John Laws, the ‘Golden Tonsils’ of the Australian radio industry, announces retirement on 2SM

Radio legend John Laws, the “Golden Tonsils” of the Australian radio industry, has announced “it’s time” for retirement, for the second time.

Laws, 89, told listeners of his 2SM radio program on Tuesday that he will soon depart the airwaves after nearly 71 years on air.

The shock announcement came in a rather casual fashion.

Laws had received an email from a listener who complimented the program, saying he liked hearing him daily.

“You’re not going to be hearing it for long, mate,” Laws shot back in response to the email.

“I think it’s time for a rest.

“I’ve done it for a very, very, very, very long time,” Laws said, referencing his decades-long career.

“And I think I’ll just call it a day, and call it a day pretty soon.”

Laws explain Tuesday, November 8 will be his final show, finishing off 71 years on air.

“I don’t want to be greedy,” Laws said.

“I’ve had 71 fantastic years and loved almost every minute of it.”

Laws confirmed this retirement would be his last, after previously returning in 2007.

“I’m not going to go away and then come back again and say, ‘Oh, it was all a mistake,’” he said.

“It may well be a mistake, but there’ll be no return.

“That’s it.”

Laws, born in Wau, a territory in New Guinea, first hit the airways back in 1953 when he broadcasted for Bendigo station 3BO.

He moved to Sydney in 1957 to start working for 2UE.

In his initial four-year stint with 2UE, he became one of the biggest names in the media landscape.

However, in 1959, he left the station to return to farm work before his eventual return to Sydney in 1962 to broadcast for 2GB.

He continued to work across 2UE, 2GB and 2UW across his career, with stations entering into numerous bidding wars to try and secure the prized ratings winner.

His program was syndicated nationally and earned strong listenership in regional areas, as well as in capital cities.

The John Laws Morning Show, which has used the same name under multiple radio stations, was one of Australia’s most successful radio programs.

From 2002, Laws was competing against former colleague and arch-rival Alan Jones. The two forged a fiery battle for the top rating spot.

In 2007 when Jones was host of mornings on 2GB and Laws was host on 2UE, Laws announced his retirement after 55 years in the business.

However, just two years later, Laws said he missed the golden microphone and said he hoped to one day return.

In late 2010, Laws announced his return with 2SM, where he has presented the John Laws Morning Show for the last 13 years.

Laws’ 71-year career has not been without controversy.

In 2004, both Laws and Jones were drawn into an infamous “cash for comment” scandal.

The two were accused of accepting money from brands to deliver favourable comments expressed as personal opinions.