Tony Blackburn has been discharged from hospital after three weeks following a chest infection. The veteran DJ, 80, has been absent from his BBC Radio 2 programme while receiving treatment at Wellington Hospital, London.
On Twitter, he thanked the doctors and nurses who looked after him but added that he would need outpatient care including regular injections. He said: “After three weeks in hospital I have just been discharged and am now at home to have some more treatment by having a daily injection for a few days from a hospital near me.
“Thanks to everyone at the Wellington Hospital in London doctors and nurses, for looking after me. After my treatment and a rest I look forward to getting back @BBCRadio2 and @BBCLOCALRADIO to doing what I love doing. Just want to thank all my friends for your lovely messages, you are all so kind to think about me.”
Earlier this week, Blackburn was awarded the radio pioneer award at the Audio and Radio Industry Awards (Arias) but was absent due to his illness. He was also forced to reschedule his Sounds Of The 60s live tour after discovering he required further care.
Blackburn, who uttered the first words of Radio 1 upon its launch in 1967, has appeared on numerous stations across his career, including famous pirate station Radio Caroline and Smooth Radio. In November 2010 he took over the reins of Radio 2’s Pick Of The Pops programme following on from its two previous long-serving hosts, Alan Freeman and Dale Winton.
