Harris Retires Due to Health
Bob Harris, 80, Steps Down from BBC Radio 2 Shows After 56-Year Career Due to Health
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BBC Radio 2 broadcaster Bob Harris, 80, has announced he is stepping down from his shows after recent health struggles, saying he needs to focus on getting well again. He previously revealed his prostate cancer had spread to his spine and that he had undergone a course of radiotherapy in hospital to “bring it back under control,” following other major health scares including a serious aortic dissection. Harris will leave Radio 2 Country and Sounds of the 70s, ending a nearly 56-year broadcasting career at the BBC. In a statement, he thanked listeners for their loyalty and said he never wanted to present without being able to give 100%. BBC Radio 2 head Helen Thomas praised him as a trusted “tastemaker” for the growth of country music on the station, highlighting his storytelling and rapport on Sounds of the 70s. Harris’ departure follows earlier withdrawals from air in 2019 and a return to Sounds of the 70s in recent years, including taking over as official host after Jonnie Walker retired.
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Harris said his prostate cancer was first diagnosed in 2007, with the disease managed for years before later setbacks including it spreading to his spine.
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He detailed that the radiotherapy he began in April required him to be in hospital for two weeks to “bring it back under control.”
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BBC Radio 2’s Helen Thomas said Harris had hosted “The Radio 2 Country Show since 1999,” and that since taking over “Sounds of the 70s” he had “filled the show with love, laughter and captivating stories” about the music scene in the 1970s.
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The BBC update also specified Harris’s programme slots: “Radio 2 Country” on Thursdays (9–10pm) and “Sounds of the 70s” on Sundays (3–5pm).
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