BBC stars ‘shocked and devastated’ as radio presenter and DJ Steve Wright dies aged 69 | R46C82S | 2024-02-13 21:08:02
BBC stars 'shocked and devastated' as radio presenter and DJ Steve Wright dies aged 69 | R46C82S | 2024-02-13 21:08:02
BBC Radio DJ and presenter Steve Wright has died aged 69, together with his colleagues paying tribute to the devastating and surprising information.
His family confirmed his death with 'deep sorrow and profound remorse' in a press release shared on Tuesday.
They stated: 'It's with deep sorrow and profound remorse that we announce the passing of our beloved Steve Wright.
'Along with his son, Tom, and daughter, Lucy, Steve leaves behind his brother, Laurence and his father Richard.
'Also, much-loved close pals and colleagues, and tens of millions of devoted radio listeners who had the great fortune and nice pleasure of allowing Steve into their day by day lives as one of the UK's most enduring and common radio personalities.
'As all of us grieve, the family requests privacy at this immensely troublesome time.'
Tributes have been paid from associates and colleagues, with Sara Cox preventing back tears as she announced the information on air and Jo Whiley saying she noticed him simply days ago.
Wright presented programmes for BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 for more than 4 many years, after becoming a member of the broadcaster in the 1970s.
Wright, who additionally fronted Prime of the Pops, introduced his last radio show on Sunday, with a pre-recorded particular Valentine's Day edition of his Love Songs programme.
He signed off his last show together with his signature 'Ta-ta then.'
'That's it for at present for Love Songs,' he ended the present, saying: 'I'm again for extra Love Songs next Sunday.'
Paying tribute, BBC director common Tim Davie has stated: 'All of us on the BBC are heartbroken to listen to this terribly sad information. Steve was a very fantastic broadcaster who has been an enormous a part of so lots of our lives over many many years.
'He was the last word professional – passionate concerning the craft of radio and deeply in touch together with his listeners. This was deservedly recognised in the New Yr Honours listing together with his MBE for providers to radio.
'No-one had more power to deliver exhibits that put a smile on audiences' faces. They beloved him deeply. We're considering of Steve and his family and will miss him terribly.'
Wright first started his broadcasting profession in 1976 at Thames Valley Radio earlier than becoming a member of BBC Radio 1 4 years later and presenting weekend programmes.
He launched Steve Wright within the Afternoon in 1981, which aired till 1993, and he then introduced his breakfast show, Steve Wright within the Morning, from 1994.
Wright left to hitch Speak Radio in 1994, however re-joined the BBC in 1996.
He hosted Steve Wright's Saturday Show and Sunday Love Songs.
In 1999, he recreated Steve Wright In The Afternoon each weekday, filling his show with superstar interviews, chat with co-presenters Janey Lee Grace and Tim Smith, and Bobbie Pryor from 2015, as well as showbiz information, movie star interviews and Factoids.
Last August, Wright stepped in to switch Paul Gambaccini on his Saturday lunchtime slot, taking up as host of Decide of the Pops.
It was his first new show since he left his weekday afternoon slot in 2022, now hosted by Scott Mills.
Through the past two years, Steve also fronted quite a lot of specials for the network, together with Your Ultimate Kylie Track and in December Steve Wright's Peter Kay Christmas Particular, an unique interview with the much-loved comedian.
For BBC Sounds, he introduced Steve Wright: The Better of the Friends, showcasing the breadth and depth of his friends he's sat down throughout his a few years on the BBC alongside newly-recorded interviews to replace their stories; plus Steve Wright's Summer time Nights and Steve Wright's Love Songs Additional.
Wright lately acquired a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2024 New Yr Honours for his providers to radio.
Tributes have been shared from the likes of Piers Morgan and Eamonn Holmes, remembering the broadcaster.
</div></figure> </div></figure> </div></figure> </div></figure> </div></figure> </div></figure> </div> 'RIP Steve Wright, 69. One in every of Britain's biggest ever radio broadcasters. A brilliantly artistic, funny, heat, clever, hard-working & energetic man. Completely beloved him, on and off air. So sad to listen to this news. Thanks for all of the fantastic leisure, Steve,' Uncensored host Morgan wrote, sharing an image of them both grinning at the digital camera in a BBC Radio 2 studio.
Carol Vorderman wrote: 'Steve Wright has passed away aged 69. Steve was a broadcasting legend. He all the time crafted his show, had power like no different, was completely devoted to his listeners & was a joy to be around. So many people in a state of shock. Relaxation In Love Songs Steve.'
Fellow BBC star Tony Blackburn stated: 'I am so sad that my pricey good friend Steve Wright has passed away. He was an incredible broadcaster and we simply liked each other's firm. I was shocked at the information and will miss him terribly.'
'In a World of Mediocrity …. Steve Wright had expertise . He had the voice and the vision and my Sunday mornings will probably be quite a bit poorer with out him . RIP Steve,' Holmes wrote.
Former Bake Off presenter Matt Lucas additionally shared: 'Steve Wright was probably the most sensible radio broadcaster of them all. So gifted and pure and interesting. It was all the time a pleasure and an honour to seem on his present. What a huge loss.'
