Hearts broke when it was revealed that just months after stepping away from his 58-year broadcasting career and admitting he was "ready to die".

Yet his wife Tiggy made it clear she wouldn't be hiding away, as she announced her plans to "toast her amazing husband". Last night, she shared a photo of a champagne bottle on the table, as she quizzed: "What does a new widow do on NYE?"

Answering her own heartfelt plea, she replied: "She listens to @, opens a bottle and toasts her amazing husband. Courageous, wise, strong, creative and never dull. They didn't call him the Pirate for nothing."

She continued that he was "above all the most devoted loving husband", before urging fans of his shows to "please raise a glass to Johnnie Walker". The star had been celebrated for his Sounds of the 70s and The Rock Show programmes, before sadly revealing that he'd been diagnosed with a terminal respiratory disease.

He confirmed five years ago that he had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis - a progressive illness which causes scarring of the lungs. His health deteriorated hugely and suddenly at the start of 2024, leading to him barely leaving his house all year.

His wife had shared a worried update at the time, revealing that his health had metaphorically "fallen off a cliff".

However, at the end of October, he set the tone for Tiggy when he announced during his final show: "Walk into the future with our heads held high, and happiness in our hearts."

That's exactly what she aspired to do last night, when she issued her defiantly celebratory post and raised a glass to her late husband and all that he'd achieved during life.

Her heartfelt post received more than 2,000 sympathetic comments, with one fan writing: "Ohhh Tiggy, god bless you ,and thank you for taking such good care of our Johnnie , you love for each other was amazing... Stay strong and head held high."

"Truly sorry for your loss. JW with his amazing voice and music taste was all I listened to on Radio 1 in my teenage years," chimed in another.

A third encouraged: "A beautiful tribute to the best of the best. The pirate, now broadcasting from heaven."

Tiggy had previously issued a statement with similar sentiments, exclaiming: "What a day to go. He'll be celebrating New Year's Eve with a stash of great musicians in heaven.

"I couldn't be more proud of Johnnie - how he kept broadcasting almost to the end and with what dignity and grace he coped with his debilitating lung disease."