Tony Blackburn’s BBC admission addressed by co-star as he shares when he’ll quit

Janey Lee Grace, a former colleague of the legendary BBC Radio 2 star Tony Blackburn, has shared her thoughts on his future following his recent admission.

The 81-year-old has declared that while he isn’t considering retirement anytime soon, he would step down if he couldn’t deliver his best performance.

Janey, who previously worked at the station alongside the late Steve Wright, believes Tony still has plenty to offer listeners. “I mean he’s still got it, he’s still sharp, he’s great,” she said in an exclusive interview with Reach PLC.

“He is a proper legend, I love Tony, he’s always very funny, he was always a laugh.”

She fondly recalled how her ex co-star’s presence has an uplifting effect, adding: “He’s the kind of guy that cheers you up, if you’re feeling down, you see Tony and he just gives you this massive grin.

“Tony just loves music and radio so much, it shines out of him.”

When queried about his potential many more years on the show, she expressed: “Definitely, I would hope so.”

Tony, who fronts his successful Sounds of the 60s’ programme, told The Sun that he had discussed his future on the show with the station’s boss and his wife.

From that conversation, he declared that he’d retire from his duties if he felt he couldn’t entertain his audience or manage the technical side anymore.

In a subtle swipe at his fellow presenters, he added: “One or two people I’ve known who go on there, and they’re not as good as they used to be, and they don’t do the show particularly well, but they’re just hanging on in there because they like doing the show.

“I’m not going to do that. So as long as I can turn up in the studio, and I more or less know where I am, and I know how to operate the machinery, and still enjoy it, I will do it.”

Tony expanded on this, saying he has no desire to “hang on” to the job past his prime or if he needed a carer. For the time being, the broadcaster appears to be firm in his position, with reports suggesting he’s secured a contract at the station until 2026.