Jeremy Vine paid an emotional tribute to legendary DJ’s Steve Wright on Wednesday morning following his death at the age of 69.
Vine was close to tears as he opened his Channel 5 show with a lengthy eulogy for his friend, whose death was confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.
The presenter, 58, credited Wright for saving BBC Radio 2 after joining the station in 1996, and admitted his own daily news show would not exist without the influential DJ’s contribution to broadcasting.
‘It is a strange one, I must say, coming on and doing a show that owes quite a lot to Steve Wright, but he’s not with us anymore,’ said Vine. ‘If you loved Steve I’m guessing it’s because, like me, you grew up with him.’
The presenter recalled his first meeting with Wright in the early eighties and recalled the DJ as being ‘humble. gracious, kind and shy’ throughout his illustrious career.
Jeremy Vine paid an emotional tribute to legendary DJ’s Steve Wright on Wednesday morning following his death at the age of 69
‘I was 16 and on a family holiday in Newquay, Cornwall, when he came down with the Radio 1 roadshow in 1981,’ he said.
‘I got there early, got to the front of the crowd and I was chosen to play the quiz Bits And Pieces.
‘So he quizzed me on air, and I was rubbish – six out of ten. Years later I met him at Radio 2, we became friends, I did the show before his for 20-years, and I saw him every day.’
Of his contribution to Radio 2, he added: ‘He totally rebooted the station… however much you loved Steve on the radio, you would have loved him even more in real life.’
Tributes have poured in from the world of radio for veteran BBC broadcaster Steve Wright, who died at the age of 69 on Tuesday.
The legendary DJ joined the BBC in the 1970s, going on to host shows on BBC Radio 1 and 2 for more than four decades which attracted millions of listeners.
Today’s shock announcement has left colleagues ‘heartbroken’ and prompted an outpouring of emotional tributes from stars such as Ken Bruce, Simon Mayo, Zoe Ball and Vernon Kay.
Speaking on Greatest Hits radio, a choked up Mayo said: ‘He was one of the true originals of music radio, I think. I loved his shows. I know a lot of you did as well. It was a thrill to be on the same radio stations as him. He’ll be much missed.’
Presenter Sara Cox said: ‘It’s really hard to know what to say about the news of Steve Wright’s passing, except we are all shocked and devastated and blindsided by this news.
Legendary radio broadcaster Steve Wright, pictured in 1995, has died at the age of 69
Tributes poured in from the world of radio as they shared touching stories about Wright
‘Steve was an extraordinary broadcaster, a really kind person, he was witty, he was warm, and he was a huge, huge part of the Radio 2 family, and I know my fellow DJs will all be absolutely shattered too.’
Zoe Ball has told Wright to ‘rest well you wonderful magic man’ following his death at the age of 69.
In a post to X, the broadcaster wrote: ‘Wrighty. Our radio friend, our inspiration, master of broadcasting, the Godfather, always there for us all with support, advice, love & most importantly laughter rest well you wonderful magic man.
‘Life won’t be the same without you here, love you my friend, my hero.’
Dame Esther Rantzen, who was interviewed by Wright on many occasions, said he was a unique broadcaster.
‘He created a kind of club which whether he was interviewing you or whether you were enjoying it as a listener, you looked forward to joining every day,’ she said.
‘It is a very rare quality, and he made it sound easy. It was frequently very funny, and when he left his daily afternoon show he really knocked a hole in the day for many of us who relied on his company. He will be a real loss.’
Matt Lucas has referred to Wright as ‘the most brilliant radio broadcaster of them all’ following the latter’s death at the age of 69.
In a post to X, the comedian wrote: ‘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.’
Jo Whiley has thanked Wright, ‘the broadcaster’s broadcaster’, for all his support over the years.
In a post to X, the radio DJ and television presenter wrote: ‘What a man. What a legend. The broadcaster’s broadcaster.
