his career in radio spanned 58 years. as the new year's honours are revealed, we speak to some on the list who aren't usually in the spotlight. and, it's already 2025 in some parts of the world. spectacular fireworks lit up sydney harbour bridge in australia. welcome to bbc news, new year's celebrations have been getting under way around the world. this was the display in hong kong. tie pay also putten quite the show. and the

celebration taking place in sydney and the fireworks focussed on the harbour bridge. in new zealand, there was a spectacular fireworks display at the auckland sky tower. of course here on bbc news we are going to bring you plenty more of the new year celebrations over the hours as 2024 takes to an end across the many time zones, it is going to take us to welcome 2025. in the past hour it has been announced the former radio presenterjohnny walker at died at the age of 79. he stepped down from his bbc radio two show in october because of ill health. his 0ctober because of ill health. his wife said she couldn't be more proud

of how he kept broadcasting with dignity and grace. this is how his colleague made the announcement on the bbc earlier.— the bbc earlier. welcome along. i'm bob harris. — the bbc earlier. welcome along. i'm bob harris, here _ the bbc earlier. welcome along. i'm bob harris, here with _ the bbc earlier. welcome along. i'm bob harris, here with you _ the bbc earlier. welcome along. i'm bob harris, here with you on - the bbc earlier. welcome along. i'm bob harris, here with you on bbc . bob harris, here with you on bbc radio two. to start the programme i bring you some very sad news. because we have heard from tiggy walker thatjohnny walker has passed away. i have knownjohnny since the 19605 when i first started listening to him on pirate radio and we know what a superb broadcaster he was and how passionate he was about his music. went out on a limb many times to defend the music he loved and he was passionate about radio. as the 605 moved into the 705, he and i became increasingly close friends, a

friendship that endured up until the present day. fill" friendship that endured up until the present day-— friendship that endured up until the resent da . , present day. our correspondent looks back on the life _ present day. our correspondent looks back on the life of _ present day. our correspondent looks back on the life of johnny _ present day. our correspondent looks back on the life of johnny walker. - back on the life ofjohnny walker. you're tuned to radio—caroline. england's first commercial radio station. ., . ., g ., , england's first commercial radio station. ., , . ., ~ station. the voice of johnny walker broadcasting _ station. the voice of johnny walker broadcasting from _ station. the voice of johnny walker broadcasting from the _ station. the voice of johnny walker broadcasting from the boat - station. the voice of johnny walker broadcasting from the boat that - broadcasting from the boat that changed his life he radio caroline. at 21, from selling cars in birmingham, out on the high seas, with 20 million listeners. it was fantastic. , , , ., ~:: , fantastic. the rebel spirit of 60s irate fantastic. the rebel spirit of 60s pirate radio _ fantastic. the rebel spirit of 60s pirate radio suited _ fantastic. the rebel spirit of 60s pirate radio suited his _ fantastic. the rebel spirit of 60s - pirate radio suited his temperament. born peter dingley he left school without any exams, but he didn't need 0—levels for what wanted to do. saw this dj playing records really loud. it was the beginnings of discos and i thought what a great

job. br; discos and i thought what a great 'ob. �* , i: , discos and i thought what a great 'ob. �* , :: , ., , discos and i thought what a great 'ob. j i, ., job. by the 70s he was part of broadcasting _ job. by the 70s he was part of broadcasting establishment i job. by the 70s he was part of| broadcasting establishment on job. by the 70s he was part of- broadcasting establishment on radio one. but he railed against being told what to play. it? one. but he railed against being told what to play.— one. but he railed against being told what to play. # bye-bye baby... one day he — told what to play. # bye-bye baby... one day he declared _ told what to play. # bye-bye baby... one day he declared the _ told what to play. # bye-bye baby... one day he declared the bay - told what to play. # bye-bye baby... one day he declared the bay city - one day he declared the bay city rollers to be garbage. he left for america and there were many ups and down. when he returned to the bbc, his cocaine habit led to him being briefly suspended.— briefly suspended. sounds of the 70s. but more _ briefly suspended. sounds of the 70s. but more than _ briefly suspended. sounds of the 70s. but more than 50 _ briefly suspended. sounds of the 70s. but more than 50 years - briefly suspended. sounds of the l 70s. but more than 50 years after the irate 70s. but more than 50 years after the pirate broadcaster _ 70s. but more than 50 years after the pirate broadcaster arrived - 70s. but more than 50 years after the pirate broadcaster arrived at l the pirate broadcaster arrived at the pirate broadcaster arrived at the bbc he was still when he returned to the bbc, his cocaine habit led to him being briefly suspended. habit led to him being briefly suspended-— habit led to him being briefly susended. , ., :: , m suspended. sounds of the 70s. but more than 50 _ suspended. sounds of the 70s. but more than 50 years _ suspended. sounds of the 70s. but more than 50 years after _ suspended. sounds of the 70s. but more than 50 years after the - suspended. sounds of the 70s. but more than 50 years after the pirate broadcaster arrived at the bbc he was still there behind the microphone playing the music he loved. , ., , microphone playing the music he loved. , ~ . ~' microphone playing the music he loved. , . ., ,, microphone playing the music he loved. , . ., ~ ., loved. johnny walker saying thanks for everything. _ loved. johnny walker saying thanks for everything, bye-bye _ loved. johnny walker saying thanks for everything, bye-bye and - loved. johnny walker saying thanks for everything, bye-bye and have l loved. johnny walker saying thanks for everything, bye-bye and have a i for everything, bye—bye and have a nice day.

