BBC Radio 2 listeners pay tribute to legendary DJ Steve Wright

Heartbroken Radio 2 listeners have revealed how they ‘really feel like they’ve misplaced a buddy’ after the demise of legendary DJ Steve Wright on the age of 69.

The channel was inundated with calls on Wednesday morning from listeners who shared how the radio large put a smile on their faces within the morning, as they paid tribute to the ‘variety, humorous, humble and loveable’ star.

Longtime followers of the radio presenter have been sharing their very own heartfelt recollections with Nicki Chapman this morning as she sits in for Zoe Ball in a particular BBC breakfast present devoted to the adored DJ. 

Fans shared their fond recollections of Steve’s exhibits, telling how he formed their lives, having listened to him as a baby and mum or dad, whereas others expressed how it’s so tough to sum up what Steve meant’ to them.

The veteran presenter’s passing was introduced yesterday afternoon, prompting an outpouring of emotional tributes from stars and fellow BBC Radio presenters together with Sara Cox, Zoe Ball and Ken Bruce.

One listener mentioned: ‘Steve all the time saved me good firm. He made me smile as he sang alongside to all of the songs with no care. It appears like I’ve misplaced a buddy and I’m going to overlook him a lot.’

Another added: ‘Good morning Nikki I had the superb expertise of being a visitor presenter on Steve’s present in 2016 due to a Children In Need competitors. 

‘It was across the time of my fiftieth birthday celebration and it was all my Christmases and Birthdays come without delay. 

‘In particular person he was the type humorous humble and loveable particular person I had listened to over the airwaves for all my life (Nikki begins to tear up) however I’m heartbroken.’

Comedian Paul Kerensa joined Nicki on the present and browse his personal emotional tribute. 

He mentioned: ‘He has left us however he has left us over 40 years of radio magic. I heard Steve Wright within the afternoon on my college run as a baby and as a mum or dad. 

‘How many instances have I stayed within the automobile to pay attention to a different factoid, one other severe jockin’ shoutout, one other character from the outdated days of the outdated lady ask Elvis, even Mr Angry or Sid the Manager. 

‘I used to be a visitor on his huge present and it was a spotlight of my life as a result of I can say he was precisely the particular person I wished him to be. 

‘Super welcoming joyous, beneficiant, real. When the raucous applause light away as a result of he light it Steve was merely a person who adored radio and adored entertaining us.’ 

Another emotional listener texted into the present to say: ‘Its so tough to sum up what Steve meant to all of us. Steve Wright, MBE; We love you’ 

One listener mentioned: ‘Steve was the soundtrack of my life. My mother and father listened to him, my grandparents listened to him. He was all the time so humorous and so heat.’ 

At the beginning of her present yesterday night, fellow BBC Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley mentioned: ‘(This is) a really unusual present to be doing. 

‘It’s extraordinarily onerous to know what to say and to be speaking about somebody that you just 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 onerous to search out the phrases to say and to speak about somebody prior to now tense when it is somebody that you just want was very a lot nonetheless right here. So it is robust. 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 tough to absorb that he is not right here.’

Ken Bruce mentioned he was ‘completely shocked to listen to the information’.

He added: ‘We have been planning lunch to have a good time the award of his genuinely-earned MBE.

‘An excellent and modern broadcaster whose listeners beloved him. What a loss to the world of radio.’

The legendary DJ joined the BBC within the Nineteen Seventies, occurring to host exhibits on BBC Radio 1 and a pair of for greater than 4 many years 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 closing 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 great fortune and nice pleasure of permitting Steve into their each day lives as one of many UK’s most enduring and in style radio personalities.

‘As all of us grieve, the household requests privateness at this immensely tough 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 demise.

Tributes have poured in from colleagues as we speak.

Presenter Sara Cox mentioned: ‘It’s actually onerous 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 variety particular person, he was witty, he was heat, and he was an enormous, enormous a part of the Radio 2 household, and I do know my fellow DJs will all be completely shattered too.’