Steve Wright’s Love Songs is set to continue on BBC Radio 2 following the veteran DJ’s death earlier this week – with reports suggesting a number of big names could be considered to replace the tragic icon.
Wright, 69, was found dead on Monday at his £2million London flat days after reportedly speaking with BBC bosses – and ahead of a meeting to allegedly discuss a comeback on a new ‘pop nostalgia’ Radio 2 spin-off station.
And while the broadcaster had been unceremoniously ousted from the coveted afternoon slot on the station in 2022 after 23 years, he had continued to record the weekly Steve Wright’s Love Songs, with the most recent edition airing last weekend.
Wright had fronted the show since 1996 – featuring classic romance tracks, along with dedications and real-life love stories.
The final edition, which had been recorded, will not air. But reports suggest that the BBC plans to keep Love Songs going in some form with a new presenter.
Steve Wright pictured in 2003. He was found dead at home on Monday after paramedics were called to an ‘incident’ at his London flat
Singer and presenter Michael Ball (left) and veteran presenter and ex-Radio 2 host Graham Norton (right) are among those tipped to take over on Love Songs
Davina McCall (left) is tipped as a possible replacement for Steve Wright on Love Songs. Lorraine Kelly could be also brought in to shake up Radio 2’s largely male line-up
Wright (pictured in 1995) had fronted Love Songs since 1996. He is pictured here the year before
The broadcaster (pictured here in 1979) was a BBC legend, fronting shows on Radio 1 and Radio 2 for over 40 years
Wright, pictured centre with Tony Blackburn, left, and Paul Gambaccini, right in 2002
Among those suggested by media insiders include singer and presenter Michael Ball, Davina McCall and Graham Norton, who presented a Saturday show for a decade until he defected to Virgin Radio in 2021.
Ball already presents a show on Radio 2 on Sundays, meaning he may have to forgo the 11am slot if he wishes to step into Wright’s shoes. McCall, meanwhile, has sat in for Claudia Winkleman, who is set to leave her Saturday mid-morning show in March.
Grant Michaels, director of talent agency Encanta, says the BBC is stuck between trying to shake up the station’s male-heavy line-up and avoiding alienating Radio 2’s already dwindling audience.
The station lost 1million listeners after Ken Bruce took himself and the Popmaster quiz format from the station to commercial rival Greatest Hits Radio last year.
However, other familiar media voices such as Lorraine Kelly and Susanna Reid could well be in with a chance – familiar enough to listeners in general that it could coax some back to the station after Wright’s death.
Mr Michaels told The Times: ‘Radio 2 is struggling with its identity at the moment. Its audience wants familiarity and does not like what might be deemed a risk.
‘They call it the ‘crown jewels of the BBC’ and time and again when they have tried something a bit out the box the listeners don’t like it so they have to play it safe.
‘The usual route they take is to poach someone from Radio 1 but they have just got Scott Mills and I don’t see anyone else there who could join at this time.’
Wright also presented Pick of the Pops on Saturday afternoons, having taken over from Paul Gambaccini in 2022. It, too, is likely to continue.
A BBC spokesperson said the corporation did not have any comment to make.
Gambaccini said earlier this week that he had ‘no idea’ Wright had been unwell before his unexpected death on Monday.
He told the Telegraph: ‘I last spoke to him on Saturday. I had no idea that he was unwell.
‘He mentioned to me that he’d had doctors’ appointments but that doesn’t transfer to being fatally ill so I was completely surprised, as well as saddened, by this devastating news.’
Tributes came from all across the broadcasting world following Wright’s passing.
Steve Wright and comedian Ben Elton pose on stage at the BBC Radio 1 Roadshow in Great Yarmouth in August 1991
Steve Wright represents Radio 1 as he presents a show in 1980 – he moved to Radio 2 in 1996
At the start of her show on Tuesday, fellow BBC Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley said: ‘It’s extremely hard to know what to say and to be talking about someone that you saw only days ago in this very studio where I am right now – doing a tribute show to that person just does not feel right.
‘It’s very hard to find the words to say and to talk about someone in the past tense when it’s someone that you wish was very much still here. So it’s tough. The Radio 2 family 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 difficult to take in that he’s no longer here.’
Ken Bruce said he was ‘totally shocked to hear the news’, adding: ‘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.’
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.
‘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.’
In a tribute issued by the BBC, 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.’
BBC director-general Tim Davie hailed Wright as a ‘truly wonderful broadcaster’, while Radio 2 boss Helen Thomas said: ‘We were lucky to have him with us for all these decades, and we will miss his talent and his friendship terribly.’
However, Ms Thomas’ tribute was slammed as ‘tone-deaf’ by Radio 2 staff, given that she was responsible for deposing him from his afternoon slot of more than 20 years.
And Gary Farrow, a close friend of Wright’s for decades, told The Sun he believed the presenter died of ‘a broken heart’ after losing the show.
But Wright had made his departure with good grace, telling reporters outside New Broadcasting House in 2022: ‘That’s the way it goes… You know, sometimes people want you, sometimes they don’t.
‘Sometimes they want to make changes, give you another offer, and that’s okay, I understand that, I really understand that.’