Shock of Steve Wright’s loss of life flooring colleagues and buddies
- Veteran presenter’s loss of life was introduced this afternoon on the age of 69
- One BBC star revealed Wright’s loss of life was seen as ‘very, very sudden’
Colleagues and buddies of BBC broadcaster Steve Wright have been left shocked by the DJ’s loss of life after revealing they noticed him only a few days in the past.
The veteran presenter’s loss of life was introduced this afternoon, prompting an outpouring of emotional tributes from stars together with Sara Cox and Zoe Ball.
One BBC star revealed Wright’s loss of life was seen as ‘very, very sudden’ by colleagues, as he was in contact with bosses on the station inside simply the previous couple of days.
They informed the Mail: ‘Steve had been speaking to Radio 2 bosses simply two or three days in the past… we have been conscious he was struggling together with his well being a bit however nothing that appeared this critical.
‘It has come as an enormous shock. Nobody can consider it. He was partaking together with his colleagues so not too long ago. It would not appear in any respect actual.’
Fellow Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley added it was ‘very unusual’ to be speaking about Steve’s loss of life on her present given she had seen him ‘days in the past’, whereas Ken Bruce claimed he was planning a lunch with him to rejoice his ‘well-deserved MBE’.
Wright, probably the most acquainted voices on the airwaves within the UK, died on the age of 69.
Steve Wright, who has died on the age of 69, pictured in his recording studio in 1994
Wright seen in a latest picture from when he was out strolling in central London
The DJ was married to Cyndi Robinson till they divorced in 1999. They are pictured on their wedding ceremony day
At the beginning of her present this night, Whiley mentioned: ‘(This is) a really unusual present to be doing. It’s extraordinarily exhausting to know what to say and to be speaking about somebody that you simply noticed solely days in the past on this very studio the place I’m proper now – doing a tribute present to that particular person simply doesn’t really feel proper.
‘It’s very exhausting to seek out the phrases to say and to speak about somebody previously tense when it is somebody that you simply want was very a lot nonetheless right here. So it is powerful. The Radio 2 household are devastated.
‘There have been many tears… we have all labored with Steve Wright for years and years and years, and it is simply very troublesome to soak up that he is now not right here.’
Ken Bruce mentioned he was ‘completely shocked to listen to the information’.
He added: ‘We have been planning lunch to rejoice the award of his well-deserved MBE.
‘An excellent and modern broadcaster whose listeners cherished him. What a loss to the world of radio.’
The legendary DJ joined the BBC within the Seventies, happening to host reveals on BBC Radio 1 and a couple of for greater than 4 a long time which attracted tens of millions of listeners.
Wright was additionally a long-standing presenter of Top Of The Pops on BBC One and offered the favored Sunday Love Songs weekend mid-morning present on Radio 2.
His final present was a pre-recorded Valentine’s Day version of the programme two days in the past. Wright informed listeners in his last sign-off: ‘I’ll be again for extra love songs subsequent Sunday, ta-da then.’
A press release shared by Wright’s household mentioned: ‘It is with deep sorrow and profound remorse 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 shut buddies and colleagues, and tens of millions of devoted radio listeners who had the nice fortune and nice pleasure of permitting Steve into their every day lives as one of many UK’s most enduring and widespread radio personalities.
‘As all of us grieve, the household requests privateness at this immensely troublesome time.’
Wright’s present on Radio 2 final Sunday was pre-recorded, and it’s understood that there’s one other programme ‘within the can’ although it’s thought that it will not be aired following his loss of life.
Tributes have poured in from colleagues at the moment.
Presenter Sara Cox mentioned: ‘It’s actually exhausting to know what to say in regards to the information of Steve Wright’s passing, besides we’re all shocked and devastated and blindsided by this information.
‘Steve was a unprecedented broadcaster, a very form particular person, he was witty, he was heat, and he was an enormous, large a part of the Radio 2 household, and I do know my fellow DJs will all be completely shattered too.’
Zoe Ball has informed Wright to ‘relaxation properly you fantastic magic man’ following his loss of life on the age of 69.
In a put up to X, the broadcaster wrote: ‘Wrighty. Our radio good friend, our inspiration, grasp of broadcasting, the Godfather, all the time there for us all with help, recommendation, love & most significantly laughter relaxation properly you fantastic magic man.
‘Life will not be the identical with out you right here, love you my good friend, my hero.’
Dame Esther Rantzen, who was interviewed by Wright on many events, mentioned he was a singular broadcaster.
‘He created a type of membership which whether or not he was interviewing you or whether or not you have been having fun with it as a listener, you appeared ahead to becoming a member of day by day,’ she mentioned.
‘It is a really uncommon high quality, and he made it sound simple. It was continuously very humorous, and when he left his every day afternoon present he actually knocked a gap within the day for many people who relied on his firm. He can be an actual loss.’
