Sir Jimmy Young says Bye For Good at last, but adds: 'It wasn't my idea'

Nothing, as Shakespeare almost said, became Sir Jimmy Young's radio show so well as his leaving of it. He didn't go quietly. He didn't go diplomatically. In fact, in his own parlance, he told the jolly old listeners exactly what he thought of the unjolly old BBC's decision to end his contract.

This, it was emphasised to the BBC's embarrassment, was a man who was saying his trademark "BFN" (Bye for now) with extreme reluctance.

Yesterday, at the age of 80, Sir Jimmy presented his last show after nearly 30 years on Radio 2, and 50 years with the BBC. Even the most casual listener couldn't have missed the fact that this was the end.

The national news at the top of the programme had Sir Jimmy's last appearance as one of its main items, pointing out that in his career he had interviewed Margaret Thatcher no fewer than 14 times. And then there was the choice of records. The first was the Beatles' "Hello Goodbye", after which Sir Jimmy added: "That's the Beatles' 'Hello Goodbye', although in today's context 'goodbye' is the operative word."

The next record was "Don't Stop" by the Rolling Stones. That sort of made a point, though I'm not sure what. Had Sir Jimmy listened to the lyrics a little more closely he would have discovered this was a song about violent sex.

This was followed by "Back for Good" by Take That, so the musical farewell theme had become confused in the heightened emotions of the day.

The guests were affected too. Anne Widdecombe was so overwhelmed with emotion that she accused the Lord Chief Justice of "putting the horse before the cart" on sentencing policy. She had bigger things on her mind. She began: "Good afternoon Jimmy, and I can't bear the thought that this is the last programme."

"Well, I can't bear it either," he replied.

Another guest, the former Conservative Party chairman Sir Brian Mawhinney, was more effusive: "Thank you for all the years. You have been a serious star. You have entertained us and challenged us."

It was at this point Sir Jimmy started to realise he hadn't quite got his side of the story across. "I should point out," he suddenly said, "just so we're all singing from the same hymn book, that it wasn't my idea to go; and by your messages you didn't want me to go. So, nothing to do with me, guv."

The last show was as entertaining and informative as ever, featuring as it did the usual "legal eagle" spot with a lawyer answering listeners' questions,.

It was also instructive to hear that Radio 2's audience isn't entirely made up of the trendy youngish listeners that the BBC keep telling us it attracts. Listeners told Sir Jimmy they thought the birch and the stocks should be brought back for burglars.

Sir Jimmy refused the BBC's offer of a weekend show, but if we have heard the last of JY on radio, we haven't seen or read the last of him. He is working on a book, he said, and will be writing column in the Sunday Express. And he has had offers to do "An Evening with Jimmy Young" show in theatres.

The last record he played was his 1955 number one hit Unchained Melody. Then at 2pm, after 29 years, Sir Jimmy made the anti-corporate point one last time. "I don't want to leave you, it's true to say. But that's what has been decreed so that is what we have to do ... and for the very last time, I fear, bye for now."

Newsnight's Jeremy Vine will take over the time slot.