BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 presenter Steve Wright has passed away at the age of 69. His family confirmed his death with “deep sorrow and profound regret” in a statement on Tuesday. Wright started his broadcasting career with the BBC in the 1970s and went on to host the afternoon shows on Radio 1 and Radio 2. He also presented television programmes for the BBC, including Top of the Pops. Wright’s family said he leaves behind his son, Tom, and daughter, Lucy, as well as his brother, Laurence, and his father Richard.
BBC director-general Tim Davie released a statement paying tribute to Wright, calling him a “truly wonderful broadcaster” and “the ultimate professional” who was “passionate about the craft of radio and deeply in touch with his listeners.” Wright was honoured for his services to radio in the December 2023 New Year Honours list and said he wanted to dedicate it “to all the people in broadcasting who gave comfort and public service during the pandemic”. BBC Radio 2 said it planned to celebrate Wright’s life with a range of programming across the station.
Wright’s broadcasting career was launched in 1976 when he joined Radio 210 in Reading after starting his job at the BBC as a clerk. He joined BBC Radio 1 in 1980, presenting weekend shows before launching Steve Wright in the Afternoon in 1981, the show that would ultimately define his career. He began presenting a Saturday programme and Sunday Love Songs on Radio 2 from 1996 and relaunched his afternoon show in 1999, a slot he would keep until 2022. The show featured contributions from Wright’s on-air “posse”, celebrity interviews, and his Factoids segment.
In response to the news, tributes poured in from fellow broadcasters who praised Wright as
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