Wainwright also broke news of national importance, including the Brexit result in 2016 and the London bombings in 2005.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it, but I’ve had a good innings and I do genuinely believe that every generation has to move on, make way for somebody else to do it and I think that time has come for me now,” she said.
Listeners messaged and called into the breakfast show, presented by Mike Zeller, as the pair reminisced about Wainwright’s career.
One said: “I’ll miss your heavenly voice and no nonsense approach to life. Thanks for the years of excellent broadcasting.”
Others said they would “miss Heather’s excellent news reading and banter” and said her “shoes will be hard to fill”.
Zeller, who worked with Wainwright on the show for about 10 years, told her: “The whole thing has been brilliant, your whole career has been brilliant, working with you has been wonderful.”