Tributes from Ken Bruce and Simon Mayo flood in for DJ Steve Wright
- One of essentially the most acquainted voices throughout the airwaves within the UK has died aged 69
Tributes have poured in from the world of radio for veteran BBC broadcaster Steve Wright, who has died on the age of 69.
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 many years which attracted thousands and thousands of listeners.
Today’s shock announcement has left colleagues ‘heartbroken’ and prompted an outpouring of emotional tributes from stars comparable to Ken Bruce, Simon Mayo, Zoe Ball and Vernon Kay.
Speaking on Greatest Hits radio, a choked up Mayo mentioned: ‘He was one of many true originals of music radio, I feel. I cherished his reveals. I do know loads of you probably did as effectively. It was a thrill to be on the identical radio stations as him. He’ll be a lot missed.’
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.
Legendary radio broadcaster Steve Wright, pictured in 1995, has died on the age of 69
Tributes poured in from the world of radio as they shared touching tales about Wright
‘Steve was a rare broadcaster, a extremely sort individual, 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 effectively you fantastic magic man’ following his demise on the age of 69.
In a publish 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 effectively 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 regarded ahead to becoming a member of each day,’ she mentioned.
‘It is a really uncommon high quality, and he made it sound simple. It was incessantly very humorous, and when he left his day by day afternoon present he actually knocked a gap within the day for many people who relied on his firm. He might be an actual loss.’
Matt Lucas has referred to Wright as ‘essentially the most sensible radio broadcaster of all of them’ following the latter’s demise on the age of 69.
In a publish to X, the comic wrote: ‘Steve Wright was essentially the most sensible 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 over time.
In a publish 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 over time.
‘Can’t consider we cannot meet within the bowels of MV for our weekly catch up. Love ya Wrighty.’
Steve Wright, who has died on the age of 69, pictured in his recording studio in 1994
Wright seen in a current 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
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 thousands and thousands of devoted radio listeners who had the nice fortune and nice pleasure of permitting Steve into their day by day lives as one of many UK’s most enduring and fashionable 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.
Meanwhile, one BBC star informed how the demise was seen as ‘very, very sudden’ by his 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 they usually had no concept he was going to die, we have been conscious he was struggling together with his well being a bit however nothing that appeared this severe.
‘It has come as an enormous shock. Nobody can consider it. He was partaking together with his colleagues so just lately. It does not appear in any respect actual.’
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
The DJ with Alice Cooper on the Sony Radio Awards at Grosvenor House Hotel on May 12, 2004
Wright was hailed as we speak 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 transferring on to host Steve Wright In The Afternoon a yr later till 1993.
Wright then fronted the Radio 1 Breakfast present for a yr till 1995, and accomplished a stint at business 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 yr, 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.
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
‘He was a consummate skilled whose consideration to element was all the time second to none, and he made his company chortle, he was honest, and he needed to showcase them and their work in the absolute best mild, bringing sensible 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 an exquisite colleague and a good friend together with his wonderful sense of humour, generosity together with his time, and countless smart phrases,’ she added.
‘We have been fortunate to have him with us for all these many years, and we are going to miss his expertise and his friendship terribly.’
Wright was honoured for his companies to radio within the December 2023 New Year Honours record and mentioned he needed to dedicate it ‘to all of the folks in broadcasting who gave consolation and public service through the pandemic’.
BBC Director General Tim Davie mentioned as we speak: ‘All of us on the BBC are heartbroken to listen to this terribly unhappy information. Steve was a really fantastic broadcaster who has been an enormous a part of so a lot of our lives over many many years.
‘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 record 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 rare broadcaster – somebody audiences cherished, and many people regarded 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 many years, 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.’
