Bob Harris to step down from Radio 2 after 56 years on air

The DJ, who has been connected the airwaves since 1970, told listeners helium was "so atrocious that my wellness issues are forcing maine to measurement down, but I realised that I indispensable ore present connected getting myself good again".

"This has been 1 of the hardest decisions of my full life," helium added.

Harris started his vocation arsenic a nine DJ successful the 1960s, earlier co-founding the listings mag Time Out. In 1972, helium became the big of the award-winning TV amusement Old Grey Whistle Test, establishing his estimation arsenic a champion of caller music.

He has been a fixture astatine BBC Radio 2 since 1996, arsenic a presenter of station's Country Show. In 2024, helium besides replaced Johnny Walker connected the Sounds of the 70s show.

In an affectional connection posted connected Radio 2's societal accounts, the presenter - affectionately known arsenic "Whispering" Bob Harris - thanked the BBC and his listeners for their support.

"It's unthinkable to deliberation that my broadcasting vocation has spanned astir 56 years. I americium precise fortunate to person spent my full moving beingness doing thing I emotion truthful much.

"I americium a monolithic BBC loyalist, and I'm grateful that I person ever been fixed the state to physique my programmes successful my ain way.

"I americium truthful arrogant that The Radio 2 Country Show has played specified a monolithic portion successful propelling state to go the fastest increasing euphony genre successful the UK, and presenting Sounds of the 70s connected Sunday afternoons has been a existent pleasance and made my clip present the astir peculiar of my full life.

"But much than anything, I privation to accidental convey you to my listeners. I person enactment everything I person into each amusement I've ever done, and it's each been due to the fact that of you.

"Your emotion and loyalty mean much to maine than words tin ever say."

Love, laughter and captivating stories

Shaun Keaveny and Darius Rucker, who person been deputising for Harris during his crab treatment, volition stay arsenic hosts of Sound of the 70s and the Country Show, respectively.

"It was the thrill of my beingness to conscionable Bob, the antheral who has done much to support the tone of rock, rotation and vigor than astir anyone," said Keaveny successful a statement.

"I see it not conscionable an honour but a mission, to proceed Bob's enactment of showing the satellite the greatness of the euphony of that peculiar decade.

"Somewhere, each week, immoderate kid hears Won't Get Fooled Again for the archetypal time! You did that for maine Bob, and millions similar me. We'd similar to accidental convey you for the music, you'll ever beryllium our Rock 'n' Roll Doctor."

Helen Thomas, caput of Radio 2, besides paid tribute to Harris, saying helium had filled the airwaves with "love, laughter and captivating stories".

"Bob is adored by the Radio 2 household and his listeners, and we are each going to miss him and his play shows precise much. Everyone astatine Radio 2 sends Bob and his household our emotion and support."

Harris was archetypal treated for prostate crab successful 2007. In April this year, helium revealed the illness had dispersed to his spine.

Writing connected Instagram, the presenter said helium had instantly begun a people of radiotherapy aft the diagnosis, which meant spending 2 weeks successful infirmary "to bring things backmost nether control".

"Thankfully I'm backmost astatine location now, connected the pathway to betterment and feeling stronger each day."

Harris besides thanked his household for "being present for maine successful a monolithic way, helping maine done 1 of the astir hard times of my life".