Radio giant John Laws to retire after 71 years behind the mic

Radio icon John Laws has revealed he will retire later this year.

Laws said on 2SM this morning that he will hang up his headphones and retire on November 8 after nearly 71 years in radio.

The 89-year-old announced the news after reading a listener’s letter on-air who thanked him for years of entertainment.

“You”re not going to be hearing it for long, mate, I think it’s time for a rest, is what I think,” Laws said.

“I’ve done it for a very, very, very, very long time – 70 years, is it long enough? It’s long enough.”

Laws said he might “call it a day pretty soon” and confirmed the beginning of November is when he will retire.

The broadcaster said it was probably the right time after working in the industry for seven decades.

“I would have done it for 71 years, first week of November will be 71 years since I started on radio,” he added.

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

Laws described his retirement plans as “reading more and travel” and said his health is still fine.

“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,” he continued.

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

He began his career in AM radio in 1953 at 3BO in Bendigo.

His unique style earned Laws the nickname “the Golden Tonsils”.