Tears as Radio 2’s Desmond signs off with ‘Bye just now’

Calls for legend of the airwaves to be recognised in the New Year’s Honours list after a career lasting 70 years

Broadcasting legend Desmond Carrington left listeners in tears as he signed off from his Perthshire home studio for the final time.

The 90-year-old presented his last show on BBC Radio 2 at the weekend and ended it in traditional style, with his trademark closing remark: “Bye just now”.

Carrington, whose career in radio has spanned more than seven decades, thanked loyal listeners during Friday evening’s The Music Goes Round programme.

The show, as always, was broadcast from his home village of Dunning, between Auchterarder and Perth. It began with his traditional greeting of: “Evening all, from home in Perthshire”.

Last month, the DJ announced his plans to retire for health reasons after a second heart failure.

It also emerged that he had Alzheimer’s disease and had suffered from cancer in recent years.

Fans flooded Radio 2 with messages of support after the final show.

One listener wrote on social media: “Friday nights just will not be the same, so long old friend. Enjoy your retirement, and good luck in every thing you do, shed a few tears with you tonight.”

Another said: “The fact you have broadcast your show from Scotland has always been magical, especially at this time of the year. You’re a consummate professional and the radio world is a much lesser place without you.

“Your place in radio history is sealed and in a very small but very important way, you’ve made a difference to my life.”

Fellow DJ Mark Radcliffe also paid his respect on Twitter: “Farewell then MC Dezmo,” he wrote. “Desmond Carrington final show on R2 after a career lasting 70 years. Legend and gentlemen.”

Tony Blackburn described him as a “lovely man”, while Zoe Ball said he was her “hero”.

There were also calls for Desmond to be added to the New Year’s honours list.

Desmond opened his final show with Up Up and Away by the Johnny Mann Singers – the same song he started with on day one in October 1981.

He later urged all of his listeners to “dream the impossible dream”.

After playing, Its Not Where You Start It’s Where You Finish by Tommy Tune – “a golden rule for us all” – he told listeners: “Most importantly of all, without you being there the whole thing would have been quite pointless. Thank you, my dear friends.

“So there we are, one last box of tunes and memories delivered from my place to yours. It’s something I have been doing every week for some 36 years on BBC Radio 2.

“In fact, I’ve been rabbiting away on the wireless for over 70 years so inevitably there comes a time to hang up the headphones – and for me this is it.”

Fittingly, he closed the show with That’s All by Mel Torme and said he was going to snuggle up with his cat, “golden paws Sam”.

Tributes have been paid to Radio 2’s Desmond Carrington following his retirement.