Steve Wright death: Tributes pour in for BBC Radio 1 and 2 presenter – latest

Kevin E G Perry has paid tribute to Wright, calling him “a friend you only had to switch on your radio to summon”.

Perry writes: “In September 2022, when Steve Wright signed off from his final afternoon show on Radio 2, he did it with good humour and characteristic charm. ‘Last show,’ he said as it opened. ‘Bit of pressure. Got to make it a good one, everybody.’

“It was hard to imagine that Wright, who has died at the age of 69, was really feeling the pressure. After all, he had spent 40 years on daytime national radio, redefining the medium on BBC Radio One before moving to Radio 2 for another 23 years as the nation’s constant and beloved companion, a wild, joyful friend you only had to switch on your radio to summon.”

Read The Independent’s full tribute to the late radio icon here:

Simon Mayo, who worked with Wright for years at BBC Radio 1, was tasked with announcing the news of his former colleague’s death on Greatest Hits Radio this morning.

“Obviously, it’s a tricky announcement to make,” Mayo said. “He was one of the true originals of music radio, I think.”

“As a teenager the job I wanted most in the world was to be part of Steve Wright’s posse,” Pointless co-host Osman wrote on X. “He made radio seem so joyous. What terribly sad news, and what a brilliant broadcaster he was.”

On X, Morgan shared a photo of himself and Wright alongside the caption: “RIP Steve Wright, 69. One of Britain’s greatest ever radio broadcasters. A brilliantly creative, funny, warm, intelligent, hard-working & energetic man. Absolutely loved him, on and off air. So sad to hear this news. Thanks for all the wonderful entertainment, Steve.”

Bruce, another stalwart of BBC Radio has paid tribute to Wright, sharing 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.”

Comedian and actor Matt Lucas writes on social media: “Steve Wright was the most brilliant radio broadcaster of them all. So gifted and natural and engaging. It was always a pleasure and an honour to appear on his show. What a huge loss.”

Another classic shot from the archives: Here’s Wright along with Bruno Brookes, Janice Long, Simon Bates and a huge pair of false teeth promoting BBC Radio One in 1985.