Veteran BBC DJ Johnnie Walker has been instructed to “put together to die at any second” after being identified with a terminal sickness.
Walker, who has labored on the BBC since 1969, started his profession at Radio 1 earlier than transferring to Radio 2 in 1998, the place he at present hosts Sounds of the 70s and The Radio 2 Rock Present.
Since he was identified with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an inflation of the lungs, he has been presenting his radio reveals from his residence in Dorset.
Walker wants round the clock care and is being sorted, full-time, by his spouse, Tiggy.
The couple have opened up about Walker’s terminal sickness on BBC Sounds podcast, Walker and Walker: Johnnie and Tiggy, in honour of Carers Week.
Within the particular, the DJ opened up about having “solely a finite period of time left right here within the bodily earlier than I cross over”, calling it “a really reflective time for us”.
Walker, who was beforehand cared for by Tiggy when he was identified with most cancers shortly after their marriage in 2006, instructed his spouse: “Right here we’re on the finish of my life if you’re having to take care of me over again.”
He stated of Tiggy: “You undoubtedly saved my life once I went by way of most cancers. I’m optimistic I wouldn’t have made it with out you. Your love was simply so sustaining, it gave me a lot to sit up for. And your caring for me now makes my life so a lot better.”
Tiggy stated she has required assist in “grieving” the life that they had collectively, stating: “It’s solely by going to the docs and occurring antidepressants that I’ve stored going as a result of I used to be crying each single day and I used to be overwhelmed.”
She recalled how the couple had been instructed by a advisor that Johnny ought to “put together to go at any second”, earlier than including: “Equally, you is likely to be round for six months.”
Tiggy stated she “internally thought, ‘Oh my goodness, how can I sustain this degree of caring for six months?’ As a result of it’s nearly my very own vitality. Caring is difficult”.
Walker stated that at night time Tiggy “very lovingly helps me get into mattress and provides me a pleasant kiss good night time, after which she has to wonder if I’m nonetheless going to be alive within the morning, which have to be fairly arduous for her”.
Walker labored at Radio 1 from 1969 till 1976, when he had a dispute along with his managers after describing profitable group The Bay Metropolis Rollers as “musical rubbish”.
He left the station for 11 years earlier than returning to host his Saturday afternoon present The Stereo Sequence.
