By Karen Price,Rachel Cronin
Copyright dailyrecord
Well-loved BBC radio host Tony Blackburn has issued a health update, explaining a terrifying experience a couple of years ago where he “nearly died.” The host of Sounds of the 60s on BBC Radio 2 appeared on ITV’s Loose Women on Monday to give some insight into his show and long career. Tony, 82, was first given a taste of fame on the pirate stations Radio Caroline and Radio London in the 1960s, before joining the BBC , and has enjoyed a long and successful series with the broadcaster ever since. But just two years ago, Tony was seriously ill with sepsis and was later told that he almost died, reports Wales Online. When Loose Women host Ruth Langsford asked him about the health scare on Monday’s episode, September 29, he replied: “Well I had sepsis yes, two years ago. I gather I nearly died but I wasn’t aware of it.” He joked: “I woke up one morning and all my family were around my bed and I thought ‘God, they’re not going to get my money yet.’ So I recovered!” The NHS explains that sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. It happens when the immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage the body’s own tissues and organs. Tony went on to tell viewers that the person who helped pull him through was his former BBC colleague Noel Edmonds. Noel is now living in New Zealand and recently made his TV comeback with his own series, Noel Edmonds’ Kiwi Adventure- though it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the host, who has faced an array of obstacles on his new estate. Tony shared how the pair would message each other when the radio host was on his road to recovery. Now, Tony is back to full health and as well as hosting Sounds of the 60s on air, he’s gearing up to tour the UK next year with the show which celebrates the classic songs from the era. The tour features an evening of classics performed by the Sounds of the 60s All-Star Band and Singers. The set promises songs and medleys made famous by The Everly Brothers, Elvis, The Drifters and Marvin Gaye, alongside nods to The Rolling Stones, The Walker Brothers, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Stevie Wonder. Tony, who was the first-ever winner of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! previously said: “The reaction to these shows has been amazing- it’s pure joy seeing audiences singing and dancing along to the greatest decade of music. “Every night feels like a celebration, not just of the songs, but of the memories they bring back. “2026 is going to be another fantastic year for the tour, and I can’t wait to travel the country with this amazing band, sharing the music I’ve loved my whole life.” Loose Women is on ITV weekdays at 12.30pm and on ITVX
