Johnnie Walker to take time off from BBC Radio 2 to have 'heart upgrade'
The Rock Show and Sounds of the 70s host is expected to be off duty for around six weeks
- Ellie Harrison
Published: Friday, 25 January 2019 at 2:46 pm
Johnnie Walker is taking some time off from his presenting duties on BBC Radio 2 to have treatment for a heart condition.
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Walker’s wife Tiggy revealed that The Rock Show and Sounds of the 70s host is in need of a ‘heart upgrade’ but assured listeners he would be returning to the airwaves in a matter of weeks.
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She announced the news on Twitter, writing: “I’ve a bit of news about Johnnie. It seems his heart needs a bit of an upgrade.
“The bad news is he’ll be off The Rock Show & SOT70’s for six weeks . The good news – he’ll be even better when he returns with all that extra oxygen pumping round his body!"
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The official BBC Radio 2 Twitter account also tweeted to confirm the news and wish Walker well: “On behalf of the audience and everyone in Wogan House, we wish Johnnie well and look forward to welcoming him back to the airwaves in the very near future.”
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Walker has been at Radio 2 for the last 21 years, including his stint presenting the Drivetime show from 1998 to 2006.
In 2003, Walker took nine months off to receive chemotherapy for a form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
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Standing in for Walker over the next few weeks will be Huey Morgan on The Rock Show and Tom Robinson on Sounds of the 70s.
Authors
Ellie HarrisonWriter, RadioTimes.com
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