Talkback radio veteran John Laws has announced his retirement for the second time, following a 13-year stint at radio network 2SM.
Known as the “Golden Tonsils”, Laws, 89, casually told listeners of his Morning show on Tuesday that he will retire on November 8, saying it is “time for a rest” in response to a message from a listener.
John Laws in the 2SM studio in 2014.Credit: Janie Barrett
Responding to listener Paul’s message about their own retirement and their love of listening to Laws, the broadcaster nonchalantly said, “cheers Paul, well you’re not going to be hearing it for long”.
“It’s time for a rest, is what I think. I’ve done it for a very, very, very, very long time, and 70 years – is that long enough? That’s long enough, and I think that I’ll just call it a day and call it a day pretty soon, probably beginning of November,” Laws said.
“First week of November it’ll be 71 years since I started on radio. So I think, you know, I don’t want to be greedy. I’ve had 71 fantastic years, fantastic years. I had a really, really good time and loved, you know, most of it.
“Loved almost every minute of it. But Paul, stay tuned, because I’m here for a while yet, but not very much longer in a way, I’m sorry to say.”
Laws said he still feels young and healthy, but that this time his retirement is final, unlike his previous decision in 2007. He returned to radio four years later.
“When I call it a day, it’ll be a day. I’m not going to go away and then come back again and say, ‘Oh it was all a mistake’. It may well be a mistake that there’ll be no return. No return, that’s it.”