With over six decades of radio behind him, Tony Blackburn is the voice of a generation – and he’s not ready to hit the mute button just yet.
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The legendary DJ, who famously opened BBC Radio 1 back in 1967, is now 82 and still spinning records and sharing stories on BBC Radio 2. Despite facing life-threatening health scares and stepping down from BBC Radio London, Tony’s passion for radio seems as vibrant as ever.
Appearing recently on ITV’s Lorraine, the King of the Jungle himself made it clear that retirement isn’t even on his radar.
Tony Blackburn on retirement: No end in sight
Tony Blackburn has made one thing clear: he’s not going anywhere. Speaking to Kate Garraway on Lorraine, he gave a candid response about whether he planned to retire.
On being asked by Kate Garraway about his retirement plans, he explained:
I think it’s very important if you like what you’re doing, and I love what I’m doing, I love touring around with the band and everything.
He went on to share how much he enjoys his current gigs:
We’ve got a seven-piece band, two singers, and very good singers. I talk about the past and things like that, pirate ships and have a joke with the audience.
So basically, I love what I’m doing so what’s the point in retiring? I love doing Radio 2.
For Tony, retirement is just not appealing. He added:
What’s to give up? I think when you give up and when you become retired, you have nothing to do! You’ve got to have something to keep your brain working, I think. I love it.
Although he stepped down from BBC Radio London in December 2023, Tony continues to present on BBC Radio 2, as well as on BBC Berkshire, Oxford, and Solent.
He has also made it clear he has no intention of returning to reality TV after his I'm A Celeb stint.
I couldn’t do Strictly Come Dancing, I’m the worst dancer, I’ve got no rhythm whatsoever. I think, no I don't think I really want to do another reality show.
I loved doing I'm a Celebrity, it was great fun and I did the first one, I loved it. But it's much harder now, I think. They've made it much harder.
Being a vegetarian, I didn't have to eat all that food; they gave me soy!
Health battles and his seaside retreat
While Tony doesn't plan on retiring anytime soon, he has taken steps to slow down after a serious health scare. The change came after a frightening hospital stay in 2023 that forced him to re-evaluate his schedule.
In August of that year, he was hospitalised with sepsis, pneumonia and blood poisoning for two months, a situation he later revealed was more serious than he initially let on. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he said:
My blood was infected and it got into my heart so I'm quite lucky to be still be around.
I don't remember a lot but I was rushed to A&E and I had this thing up my nose.
When I got to hospital the guy was like "I think you'll be here for a while" and I said "I can't I have a show in two days" and he said he didn't think I'd make it to the shows.
I got sepsis from having a tooth extracted I believe so you have to be really careful!
He later told BBC Radio Scotland that he didn’t realise how serious his condition was until his family gathered around his bed:
I thought "this isn’t good."
Tony explained that at one point he was doing three shows a week, something that ultimately proved too much. He told BBC Radio Scotland:
I was doing three a week at one time forgetting that I'm now a little bit older.
He also enjoys spending downtime at his home in Devon, where he says the coastal lifestyle provides a refreshing contrast to his busy touring and radio schedule.
His health battle prompted him to appreciate the slower pace of life in Devon. He said:
Some of the time, I live down in Devon.
We've got a little flat there and I like to get down there and be by the sea. I'm in a little village there and it's just fabulous.
I love having a little bit more time off with my wife and we go to Devon and walk along the seafront.
Tony added:
It's just a different vibe really. I wanted to just change my life a little bit and spend a little bit more time with my wife.
The unexpected secrets behind his health
Despite everything, Tony Blackburn's energy remains intact – and it may be thanks to his unconventional health habits.
First, he avoids exercise completely. He told Kate Garraway:
I don't do anything, my dad was a doctor and he said to me don't do too much exercise.
Because with running and stuff, everybody collapses with it. So I've never done any exercise, I don't like gyms or anything like that.
The second habit? A life-long vegetarian diet.
Tony said:
I’m a vegetarian, I've been a vegetarian since the age of five just because I love animals.
But I think being a vegetarian, I gather now it's quite a good thing for your health, that's what I've been told so its working at the moment.
Kate replied:
Well it's working brilliantly. And you don't stop, you have no intentions of retiring and you keep moving.
While it might not be the typical fitness regime, Tony's unorthodox approach seems to be working for him. And at 82, he’s still going strong on-air, on stage, and on his beloved seaside walks.
Read more:
Zoe Ball reveals she suffers from TMJ as she steps down from hosting BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show
Sources used:
The Express: 'Tony Blackburn issues three-word response over retirement plan 'What's to give up?'
Daily Mail: 'Tony Blackburn reveals two baffling habits that 'keep him healthy' after horror sepsis and pneumonia battle'
Daily Mail: 'Tony Blackburn, 80, says he is 'lucky to still be around' after battling life-threatening sepsis and pneumonia'
The Express: 'Tony Blackburn lifts lid on quiet life away from fame wife warned him ‘not to reveal'
