'Johnnie Walker MBE - A Celebration' was a special event, recorded at the BBC Radio Theatre in October 2025. On Sunday 28 December on BBC Radio 2 at 3pm there was a chance to hear highlights from the show, which was presented by Jo Whiley and featured performances from Kikki Dee, Emeli Sandé, Rick Wakeman, and Bernard Butler (who played Johnnie’s theme tune, “Because They’re Young”).

In addition there were memories of Johnnie from live guests including Tiggy Walker, Bob Harris, Tony Blackburn, Mark Goodier, Ralph Bernard, Graham Gouldman, Sally Boazman, and Tom Robinson, as well as recorded tributes from Alice Cooper, Francis Rossi, Roger Daltrey, Pauline Black, Robert Plant, Suzie Quatro, Nile Rogers, Brian May, Paul Rogers, Johnny Marr, Joan Armatrading, Dr Hook, Rod Stewart, Matthew Bannister,, Michael Ball, Peter Kay, Leo Sayer, Bonnie Raitt, Mick Fleetwood, Mark Knopfler, Joe Eliot, Hugh Bonneville, and Joe Elliott.

The programme is available for the next 26 days at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002nrcf

This tribute show was then followed by a live show in which Mark Goodier played a selection of Johnnie Walker's favourite tracks and invited listeners to WhatsApp or text in their memories of listening to or meeting Johnnie.

This show is also available for the next 26 days at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002nrch

Richard