Sir Jimmy Young will be signing off from his BBC career after 50 years after changing his mind about presenting a new radio show.

The presenter had already decided to hang up his microphone on his daily Radio 2 lunchtime show after 28 years, but had signed up to do a weekend current affairs slot.

But octogenarian Sir Jimmy, who is off air recovering from an operation, has decided to make a complete break from the BBC.

He insists he is not retiring and has plenty of other projects in the pipeline.

It is not known whether Sir Jimmy, known to listeners as JY, will be well enough to return to his daytime show before his contract expires in December.

I appreciate how hard the BBC tried to keep me but I have decided not to accept their invitation

Sir Jimmy Young

He has been off work since July as he recuperates from a hip operation, which he says has been "fixed".

He recorded a message for his loyal listeners, saying he hoped to return to the airwaves in time to say goodbye properly.

Sir Jimmy's place will be filled by BBC Newsnight presenter Jeremy Vine, who will take over in January.

Understand

Sir Jimmy said: "Having presented the daily JY Prog for nearly 30 years, I do not feel that I could do justice to a weekly shortened version.

"I appreciate how hard the BBC tried to keep me but I have decided not to accept their invitation.

Jeremy Vine, with Jim Moir, will replace Sir Jimmy

"I will therefore leave the BBC at the end of the year when my contract to present the JY Prog ends. I know that my many listeners will understand."

Radio 2 controller James Moir said: "I am naturally disappointed that Sir Jimmy has had a change of heart.

"I had hoped that he would continue broadcasting for many years to come on Radio 2, but this has not proved possible.

"Along with his millions of listeners, I and all his many friends in BBC Radio offer him warmest best wishes for the future."

Sir Jimmy was born in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, but his exact year of birth is unknown.

In the Who's Who, he simply lists his birth date as 21 September - and omits the year.

Sir Jimmy's first job was as a baker's assistant before he joined the Royal Air Force, spending seven years as a physical training instructor based in India.

A variety of jobs followed before he entered showbusiness in 1949, when he started singing on the radio.

Liberal Democrat MP Nick Harvey launched a House of Commons campaign in 2001 to keep Sir Jimmy in his lunchtime slot when rumours first surfaced of his departure.

His programme, which has been running since 1973, has become a favourite with politicians.