In an emotional publish, Richard Hammond stated he 'lost his hero', writing on X: 'I've lost my hero. Steve Wright has left us. Heartfelt condolences to his household and associates. He was the rationale I started my career. Steve, you modified radio and thus broadcasting for us and shall be very, very sadly missed. Go Nicely.'
Cox's voice trembled as she introduced the news of her pal and colleague's demise on air, saying: 'Steve was a unprecedented broadcaster. A very, really sort individual. He was witty, he was heat, and he was an enormous, large a part of the Radio 2 family.'
British DJ Whiley stated it was 'very strange' to be talking about Wright's dying on her BBC Radio 2 present given she had seen him 'days in the past.'
Initially of her slot, she stated: '(That is) a really unusual show to be doing. It's extremely exhausting to know what to say and to be talking about somebody that you simply noticed only days in the past in this very studio the place I'm proper now – doing a tribute show to that individual just does not really feel proper.
'It's very onerous to seek out the phrases to say and to talk about someone up to now tense when it's somebody that you simply wish was very much still right here. So it's robust. The Radio 2 household are devastated.
'There have been many tears… we've all worked with Steve Wright for years and years and years, and it's just very troublesome to absorb that he's not here.'
She added: 'I imply, Steve was the soundtrack to our lives wasn't he? Richard who labored with him years ago, stated that Steve once stated that he was radio and I feel that would not be nearer to the truth.
'He lived for radio and the fact that he died but his present went out simply the other day is the best way he would have needed it to be.'
Jeremy Vine recalled Wright as 'a stunning man', telling BBC Information: 'It's come as an entire shock to us. The Radio 2 household are in mourning. The factor about Steve is that he was 69 when he died, but he nonetheless seemed like he did when he was 30. He was such an unimaginable skilled… a stunning man.
'He was so encouraging to the subsequent era of presenters like me. He was so beneficiant together with his time. He was such an enormous determine in British radio. That cheerful voice is gone, and there are such a lot of people who will really feel his loss.'
Radio presenter Gambaccini referred to as Wright 'one of the all-time greats'.
In an Instagram video, he stated: 'He (Wright) was not solely the perfect at what he did, he was principally the only at what he did.
'There had been zoo radio in the USA with Scott Shannon, however Steve actually perfected it. And he is likely one of the all time greats and can by no means get replaced, as a result of he can never get replaced.
'Nobody else here did what he did, and he did it often.'
He added: 'We'll love him perpetually.'
Wright took over from Gambaccini on BBC Radio 2's Decide Of The Pops in October 2023 and was recognized for honing the zoo radio format together with his present Steve Wright In The Afternoon.
Paying tribute on The One Present, hosts Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas started the programme paying tribute to Wright, with Jones saying she was 'still in shock' on the information.
She stated: 'As a part of the Radio 2 family, I understand how shocked and upset everyone shall be feeling together with those of you who had listened to his exhibits through the years.'
'Steve had such a music connection together with his listeners, and has been a well-known voice in individuals's lives for a lot of, a few years, plenty of us since we have been youngsters.'
They learn out messages from followers sharing their devastation at the sad information, with Lorraine Kelly later showing on the programme and in addition remembering Wright.
'It's simply so sad,' the ITV presenter stated. 'Everyone beloved him, he was the last word broadcaster, he made it look straightforward.'
'An enormous of broadcasting,' she added.
ITV political editor Robert Peston also paid tribute saying: 'Such terrible information about Steve Wright. Sensible broadcaster. I was privileged to be a guest on his show a couple of occasions and was shocked both by his extraordinary expertise and his great generosity of spirit.'
</div></figure> </div></figure> </div></figure> </div></figure> </div></figure> </div></figure> </div> Zoe Ball advised Wright to 'relaxation nicely you fantastic magic man' in her tribute, writing on X: 'Wrighty Our radio good friend, our inspiration, master of broadcasting, the Godfather, all the time there for us all with help, advice, love & most importantly laughter relaxation nicely you fantastic magic man. Life gained't be the same with out you here love you my pal my hero.'
Scott Mills penned: 'Steve Wright is certainly one of our biggest ever broadcasters. He made every little thing sound effortless, and labored so onerous to make each show world class. He was a continuing inspiration to me on how one can do radio that sounded massive. Once I first started doing exhibits at Radio 2, he and I spent hours reminiscing about his days at Radio 1, and I might take heed to his tales and wisdom in awe. My ideas are together with his household and my colleagues who have labored with him for therefore a few years. Steve, you're the most effective to ever do it.'
Former BBC star Ken Bruce stated he was 'completely shocked to hear the information', writing: 'We have been planning lunch to have fun the award of his hard-earned MBE. An impressive and progressive broadcaster whose listeners liked him. What a loss to the world of radio.'
Paddy McGuinness stated: 'An enormous of broadcasting who made the job look easy. Steve Wright in the afternoon was an enormous part of my early life. It was such an honour to seem on his exhibits and see the master at work. RIP Steve Wright.'
Dame Esther Rantzen, who was interviewed by Steve Wright on many events, referred to as him a singular broadcaster.
'He created a type of club which whether or not he was interviewing you or whether you have been having fun with it as a listener, you seemed ahead to joining day-after-day,' she informed the PA news company.
'It's a very rare high quality, and he made it sound straightforward. It was steadily very humorous, and when he left his every day afternoon present he really knocked a gap in the day for many people who relied on his firm. He can be a real loss.'
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