The legendary broadcaster offered Steve Wright within the Afternoon for 12 years on Radio 1 and an extra 23 years on Radio 2. He is pictured in 1980
The DJ, seen in 2003, was made an MBE for companies to radio
Wright with Bunny Campione at an occasion at Hamleys Toy Store in London on October 24, 2004
Wright in a photograph taken in 1995
The DJ with Alice Cooper on the Sony Radio Awards at Grosvenor House Hotel on May 12, 2004
Ken Bruce mentioned he was ‘completely shocked to listen to the information’. He added: ‘We have been planning lunch to rejoice the award of his well-deserved MBE’
Wright was hailed at the moment by former colleagues and interviewees
Wright was born in 1954 in Greenwich, south London, and began his BBC profession as a clerk.
He briefly left the broadcaster in 1976 for Thames Valley Radio however returned 4 years later to current weekend programmes.
The broadcaster joined BBC Radio 1 in 1980 to host a Saturday night present earlier than shifting on to host Steve Wright In The Afternoon a 12 months later till 1993.
Wright then fronted the Radio 1 Breakfast present for a 12 months till 1995, and accomplished a stint at industrial radio stations earlier than returning to BBC Radio 2 in 1996 to host Steve Wright’s Saturday Show and Sunday Love Songs.
In 1999, he recreated Steve Wright In The Afternoon each weekday on Radio 2, with movie star interviews and entertaining trivia featured in his Factoids section, earlier than stepping down in September 2022.
Former BBC Radio 1 host Scott Mills took over the afternoon slot as a part of the station’s schedule shake-up.
Wright continued to current Sunday Love Songs on BBC Radio 2 and since October final 12 months, he offered the long-running present Pick Of The Pops, which had beforehand been fronted by Paul Gambaccini.
Head of BBC Radio 2, Helen Thomas, mentioned Wright ‘understood the connection and companionship that radio engenders higher than anybody, and all of us cherished him for it.
‘He was a consummate skilled whose consideration to element was all the time second to none, and he made his friends giggle, he was truthful, and he needed to showcase them and their work in the absolute best gentle, bringing good tales to our listeners’, she added.
She recalled feeling ‘pure amazement’ watching him 20 years in the past when he turned the primary presenter she produced.
‘For all of us at Radio 2, he was a beautiful colleague and a good friend together with his wonderful sense of humour, generosity together with his time, and infinite sensible phrases,’ she added.
‘We have been fortunate to have him with us for all these a long time, and we’ll miss his expertise and his friendship terribly.’
Wright was honoured for his companies to radio within the December 2023 New Year Honours listing and mentioned he needed to dedicate it ‘to all of the folks in broadcasting who gave consolation and public service throughout the pandemic’.
Wright being shocked in his studio by Paul McCartney. Also pictured is his manufacturing assistant Dianne Oxberry
The DJ with George Michael in an undated picture taken inside a BBC studio
Matt Lucas has referred to Wright as ‘essentially the most good radio broadcaster of all of them’ following the latter’s loss of life on the age of 69.
In a put up to X, the comic wrote: ‘Steve Wright was essentially the most good radio broadcaster of all of them.
‘So gifted and pure and interesting. It was all the time a pleasure and an honour to look on his present. What an enormous loss.’
Jo Whiley has thanked Wright, ‘the broadcaster’s broadcaster’, for all his help through the years.
In a put up to X, the radio DJ and tv presenter wrote: ‘What a person. What a legend. The broadcaster’s broadcaster.
‘One of the kindest, loveliest folks I’ve had the pleasure to work with. Thanks for the help & music chat through the years.
‘Can’t consider we can’t meet within the bowels of MV for our weekly catch up. Love ya Wrighty.’
BBC Director General Tim Davie mentioned at the moment: ‘All of us on the BBC are heartbroken to listen to this terribly unhappy information. Steve was a very fantastic broadcaster who has been an enormous a part of so a lot of our lives over many a long time.
‘He was the final word skilled – passionate in regards to the craft of radio and deeply in contact together with his listeners. This was deservedly recognised within the New Year Honours listing together with his MBE for companies to radio.
‘No-one had extra vitality to ship reveals that put a smile on audiences’ faces. They cherished him deeply. We are pondering of Steve and his household and can miss him terribly.’
Lorna Clarke, Director of BBC Music, mentioned: ‘Steve was a unprecedented broadcaster – somebody audiences cherished, and many people appeared as much as. He cherished radio, and he cherished the BBC, however most of all… he cherished his viewers.
‘From Radio 1 to Radio 2, he was with us for greater than 4 a long time, and introduced a lot pleasure to our airwaves, no matter he was as much as.
‘We have been privileged to have him with us for all these years.’
