!”

An additional viewer wrote: “I noticed that too. Thought it was awful’…’Was very distracting!,” while someone else chimed in: “My husband thought it was the Halloween show and that this was some bizarre set decoration.”

Another described the detail as being in “poor taste” and asked the BBC to retroactively “fix” it so the legs were scrubbed from the episode on iPlayer.

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However, many saw the funny side and replied with a variety of laughing emojis, with one quipping the detail was inadvertent “toilet humour”.

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This week’s dance-off saw singer Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones take on former football pro Paul Merson and Karen Hauer, with all judges voting to save Merson from elimination.

Wilcox said of her departure from the show: “It’s been the best two months of my life, it has been fantastic. I have enjoyed every second.”

Jones praised his celebrity partner, stating: “She has made me laugh so much, I have never seen someone work so hard – I’m the one asking for breaks every now and then. She just kept going; she wanted to learn so much.”

“If you saw her in the hallway, she’s been practicing. Everyone’s been telling me, ‘Have you seen Toyah practicing?’ She’s brilliant and she’s what Strictly is all about, and I’ve loved every moment.”

The remaining 13 couples will take to the dancefloor next week, as Strictly return on Saturday (12 October) with the results show following the night after (13 October).