Steve Wright, BBC Radio 2 presenter, dead at 69
Veteran BBC Radio 2 presenter Steve Wright has passed away at the age of 69, his family have confirmed.
Wright has been a staple of the BBC’s broadcasting output for decades after initially joining in the 1970s as a clerk. The disc jockey eventually landed the mid-afternoon slot on BBC Radio 1 in 1981, before eventually being promoted to the breakfast show in 1994.
After briefly leaving the BBC for Talk Radio in 1995, Wright returned in 1996 with his ‘Sunday Love Songs’ show on BBC Radio 2. He was later given the mid-afternoon position at the station in 1999, which he kept until 2022 when Wright was replaced by Scott Mills. However, he still presented ‘Sunday Love Songs’, his last broadcast was a pre-recorded episode on February 11th.
In a tribute to their beloved husband and father, Wright’s family stated, “It is with deep sorrow and profound regret 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”.
Although the family has requested privacy at this time, they thanked his loyal listenership, adding, “Also, much-loved close friends and colleagues, and millions of devoted radio listeners who had the good fortune and great pleasure of allowing Steve into their daily lives”.
Outside of his radio work, Wright also served as the host of Top of the Pops, Home Truths, The Steve Wright People Show, Auntie’s TV Favourites, and TOTP2.
In light of the news of his passing, BBC director Tim Davie said: “All of us at the BBC are heartbroken to hear this terribly sad news. Steve was a truly wonderful broadcaster who has been a huge part of so many of our lives over many decades”.
Tributes have began to pour in from across the broadcasting world, his former BBC Radio 2 colleague Ken Bruce wrote on X: “Totally shocked to hear the news about the great Steve Wright. We were planning lunch to celebrate the award of his richly deserved MBE. An outstanding and innovative broadcaster whose listeners loved him. What a loss to the world of radio.”
Meanwhile, Tony Blackburn posted on the same platform: “I am so sad that my dear friend Steve Wright has passed away. He was a great broadcaster and we just loved one another’s company. I was shocked at the news and will miss him terribly.”
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