Radio legend John Laws emotionally signs off after 71 years on air: 'I will really miss you'

It was the end of an era on Thursday when broadcasting icon John Laws signed off the airwaves for the final time.

The veteran announcer, 89, revealed that he was calling time on his 71-year career in radio last month and has now signed off from his final ever show.

In an emotional farewell, the man dubbed 'golden tonsils' said that while he was 'sad' at the prospect of leaving, he had no complaints about his departure from air.

'I will really miss you,' John sweetly told his loyal listeners.

'And I will miss all of the memories that have gone before me in all of these years, it has been a long time.

'I have no reason to complain. It is obviously sad to say goodbye, and I am obviously sad to have to say goodbye,' he added.

Speaking to Confidential after his final show, John admitted it felt bittersweet to bid farewell to his lengthy career.

'I feel a bit sad but I feel okay,' he said.

'It will probably catch up with me in the next day or two but I've got no right to complain at all.

'I've had a terrific life and I've had a terrific career and I've got a terrific family, so, I am okay but it is the end.'

John also joked that he will miss all the attention from chatting to his guests on air as he described himself as a 'spoiled child'.

'I will miss the attention because I am very much a spoilt child and I like a bit of attention so maybe we could organise to, once a month, maybe send a bunch of people in just to talk to me, can we do that,' he quipped.

The veteran radio announcer revealed on 2SM in October that he would hang up his headphones on November 8.

He made the announcement live on-air after reading a letter from a listener who was keen to thank him for years of entertainment on the airwaves.

'You're not going to be hearing it for long, mate, I think it's time for a rest, is what I think,' he said.

'I've done it for a very, very, very, very long time. 70 years, is it long enough? It's long enough.'

John said he felt the time was right and he won't be changing his mind.

'I would have done it for 71 years. The first week of November will be 71 years since I started on radio,' he said.

'I don't want to be greedy, I had a fantastic 71 years. Loved almost every minute of it.

'I still feel young, I still feel healthy. When I call it a day, it will be a day. I'm not going to go away and come back again and say it was all a mistake.'

John revealed he is planning to travel and read in his well-deserved retirement.

At the time, the 2SM Instagram account shared a montage of the radio icon at various stages of his long and storied career.

'What a day! And what a 70 years it's been,' the caption read.

'To all of John's loyal listeners, thanks for keeping the dream alive! And to everyone who contributed to today's show, thank you.'

John began his career in radio back in 1953 at 3BO in Bendigo and his unique style earned the broadcaster the nickname 'The Golden Tonsils'.

After four years at 3BO, he moved to metro broadcaster, 2UE, where he became one of the first DJs to play rock 'n' roll music.

He stepped away from radio for four years in 2007 and returned to the air on 2SM in 2011.

John recently took a short period away from his 2SM show while spending an extended stint in hospital.

After seeking medical care for a blocked ear, his health rapidly deteriorated and he was admitted to St Vincent's Private Hospital in Sydney for three weeks.

He had contracted pneumonia, but later revealed he was luckily on the mend.

'I'm alive, I'm well, I'm happy,' he told The Saturday Telegraph at the time.

In 2022, he took bouts of leave from his radio gig after suffering from respiratory infections.

Despite this, John had told the publication that he had no plans of retiring and went to serve two more years on air.

'I turn on the microphone and the board fills up every day and I'm back, on air, doing what I love to do,' he said. 'Why would I stop?'

Presenter Dave Cochrane filled in for John on his 2SM show while he was in hospital.

John lost his wife Caroline to cancer in February 2020 after 40 years of marriage.