Steve Wright: BBC Radio 2 presenter dies historical

By Steven McIntosh

Entertainment reporter

DJ Steve Wright, who presented programmes for BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 for greater than four decades, has died at the age of 69.

His family confirmed his loss of life “with deep sorrow and profound feel sorry about” in a enlighten on Tuesday.

Wright joined the BBC within the Seventies and went on to host the afternoon reveals on Radio 1 and Radio 2.

He also fronted tv programmes for the BBC, alongside with Top of the Pops.

Wright was once closing on air on Sunday, web hosting a pre-recorded special Valentine’s Day version of his Like Songs programme. He handed away on Monday.

Confirming the presenter’s loss of life in a enlighten, his family talked about: “It is with deep sorrow and profound feel sorry about that we bellow the passing of our beloved Steve Wright.

“Along with to his son, Tom, and daughter, Lucy, Steve leaves at the assist of his brother, Laurence and his father Richard. Additionally, basic-beloved shut chums and colleagues, and millions of devoted radio listeners who had the pretty fortune and mighty pleasure of permitting Steve into their day to day lives as one of many UK’s most enduring and smartly-liked radio personalities.”

Paying tribute to Wright on Radio 2 after his loss of life was once announced, an emotional Sara Cox talked about: “It be truly onerous to know what to utter referring to the news of Steve Wright’s passing, except we’re all insecure and devastated and blindsided by this news.

“Steve was once an unprecedented broadcaster, a terribly style particular person, he was once witty, he was once warm, and he was once a giant, astronomical portion of the Radio 2 family, and I know my fellow DJs will all be fully shattered too.”

Born in Greenwich, south London, in 1954, Wright’s occupation at the BBC started when he started working as a clerk. His broadcasting occupation was once launched in 1976, when Wright left the BBC to affix Radio 210 in Finding out.

Four years later, he joined BBC Radio 1, presenting weekend programmes forward of launching Steve Wright within the Afternoon in 1981 – the command that could per chance per chance per chance finally define his occupation.

After a swiftly stint web hosting the Radio 1 breakfast command for a one year from 1994, Wright left to affix Talk Radio, nevertheless rejoined the BBC in 1996.

He started presenting a Saturday programme and Sunday Like Songs on Radio 2 from 1996, forward of relaunching his afternoon command in 1999, a slot he would preserve till 2022.

The command had its hold distinctive zoo layout, featuring contributions from Wright’s on-air “posse”, as correctly as celeb interviews and provocative trivialities featured in his Factoids section.

Scott Mills took over the afternoon programme for the length of a string of agenda changes at the position in 2022, nevertheless Wright stayed with Radio 2, continuing to recent Sunday Like Songs as correctly as a series of specials and podcasts.

Final October, he took over from Paul Gambaccini as presenter of the position’s Saturday afternoon staple Pick Of The Pops.

Wright was once honoured for his services and products to radio within the December 2023 Restful Year Honours list and talked about he desired to dedicate it “to the total contributors in broadcasting who gave comfort and public provider for the length of the pandemic”.

Radio 2 talked about it deliberate to have an even time Wright’s life with a unfold of programming at some level of the position.

Presenter Jeremy Vine urged BBC Data: “It be near as a complete shock to us. The Radio 2 family are in mourning. The ingredient about Steve is that he was once 69 when he died, nevertheless he silent sounded worship he did when he was once 30. He was once such an out of this world official… an horny man.

“He was once so encouraging to the following skills of presenters worship me. He was once so generous with his time. He was once this sort of giant figure in British radio. That pleased reveal is long previous, and there are so basic of people that could feel his loss.”

The position’s boss Helen Thomas talked about: “Steve understood the connection and companionship that radio engenders better than somebody, and all of us beloved him for it. He was once a consummate official whose attention to ingredient was once repeatedly second to none.”

Jo Whiley, who presented on Radio 1 and Radio 2 for the length of Wright’s respective tenures, talked about she was once “so totally devastated” to hear of his loss of life.

“He was once a class act,” she wrote on Instagram. “An hiss perfectionist when it came to radio. No-one cared extra referring to the usual of what came out of your audio system than Wrighty. But he was once also extraordinarily style and big-hearted.

“We saw each varied loads doing our reveals for the length of the pandemic and I beloved the banter we had. He was once a giant fan of recent tune and he beloved a gossip. When I joined Radio 2 he took the time to near into the studio and was once never the relaxation decrease than encouraging and supportive over the years.”

Fellow Radio 2 DJ Tony Blackburn posted on social media: “I’m so sad that my dear buddy Steve Wright has handed away. He was once a mighty broadcaster and we excellent beloved one one more’s company. I used to be once insecure at the news and could per chance per chance per chance omit him terribly.”

In an Instagram video, Gambaccini described Wright as “one of many all-time greats”, whereas Jonathan Ross talked about he was once “warm, generous and mighty to spend time with”.

Used Radio 2 drivetime host Simon Mayo talked about it was once “unpleasant news”, describing Wright as “one of many greats”.

Used Radio 2 DJ Ken Bruce talked about he was once “fully insecure to hear the news referring to the mighty Steve Wright”.

“We were planning lunch to have an even time the award of his truly-earned MBE,” Bruce talked about. “An unprecedented and modern broadcaster whose listeners beloved him. What a loss to the arena of radio.”

The position’s recent breakfast command host Zoe Ball talked about Wright was once “our radio buddy, our inspiration, master of broadcasting, the Godfather, repeatedly there for us all with toughen, advice, admire & most importantly laughter”.

“Leisure correctly you unbelievable magic man,” she added. “Life gained’t be the same without you right here.”

Scott Mills, who took over the afternoon slot from Wright, posted: “He made the total lot sound effortless, and worked so onerous to fabricate each command world class. He was once a fixed inspiration to me on easy systems to catch radio that sounded huge.”

And Radio 2 presenter Rylan Clark posted: “I’m so saddened and in complete shock that we have misplaced this honest man. Steve repeatedly was once so excellent after I started at Radio 2 and repeatedly went out of his approach to fabricate me feel welcome.

“He’ll be so ignored, none extra so than by [my mum] Linda who repeatedly reminded me that he was once, is and repeatedly will be her well-liked.”

BBC director well-liked Tim Davie talked about: “All of us at the BBC are heartbroken to hear this terribly sad news. Steve was once a truly unbelievable broadcaster who has been a giant portion of so a ramification of our lives over many decades.

“He was once the closing official – passionate referring to the craft of radio and deeply in touch with his listeners. This was once deservedly recognised within the Restful Year Honours list with his MBE for services and products to radio.

“No-one had extra vitality to ship reveals that set a smile on audiences’ faces. They beloved him deeply. We are pondering of Steve and his family and could per chance per chance per chance omit him terribly.”

As Wright bade farewell after 23 years on his smartly-liked command in 2022, he played listeners out to Queen’s Radio Ga Ga.

Signing off, he urged listeners: “We have now tried on this programme to carry excellent a minute bit of sunshine relief, an even proper ambiance, uplifting tunes, pretty conversation, a minute bit of satire.

“We tried to fabricate the command modern and ultimate be pretty company. I will entirely hope we have finished that one of the most important time.”

He added: “Most of all, I must utter thanks to you, for your appreciation, our dearest listener, smashing and exact. For the total reaction, the most effective words, thanks whilst you happen to have ever viewed your approach to listening to us over 23 years at any time, thanks, thanks, and thanks every other time.”

Associated Issues