Radio host Alan Jones presents final radio show on 2GB

Top radio host Alan Jones has begun his final breakfast program ahead of his retirement from the airwaves after 35 years.

Jones, 79, will call time on his 2GB radio slot at noon today.

The host dedicated his final program to his “loyal, supportive and sometimes critical” army of listeners before taking a call from US country music star Kenny Rogers.

Jones also spoke with NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, who thanked him for his support of his officers and public safety.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro phoned in to tell Jones his support for the regions would not be forgotten.

“What keeps me up at night is that there are people falling through the cracks and if it wasn’t for you, Alan, they would never be identified,” he said.

Jones announced earlier this month that he was retiring on the advice of his doctors, after decades of 2am-3am morning starts to prepare for his show.

In his many years on radio, Jones became the self-appointed and sometimes outrageously dogmatic voice of the battler, feared and courted by politicians.

Jones’ radio career began at 2UE in 1985 and moved to 2GB in 2001, where he delivered a record 226 wins in rating surveys.

His presence at 2GB was pivotal in driving the station to No.1 in the Sydney market.

The former Wallabies coach is expected to continue his roles as a columnist for News Corp Australia’s newspapers and on an evening TV show on Sky News.

His breakfast show replacement, Ben Fordham, is due to take over on Monday