‘One of the kindest, loveliest people I’ve had the pleasure to work with. Thanks for the support & music chat over the years.
‘Can’t believe we won’t meet in the bowels of MV for our weekly catch up. Love ya Wrighty.’
Steve Wright, who has died at the age of 69, pictured in his recording studio in 1994
Wright seen in a recent photo from when he was out walking in central London
The DJ was married to Cyndi Robinson until they divorced in 1999. They are pictured on their wedding day
Wright was also a long-standing presenter of Top Of The Pops on BBC One and presented the popular Sunday Love Songs weekend mid-morning show on Radio 2.
His last show was a pre-recorded Valentine’s Day edition of the programme two days ago. Wright told listeners in his final sign-off: ‘I’ll be back for more love songs next Sunday, ta-da then.’
A statement shared by Wright’s family said: ‘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. 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 as one of the UK’s most enduring and popular radio personalities.
‘As we all grieve, the family requests privacy at this immensely difficult time.’
Wright’s show on Radio 2 last Sunday was pre-recorded, and it is understood that there is another programme ‘in the can’ though it is thought that it won’t be aired following his death.
Meanwhile, one BBC star told how the death was seen as ‘very, very sudden’ by his colleagues as he was in touch with bosses at the station within just the last few days.
They told the Mail: ‘Steve had been talking to Radio 2 bosses just two or three days and they had no idea he was going to die, we were aware he was struggling with his health a bit but nothing that seemed this serious.
‘It has come as a huge shock. Nobody can believe it. He was engaging with his colleagues so recently. It doesn’t seem at all real.’
The legendary broadcaster presented Steve Wright in the Afternoon for 12 years on Radio 1 and a further 23 years on Radio 2. He is pictured in 1980
The DJ, seen in 2003, was made an MBE for services to radio
Wright with Bunny Campione at an event at Hamleys Toy Store in London on October 24, 2004
The DJ with Alice Cooper at the Sony Radio Awards at Grosvenor House Hotel on May 12, 2004
Wright was hailed today by former colleagues and interviewees
Wright was born in 1954 in Greenwich, south London, and started his BBC career as a clerk.
He briefly left the broadcaster in 1976 for Thames Valley Radio but returned four years later to present weekend programmes.
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 on Radio 2, with celebrity interviews and entertaining trivia featured in his Factoids segment, before stepping down in September 2022.
Former BBC Radio 1 host Scott Mills took over the afternoon slot as part of the station’s schedule shake-up.
Wright continued to present Sunday Love Songs on BBC Radio 2 and since October last year, he presented the long-running show Pick Of The Pops, which had previously been fronted by Paul Gambaccini.
Head of BBC Radio 2, Helen Thomas, said Wright ‘understood the connection and companionship that radio engenders better than anyone, and we all loved him for it.
Wright being surprised in his studio by Paul McCartney. Also pictured is his production assistant Dianne Oxberry
The DJ with George Michael in an undated photo taken within a BBC studio
‘He was a consummate professional whose attention to detail was always second to none, and he made his guests laugh, he was fair, and he wanted to showcase them and their work in the best possible light, bringing brilliant stories to our listeners’, she added.
She recalled feeling ‘pure amazement’ watching him 20 years ago when he became the first presenter she produced.
‘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,’ she added.
‘We were lucky to have him with us for all these decades, and we will miss his talent and his friendship terribly.’
Wright was honoured for his services to radio in the December 2023 New Year Honours list and said he wanted to dedicate it ‘to all the people in broadcasting who gave comfort and public service during the pandemic’.
BBC Director General Tim Davie said today: ‘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.
‘He was the ultimate professional – passionate about the craft of radio and deeply in touch with his listeners. This was deservedly recognised in the New Year Honours list with his MBE for services to radio.
‘No-one had more energy to deliver shows that put a smile on audiences’ faces. They loved him deeply. We are thinking of Steve and his family and will miss him 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.’