NEWS
By Steven McIntosh
Leisure reporter
DJ Steve Wright, who presented programmes for BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 for extra than four decades, has died at the age of 69.
His family confirmed his death “with deep sorrow and profound regret” in an announcement on Tuesday.
Wright joined the BBC in the Seventies and went on to host the afternoon reveals on Radio 1 and Radio 2.
He also fronted television programmes for the BBC, at the side of High of the Pops.
Wright modified into as soon as closing on air on Sunday, net net hosting a pre-recorded particular Valentine’s Day edition of his Treasure Songs programme. He passed away on Monday.
Paying tribute to Wright on Radio 2 after his death modified into as soon as announced, an emotional Sara Cox stated: “It be with out a doubt bright to know what to relate about the records of Steve Wright’s passing, except we’re all unnerved and devastated and blindsided by this records.
“Steve modified into as soon as an exceptional broadcaster, a terribly type person, he modified into as soon as witty, he modified into as soon as warmth, and he modified into as soon as a grand, grand section of the Radio 2 family, and I do know my fellow DJs will all be solely shattered too.”
Fellow Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley started her programme by saying it felt “very irregular” to be doing a tribute to Wright.
“It be extraordinarily bright to know what to relate and to be talking about any person who you seen most effective days ago on this very studio the place I’m lawful now – doing a tribute indicate to that person lawful doesn’t feel lawful,” she told her listeners.
Sara Cox “devastated” by records of Steve Wright’s death
Born in Greenwich, south London, in 1954, Wright’s career at the BBC started when he started working as a clerk. His broadcasting career modified into as soon as launched in 1976, when Wright left the BBC to set apart up for Radio 210 in Studying.
Four years later, he joined BBC Radio 1, presenting weekend programmes sooner than launching Steve Wright in the Afternoon in 1981 – the indicate that would possibly possibly in the destroy clarify his career.
After a brief stint net net hosting the Radio 1 breakfast indicate for a 12 months from 1994, Wright left to set apart up for Utter Radio, but rejoined the BBC in 1996.
He started presenting a Saturday programme and Sunday Treasure Songs on Radio 2 from 1996, sooner than relaunching his afternoon indicate in 1999, a slot he would preserve except 2022.
The indicate had its hold distinctive zoo format, that consists of contributions from Wright’s on-air “posse”, as successfully as movie well-known person interviews and titillating minutiae featured in his Factoids section.
Scott Mills took over the afternoon programme at some level of a string of time table adjustments at the location in 2022, but Wright stayed with Radio 2, persevering with to current Sunday Treasure Songs as successfully as a series of specials and podcasts.
Image source, PA Media
Tony Blackburn (pictured with Wright and Paul Gambaccini in 2002) described the afternoon host as a “astronomical broadcaster”
Final October, he took over from Paul Gambaccini as presenter of the location’s Saturday afternoon staple Pick Of The Pops.
Wright modified into as soon as honoured for his companies and products to radio in the December 2023 Novel Year Honours record and stated he wished to commit it “to the full of us in broadcasting who gave comfort and public provider at some level of the pandemic”.
Radio 2 stated it planned to celebrate Wright’s life with a fluctuate of programming exact thru the location.
“Steve Wright had a brain address quicksilver” – Nicky Campbell
Presenter Jeremy Vine told BBC News: “It be come as a complete shock to us. The Radio 2 family are in mourning. The article about Steve is that he modified into as soon as 69 when he died, but he soundless sounded address he did when he modified into as soon as 30. He modified into as soon as such an exceptional unswerving… a luscious man.
“He modified into as soon as so encouraging to the next generation of presenters address me. He modified into as soon as so generous with his time. He modified into as soon as one of these grand resolve in British radio. That cheerful suppose is gone, and there are such so a lot of of us that can feel his loss.”
The location’s boss Helen Thomas stated: “Steve understood the connection and companionship that radio engenders larger than somebody, and all of us loved him for it. He modified into as soon as a consummate unswerving whose consideration to detail modified into as soon as continuously 2nd to none.”
Wright also presented TV programmes for the BBC (pictured net net hosting High of the Pops in 1982)
Fellow Radio 2 DJ Tony Blackburn posted on social media: “I’m so unhappy that my dear good friend Steve Wright has passed away. He modified into as soon as a astronomical broadcaster and we lawful loved every other’s firm. I modified into as soon as unnerved at the records and would possibly possibly also miss him terribly.”
In an Instagram video, Gambaccini described Wright as “a number of the all-time greats”, whereas Jonathan Ross stated he modified into as soon as “warmth, generous and astronomical to exhaust time with”.