for everything, bye-bye and have a nice da . ., ., , for everything, bye-bye and have a niceda. . ,~~ ,, for everything, bye-bye and have a niceda. . ., nice day. that was johnny walker who has assed nice day. that was johnny walker who has passed away _ nice day. that was johnny walker who has passed away at _ nice day. that was johnny walker who has passed away at the _ nice day. that was johnny walker who has passed away at the age _ nice day. that was johnny walker who has passed away at the age of- nice day. that was johnny walker who has passed away at the age of 79. - has passed away at the age of 79. let's speak to his friend and former ship mate on radio caroline and that is roger day. hello, welcome to the programme. your memories ofjohnny walker? , programme. your memories ofjohnny walker? ., ., walker? very sad day, although i was exectin: walker? very sad day, although i was expecting it. — walker? very sad day, although i was expecting it. you're — walker? very sad day, although i was expecting it, you're never— walker? very sad day, although i was expecting it, you're never quite - expecting it, you're never quite ready for it. yeah, we started out day one together back in april 1966 asjohnny said he was from birmingham, calling himself peter deane, i was from kent. we worked for an american radio station, just starting up. and they wanted you know some english djs to relate to the uk audience. but i was hired first. so peter dee, they said they have a day, we don't have a d as

well, you have to change your name and he becamejohnny walker and i used tojoke in and he becamejohnny walker and i used to joke in other circumstances, i would have been beenjohnny walker and perhaps i would have been on radio two. but he used to see the funny side of that. we were so close, because i am born, we would have been 80 in march. i was born on 29th march and johnny was born on 30th. isn't that spooky we should start our careers and be so close in age? so i was looking forward to celebrating our 80th. sadly that is not going to happen. but that small radio station, radio caroline, that did both of us the power of good. that was a much bigger station and had more listeners and it made our careers basically. johnny of course was the most popular. he did a great evening show and to prove we had

listeners he asked people to come down to the coast and flash their lights and the coastguards hated it. but it lit up. harold wilson made a law that said if english people worked for a radio station they get put into jailjust for playing pop music. so we had to live in holland after august 14th in 1968. that time was special. that is where everyone was, the shop bonded, because we thought we were being real rebels fighting the government. and it is a bond that was like army people and we used to meet after that, it went off the air in 68, because they weren't making money and johnny went on to radio one and radio two. i kept going in commercial radio. but we had reunions, bbc essex did

pirate radio reunions. we did contact each other a lot. i wanted, i was back in england, because i live in spain, i was in england in october, and you know wanted to see him, but he wasn't well enough. but johnny was a unique talent. he is up there with alan freeman, terry wogan, steve wright and those people. they are unique. that is why the listeners loved him so much. he was just one of the, kenny everett, i must mention as well. he like me, we were brought up, we weren't important, we didn't want to be stars. it was the music that came first as bob harris said about him. we were there, because we can't sing and we can't play an instrument, so we played other people's talent and johnny knead a lot of people fay house. lou reed and walk on the wild

side, no one else played, butjohnny did. because he was always a rebel. he broke the rules, bless him. i think people respond to that. that is why he was so loved. but he didn't want to be a star. he just wanted to get op the radio and play great music. that made him so very special as well. he didn't want to be on tv. we both had faces that were best for radio i think. i don't know, i wouldn't _ were best for radio i think. i don't know, i wouldn't say _ were best for radio i think. i don't know, i wouldn't say that. - were best for radio i think. i don't know, i wouldn't say that. thankl were best for radio i think. i don't i know, i wouldn't say that. thank you very much. know, i wouldn't say that. thank you very much-— here in the uk it's proving quite a stressful new year countdown for organisers of some of the many outdoor events due to take place. the traditional outdoor hogmanay celebrations in edinburgh have been cancelled because of strong winds, and newcastle and blackpool have called off their outdoor

celebrations too. in london, the authorities say tonight's traditional fireworks display over the river thames will go ahead. 0ur correspondent greg mckenzie is there. hello to you, greg, so good news for those in london and those travel thog the capital. —— travelling to the capital. what is it like? {131 the capital. what is it like? of course, well in terms of tonight's event, it is going ahead. more than 100,000 people have tickets. they sold out almost instantly when they were put on sale. they will be treated to a 12 minute spectacular. the london eye will light up with 12,000 fireworks. 0rganisers say they planned the event injuly and they planned the event injuly and the crews have been here since 27th december making the final check. they're still there in the distance. you can see them making their final preparations. the london mayor, sir sadiq khan is there. he told us this

year's theme is hope. last year's theme was unity. they will start letting people in at around 8pm and they will gather and wait for that 12 minute show. there will be music and more than 420 lights that will light up the sky. but it won't be 2025 until we hear the chimes of big ben at midnight.— ben at midnight. greg, i know that ou will ben at midnight. greg, i know that you will enjoy _ ben at midnight. greg, i know that you will enjoy it — ben at midnight. greg, i know that you will enjoy it and _ ben at midnight. greg, i know that you will enjoy it and your _ ben at midnight. greg, i know that you will enjoy it and your wrapped | you will enjoy it and your wrapped up. stay dry as well. let's speak to catriona renton, whojoins us from edinburgh. it is looking a little bit blowy? it is. it is still a little bit blowy. in fact, the yellow warning for wind 1406