Johnnie Walker terminally ill

Oh no 😢

He and Tiggy are very sanguine about it but he's not expecting to last much longer

He’s been poorly for a very long time, and she had cancer too. It’s terribly sad. I heard her being interviewed on Radio two on Vine Show the other day, she was very open and honest and seems lovely

Pulmonary Fibrosis is what my neighbour whose funeral I was at last week had.
She’d had it for considerably longer than the five years mentioned in the report about Johnnie Walker.
Let’s face it, many illnesses are terminal - not just cancer., and many people live with them, under treatment , for many years.

Sad news.

Very sad, loved his shows.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a terrible disease/illness. It is a terminal illness, they average length of life from diagnosis to death is between 2 - 5 years. The lung tissue gradually becomes stiffer and thicker, meaning that there is great difficulty in oxygen passing through to the blood from the lungs. Oxygen is a necessity, but eventually even that is not enough. The slightest exertion causes extreme breathlessness, and that can be just standing up, taking one or two steps, or just sitting on the toilet. It is a terrible thing, and trying to keep calm and keep the panic at bay is a full time job..

I worked with a respiratory team for many years, and looked after many people with IPF.
There are some different types of pulmonary fibrosis, and some more treatable than others, but IPF is the worst type.

My brother in law was diagnosed with it at 60 yrs, and died 2 years later. There is no treatment, some drugs will help for a short time, and lung transplant is the optimal, but that wait can be terrible and futile. Palliative care with a skilled team is necessary.

I was sad to hear their interview on Jeremy Vine. I loved his lunchtime show on Radio One in the mid seventies. Do you remember his quiz, Pop the Question? It had a catchy jingle.
I hope that Johnny and Tiggy have good support for the difficult days to come.

A friend of mine died with pulmonary fibrosis it is an awful disease. My thoughts are with anyone who has this

Just can't imagine radio without Johnny, I have listened to him it seems all my life, the radio goes on before the kettle here, I hope he stays with us as long as possible.

Thank you charley68. As a person closely affected by IPF, I was a little dismayed at an earlier poster’s apparent dismissiveness of the seriousness, day-to-day misery, and generally lousy prognosis of the disease.

Ms Walker has also written about the grinding drudgery and remorseless, often unsupported, stress of being a carer:

www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/magazines/dorset/24373316.tiggy-walker-caring-husband-dj-johnnie-walker/

I have always loved Johnny Walker on the radio, from his early show on radio one onwards. That's very sad news

I apologise Siope I did not mean to diminish the severity of IPF but I do know that my friend and next door neighbour was diagnosed more than 6 years ago as DH was still alive then and he died 6 1/2 years ago also of an incurable illness - consequently “terminal”.
I think ascribing expected life expectancy is a dangerous practice- averages will include those who live longer and those who sadly have a shorter lifespan after diagnosis which is why when patients ask a Dr “How long have I got?” there is no absolute answer.

For those of us in our teens in the 60s

Johnny Walker
11pm on Radio Caroline
Percy Sledge
When a man loves a woman
Johnny was The Man then. And his mum ran his fan club. Happy memories

Johnny Walker has been a favourite of mine on the radio. Like John Peel, he is and always will be a radio legend. I remember the shock when he first announced that he was taking time off to receive treatment for cancer. I do hope he has all the support and love that he needs.

I like JW so was sad to hear this recent news. I guess it depends on how far his illness has already progressed but I know someone with IPF who has had it for more than ten years. It didn’t really impact her much, even when she caught Covid, until the recent twelve months or so. She’s now on meds to try and stall it for longer although the side effects are difficult. Hopefully JW will have many more years ahead of him in spite of this nasty diagnosis.

I listened to the podcast yesterday. I am a huge fan of JW - a brilliant dj with a passion for music, and he has a really lovely personality. I thought he’d been sounding unwell for some months, and now we know more about his ill health. I think he said he’s been housebound since the new year, which gives an idea of how ill he is. Very sad.

JW is already on constant oxygen and has to use a wheelchair. He's been told he Might still be around in 6 weeks.
He has very strong spiritual beliefs which are comforting him

RosiesMaw, thank you. I think I’m a bit touchy on the subject.

It’s unusual , I think, these days for a disease with a longish prognosis to be described as terminal by the medics - my experience is that such illnesses are described as life-limiting, and only (as appears to be the case with Johnnie Walker) changed to terminal when the prognosis is 6 months or less.

I take your point about averages (my own experience is with someone who is an outlier) but I think there is some value (as well as lots of pain and fear, of course) in having even an approximate idea of how much healthy life one can expect.

I’m another long term ‘fan’ of Johnnie Walker. During lockdown, I started to teach myself to draw, then paint. Sunday afternoons in the conservatory, with sounds of the seventies and his lovely voice remain a high spot.
I enjoy his interviews, this Sunday with two Eagles band members
He like John Peel have brought their love and knowledge of music throughout our adult lives.

I still remember as a teenager in the 70s listening to his last show on Radio 1 before he left for to work in America.I loved listening to him.And Kenny Everett's show.The sounds of my youth. Too many radio presenters now come as personalities from TV wheras JW is radio and music first and foremost.

I was surprised to see Johnnie Walker is 79, I wouldn’t have guessed he was that old. He plays the music I love and Ive always liked his shows. What sad news that he is terminally ill.

My brother in law survived just over a year with IPF, he was in his 60s. Horrible. My heart goes out to Johnnie and Tiggy.

Very sad news, we always used to listen to his radio show, I think it was called Drivetime, and we bought a couple of his Drivetime CDs.

My husband died of it 2 years ago. Not easy to diagnose mainly because gps don’t understand what it is. I nursed my husband at home for 2 years, no help offered by gp. Suddenly got masses of help in last 4 days of his life. I should have fought harder but in my 80s wasn’t brave enough. Left me very bitter.