BBC radio DJ Paul Gambaccini diagnosed with Alzheimer’s

Veteran radio DJ Paul Gambaccini has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

In a statement, the BBC Radio 2 and Greatest Hits Radio presenter said: “As Freddie Mercury once sang, you can’t turn back the clock, you can’t turn back the tide. Ain’t that a shame”.

“There’s no denying it’s a serious condition with an uncertain future, but for now life goes on as normal.”

Gambaccini, who was given the diagnosis in 2025, said he would continue presenting both programmes.

Radio 2 said it sends “our love and best wishes to Paul”, and added it would continue to support him on his “beautifully crafted weekly music show”.

In his statement, Gambaccini, 77, said he would “be as open as I can as things progress”, and that he was grateful for the kindness and support he had already received.

“For now, I wish to be given the space to keep on broadcasting the music I love to the listeners I love even more. These are the days of our lives,” he said.

Greatest Hits Radio content director Andy Ashton praised Gambaccini for “bravely sharing his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.”

“We know our audience will wholeheartedly share his own desire to keep on broadcasting the music he loves to the listeners he loves even more.”

Born in New York City, Gambaccini started his career in media by presenting on college radio and working on Rolling Stone magazine.

He joined BBC Radio 1 in 1973, presenting the station’s US chart show for 18 years. Known as “The Great Gambo” and “The Professor of Pop”, Gambaccini has presented regular programmes on BBC Radio 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Gambaccini was one the founding presenters of Classic FM when it launched in 1992 and also presented Counterpoint on Radio 4, America’s Greatest Hits on Greatest Hits Radio, as well as the Paul Gambaccini Collection and Pick of the Pops on Radio 2.

He was inducted into the Radio Academy Hall of Fame in 2005.

To celebrate his 40 years of broadcasting in 2013, BBC Radio 4 commissioned a series where he and special guests – including Sir Elton John – recalled some his all-time favourite interviews.

Gambaccini presented the last-ever BBC Radio 2 broadcast from Wogan House in February 2024, prior to the station’s move to London Broadcasting House. The final song he played before the move was The Floral Dance.

The Alzheimer’s Society said Gambaccini’s experience “shows that there can be life after a dementia diagnosis”, and that they had been supporting him and his husband.