Old Radio 2 drivetime host Simon Mayo stated it modified into as soon as “abominable records”, describing Wright as “a number of the greats”.
Jo Whiley, who also presented on Radio 1 and Radio 2 at some level of Wright’s respective tenures, stated she modified into as soon as “so utterly devastated” to listen to of his death.
“He modified into as soon as a class act,” she wrote. “An recount perfectionist when it came to radio. No-one cared extra about the usual of what came out of your speakers than Wrighty. But he modified into as soon as also terribly type and astronomical-hearted.
“We seen every varied so a lot doing our reveals at some level of the pandemic and I loved the banter we had. He modified into as soon as a grand fan of most up-to-date tune and he loved a gossip. After I joined Radio 2 he took the time to come benefit into the studio and modified into as soon as under no circumstances one thing else lower than encouraging and supportive over time.”
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Old Radio 2 DJ Ken Bruce stated he modified into as soon as “solely unnerved to listen to the records about the astronomical Steve Wright”.
“We were planning lunch to celebrate the award of his richly deserved MBE,” Bruce stated. “A good and innovative broadcaster whose listeners loved him. What a loss to the sphere of radio.”
The location’s current breakfast indicate host Zoe Ball stated Wright modified into as soon as “our radio good friend, our inspiration, master of broadcasting, the Godfather, continuously there for us all with give a enhance to, advice, love & most significantly laughter”.
“Relaxation successfully you perfect magic man,” she added. “Life obtained’t be the identical with out you right here.”
Scott Mills, who took over the afternoon slot from Wright, posted: “He made the whole lot sound effortless, and worked so bright to salvage every indicate world class. He modified into as soon as a continuing inspiration to me on programs to develop radio that sounded astronomical.”
Wright modified into as soon as a number of the BBC’s longest-serving DJs
Dame Esther Rantzen, who modified into as soon as interviewed by Steve Wright on many instances, stated he modified into as soon as a undeniable broadcaster.
“He created a extra or much less membership which, whether or not he modified into as soon as interviewing you or whether or not you were enjoying it as a listener, you looked ahead to joining on each day foundation,” she told the PA records company.
“It’s miles a extraordinarily rare quality, and he made it sound easy. It modified into as soon as often very silly, and when he left his each day afternoon indicate he with out a doubt knocked a gap in the day for many of us who relied on his firm.”
And Radio 2 presenter Rylan Clark posted: “I’m so saddened and in complete shock that we hold misplaced this improbable man. Steve continuously modified into as soon as so exceptional as soon as I started at Radio 2 and continuously went out of his means to salvage me feel welcome.
“He’ll be so missed, none extra so than by [my mum] Linda who continuously stroke a chord in my memory that he modified into as soon as, is and continuously will be her common.”
In an announcement, his family stated: “It’s with deep sorrow and profound regret that we order the passing of our liked Steve Wright.
“To boot to to his son, Tom, and daughter, Lucy, Steve leaves in the benefit of his brother, Laurence and his father Richard. Additionally, necessary-loved end chums and colleagues, and hundreds and hundreds of devoted radio listeners who had the lawful fortune and astronomical pleasure of allowing Steve into their each day lives as a number of the UK’s most enduring and standard radio personalities.”
BBC director overall Tim Davie stated: “All of us at the BBC are heartbroken to listen to this terribly unhappy records. Steve modified into as soon as a essentially perfect broadcaster who has been a grand section of so many of our lives over many decades.
“He modified into as soon as the final unswerving – hooked in to the craft of radio and deeply fervent with his listeners. This modified into as soon as deservedly recognised in the Novel Year Honours record with his MBE for companies and products to radio.
“No-one had extra energy to ship reveals that set apart a smile on audiences’ faces. They loved him deeply. We are thinking of Steve and his family and would possibly possibly also miss him terribly.”
As Wright bade farewell after 23 years on his standard indicate in 2022, he performed listeners out to Queen’s Radio Ga Ga.
Signing off, he told listeners: “We have tried on this programme to bring lawful a dinky bit bit of sunshine reduction, a lawful proper atmosphere, uplifting tunes, lawful conversation, a dinky bit bit of satire.
“We tried to salvage the indicate unfamiliar and lawful be lawful firm. I will most effective hope we now hold achieved that a number of the fundamental time.”
He added: “Most of all, I want to relate thanks to you, to your appreciation, our dearest listener, smashing and actual. For the full response, the grand words, thanks would possibly possibly possibly you hold ever seen your means to listening to us over 23 years at any time, thanks, thanks, and thanks again.”
