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LEGEND OF THE WAVES
Steve Wright dead at 69: BBC Radio 2 presenter passes away as fans share tributes
Host's last show was a special Valentine's pre-recording of his hugely popular Sunday Love Songs
BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright has tragically died aged 69 after bringing joy to listeners for more than 40 years.
The veteran DJ presented Steve Wright in the Afternoon and fronted Top of the Pops.
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Steve also presented the popular Sunday Love Songs mid-morning show on Radio 2.
His family said in a moving statement today: "It is with deep sorrow and profound regret that we announce the passing of our beloved Steve Wright.
"In addition to his son, Tom, and daughter, Lucy, Steve leaves behind his brother, Laurence and his father Richard.
"Also, much-loved close friends and colleagues, and millions of devoted radio listeners who had the good fortune and great pleasure of allowing Steve into their daily lives as one of the UK's most enduring and popular radio personalities.
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"As we all grieve, the family requests privacy at this immensely difficult time."
Steve's last show was a pre-recorded Valentine's Day edition of Sunday Love Songs.
He had been due to front a new BBC spin-off show as the broadcaster planned to launch four fresh stations.
Steve joined the BBC in the 1970s and spent four decades hosting his beloved afternoon shows.
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He also fronted TV programmes for the broadcaster, including Top of the Pops.
Tributes have flooded in from colleagues, including from presenter Sara Cox.
Read more on the tragedy...
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- Steve hosted final Sunday Love Songs show for Valentine's Day
- The presenter went from being a bullied schoolboy to a radio legend
- Star's final heartbreaking video revealed
She said: "It's really hard to know what to say about the news of Steve Wright's passing, except we are all shocked and devastated and blindsided by this news.
"Steve was an extraordinary broadcaster, a really kind person, he was witty, he was warm, and he was a huge, huge part of the Radio 2 family, and I know my fellow DJs will all be absolutely shattered too."
Radio 2 fans in tears as Steve Wright hosts his last ever show after 23 years on air
Zoe Ball said: "Wrighty. Our radio friend, our inspiration, master of broadcasting, the Godfather, always there for us all with support, advice, love & most importantly laughter rest well you wonderful magic man.
"Life won't be the same without you here love you my friend my hero."
Jo Whiley wrote: "What a man. What a legend.
"The broadcaster's broadcaster.
"One of the kindest, loveliest people I've had the pleasure to work with.
Thanks for all the wonderful entertainment, Steve.
Piers Morgan
"Thanks for the support & music chat over the years.
"Can't believe we won't meet in the bowels of MV for our weekly catch up. Love ya Wrighty."
While Piers Morgan said: "RIP Steve Wright, 69. One of Britain’s greatest ever radio broadcasters.
"A brilliantly creative, funny, warm, intelligent, hard-working & energetic man. Absolutely loved him, on and off air. So sad to hear this news.
"Thanks for all the wonderful entertainment, Steve."
Steve was born in Greenwich, south London, in 1954 and began his career at the BBC as a clerk.
From bullied schoolboy to BBC legend
By Jane Matthews
STEVE Wright went from being a bullied schoolboy cruelly dubbed 'Big Nose' to a BBC radio legend.
Wright was born in Greenwich, London and attended Eastwood High School in Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
It was there that he was cruelly nicknamed Big Nose and Concorde.
His first job after leaving school was in marine insurance but after three years he realised it wasn't for him.
It was then that Wright left to become a local newspaper reporter.
This led him to BBC, as a record librarian, which then went on to his own shows - and the rest was history.
But in 2022 he announced he was stepping back from his Afternoon show after more than two decades.
He said at the time: "Before we start the show proper, if I may, I'd just like to say thank you ever so much for all the messages that have come in, over the weekend after I announced on Friday on the afternoon that we are leaving the afternoon show."
The axing saw him take another step towards his Sunday Love Songs show - which he last appeared on just days ago.
In 1976, he briefly left the broadcaster for Thames Valley Radio but returned four years later to present weekend programmes.
The move paid off and his defining show Steve Wright in the Afternoon was launched in 1981.
Although a scheduling shake-up meant Scott Mills took over his afternoon slot, Steve stayed on to present Sunday Love Songs.
Speaking about the shock axing, the DJ said at the time: "Sometimes people don't want you".
He continued: "I've been offered loads of stuff at the BBC and I'm staying at Radio 2. What it actually means for me is rather than working six days a week, I'll be working maybe two and a half days a week."
In his personal life, Steve was married to US-born Cindi Robinson until they divorced in 1999.
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He later revealed he had struggled to find love since due to his demanding radio schedule.
Most recently, Steve was made an MBE in the New Year Honours for services to radio.
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