Tony Blackburn held back the tears as he signed off his final radio show after 43 years on Monday.
The 81-year-old broadcasting legend has been a permanent fixture on the airwaves for BBC Berkshire, Oxford and Solent, but is now hanging up his headphones to concentrate on other projects, including work on Radio 2. As he played his final record, 'You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine', the much-loved DJ said: "You’ll never find another laugh like mine...43 years on BBC local radio and that’s it as far as I’m concerned. Thank you so much. I want to thank you very much indeed for listening to me over the years. It’s been a pleasure being here and I look forward to being with you in other places.
"Once again thanks very much indeed for all the memories and all the lovely music, I hope you’ve enjoyed the music I’ve brought you on Sunday afternoons. From me Tony Blackburn to BBC Local Radio, bye bye."
Tony originally announced his decision to leave his local radio programme after 14 years last month. Taking to X, he wrote: "Hi there, just wanted to let you know that I have decided to end my BBC Local Radio Sunday afternoon show that goes out on @BBCBerkshire, @BBCOxford, @BBCRadioSolent and @BBCSounds."
Announcing his last show would be in March, he told fans he would be focusing on his Radio 2 gigs as well as an exciting theatre tour, revealing: "My last show will be on March 24th. I have been a part of the Berkshire lineup since 2012 and have loved doing the show bringing music from the 50s up to the present day. I have loved the callers and the fun we’ve some stage I might come back to BBC Local Radio but, for now, I’m going to focus on my @BBCRadio2 shows, Sounds Of The Sixties and the Golden Hour and my theatre tour which comes back in March."
It's been an eventful month for the I'm A Celebrity star after the celebrated DJ was made an OBE in a ceremony at Windsor Castle. The broadcaster has appeared on BBC and commercial radio stations for nearly six decades, and became the first DJ on BBC Radio 1 when it launched in 1967. The father-of-two was honoured for his services to broadcasting and to charity after being named in the king’s New Year Honours list late last year.
He said when his OBE was announced: “Receiving this honour is truly unexpected and very humbling. When I first replied to a New Musical Express advert looking for DJs, back in 1964, I never imagined that nearly 60 years later I would still be doing something I love so much. To still be in a radio studio a few times a week, being welcomed in to so many listeners’ homes, sharing mine and their memories, and playing the music I love is simply wonderful. It really is the best job and to receive this award is the icing on a very lovely cake.”
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