Steve Wright, legendary Radio 2 presenter, dies aged 69

Legendary broadcaster Steve Wright, who fronted radio programmes for more than four decades, has died aged 69.

His family confirmed his death in a statement on Tuesday.

“It is with deep sorrow and profound regret that we announce the passing of our beloved Steve Wright,” it read.

Wright presented Steve Wright in the Afternoon for 12 years on BBC Radio 1 and 23 years on BBC Radio 2.

“All of us at the BBC are heartbroken to hear this terribly sad news,” said BBC director general Tim Davie.

“Steve was a truly wonderful broadcaster who has been a huge part of so many of our lives over many decades. He was the ultimate professional – passionate about the craft of radio and deeply in touch with his listeners.”

The veteran broadcaster was honoured for his services to radio with an MBE in the New Year Honours.

He dedicated it “to all the people in broadcasting who gave comfort and public service during the pandemic”.

During his final Steve Wright In The Afternoon show last September, he said he had tried to provide “a little bit of light relief” during the hardest moments of the pandemic when the nation was forced to stay at home.

The broadcaster joined BBC Radio 1 in 1980 to host a Saturday evening show before moving on to host Steve Wright In The Afternoon a year later until 1993.

Wright then fronted the Radio 1 Breakfast show for a year until 1995, and completed a stint at commercial radio stations before 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 every weekday with celebrity interviews and entertaining trivia featured in his Factoids segment, before stepping down in September 2022.

“No-one had more energy to deliver shows that put a smile on audiences’ faces,” Mr Davie said.

“They loved him deeply. We are thinking of Steve and his family and will miss him terribly.”

Wright leaves behind his son, Tom, and daughter, Lucy, as well as his brother, Laurence and his father Richard.

Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said: “Steve understood the connection and companionship that radio engenders better than anyone, and we all loved him for it.

“Steve was the first presenter I ever produced more than twenty years ago, and I remember the pure amazement I felt, sitting opposite this legendary broadcaster whose shows I had listened to and marvelled at whilst growing up in Hull. For all of us at Radio 2, he was a wonderful colleague and a friend with his excellent sense of humour, generosity with his time, and endless wise words. We were lucky to have him with us for all these decades, and we will miss his talent and his friendship terribly.”

Lorna Clarke, director of BBC Music said: “Steve was an extraordinary broadcaster – someone audiences loved, and many of us looked up to. He loved radio, and he loved the BBC, but most of all… he loved his audience. From Radio 1 to Radio 2, he was with us for more than four decades, and brought so much joy to our airwaves, whatever he was up to. We were privileged to have him with us for all these years.”