Steve Wright RIP (1954-2024)

[nickthegeek]

Just heard on Radio 2. Sara Cox audibly shaken.

I find myself deeply saddened, he became a friendly voice during lockdown and I came to like his knowing silliness. Even Serious Jockin'. He brought a lot of joy to the world.

Very, very sad news.

NTG

[Wynn Chester]

www.BBC.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68287707 69 is no age...

[billymedhurst]

Really shocked and saddened to read this. 69 is far too young. RIP Steve. Part of my life for so long.

[metro1962]

Carp news to hear.

Not a fan of his (too much Kenny Everett for me) but still at 69 too young.

I did see the other day on the BBC website that Radio 1 or 2 was being shaken up and there were going to have him lead the way as part of the 1960's 1970's (possibly 1980's) dedicated radio show type spin offs.

R.I.P Steve.

[gra966]

More sad news . I used to love his afternoon Radio 1 show , in the 1980s , with all his funny characters . He will be greatly missed by us 80s music lovers .R.I.P Steve Wright.

[jno]

Yes, his voice was great on radio. RIP

Why do I think one day that AI is going to immitate the great voices of BBC Radio for some one off shows? I'm sure this will happen.

I'm sure this isn't the last of Steve Wright's voice we'll hear which is testament to the great work he did and the fondness towards listening to him on the radio for the last 40+ years.

[jjmolloy]

Shocked to hear this. One of the greatest voices on UK radio ever. A total professional. Rest in peace Steve. 

[coyote]

Very sad news. Someone who touched so many generations of listeners and the pioneer of 'zoo format' (as it's now called) radio in the UK. When I was a teenager people used to envy their older brothers who could listen to Steve Wright's "posse", and as soon as we could drive it was must-listen in the afternoon. 30 years on and I still remember that show, those characters and sitting in car parks just so I could keep listening as I knew I would have to stop when I got home/to work/whatever.

I don't think he was treated that brilliantly at points by the BBC when certain new broom controllers decided he was old hat but he proved them wrong and retained a strong listener fanbase. The level of reaction from both within the media and outside shows what an impression he made on people's lives. RIP.

[AlanH]

Listened to Steve Wright's show quite a lot in the 1980s. Always entertaining. Really sad to learn of his presumably sudden death. RIP.

[ontheslate]

His decades on the radio meant he was a background of people’s life would often go somewhere and his show was playing. RIP

[spacecadet]

He has always seemed to be on the radio. Usually catch the beginning of his Sunday morning shows - will be strange this Sunday when he's not there.

RIP Steve

[Portland Road]

This is a shock as, albeit he recently left daily radio, he has passed away whilst still in his prime.

I often heard his afternoon Radio One show 1989-93ish then I became re-acquainted with him from about 2003 when Radio Two became my regular station.

I think he was better in this period than he had been on R1, where he had been amidst the late-period Smashie n Nicies and could be a bit irritating.

At Radio One he was also bound by the playlist which being late-80s wasn't always inspiring, but at Radio Two he had more freedom and had a good taste in music, e.g. 60s-70s that he knew from his youth.

In the mid-2010s I drifted away from R2 as it became lifestyle-driven and I think Steve Wright noticed this himself.

69 is no age, RIP Steve Wright.

[westminster]

Lived and breathed radio apparently. Very hard working and really into his music. Clearly a man who loved his job - and was very good at it too. RIP Steve.

Makes a stark contrast with somebody like Zoe Ball who takes loads of time off, knows nothing more about pop music than you or I and is obviously winging it every day. Can't wait for her show to finish so she can lay around for the rest of the day.

[jjmolloy]

Feb 15, 2024 12:41:13 GMT westminster said:

Lived and breathed radio apparently. Very hard working and really into his music. Clearly a man who loved his job - and was very good at it too. RIP Steve.

Makes a stark contrast with somebody like Zoe Ball who takes loads of time off, knows nothing more about pop music than you or I and is obviously winging it every day. Can't wait for her show to finish so she can lay around for the rest of the day.

Yes, that's the trouble with celeb presenters, I won't even call them deejays. The days of a youngster starting on hospital radio and progressing to a top BBC slot are long gone sadly. Can't stand the celeb radio culture. Still a few old pros left though, but after them there's nothing. It's fitting that news of Steve's passing broke on International Radio Day. 

[westminster]

Feb 15, 2024 13:37:38 GMT jjmolloy said:

Feb 15, 2024 12:41:13 GMT westminster said:

Lived and breathed radio apparently. Very hard working and really into his music. Clearly a man who loved his job - and was very good at it too. RIP Steve.

Makes a stark contrast with somebody like Zoe Ball who takes loads of time off, knows nothing more about pop music than you or I and is obviously winging it every day. Can't wait for her show to finish so she can lay around for the rest of the day.

Yes, that's the trouble with celeb presenters, I won't even call them deejays. The days of a youngster starting on hospital radio and progressing to a top BBC slot are long gone sadly. Can't stand the celeb radio culture. Still a few old pros left though, but after them there's nothing. It's fitting that news of Steve's passing broke on International Radio Day. 

Yeah, Steve Wright was an old pro. As is Paul Gambaccini and was the recently deceased Annie Nightingale. People who really knew their music.

I'm not totally against 'celebrity' DJs though. Vernon Kay, who I was determined to dislike is, I reckon, actually pretty good and Sara Cox (who also maybe fits into that category) is great. Zoe Ball, on the other hand, is demonstrably sh1te. It's not just that she knows rock all about music, but she can't interview guests properly or even read out loud without fluffing her lines.

Then, of course, there's this weird juxtaposition between trying to pretend she's still a fun-loving teenager and all the mumsy talk, banging on about the menopause. Since when did that become light entertainment? It's no wonder she's lost millions of listeners. But, somehow she always gets a free pass. I just don't get it.          

[harryshand]

Thanks for all the laughs Steve. RIP.

[billymedhurst]

A nice run of TOTP hosted by him tonight, enjoyed this. RIP Steve.

[daz]

Was never a fan of his shows, just never got the posse thing and liked slow songs too much for my liking, but...

I was taking to him doing Pick if the Pops, I even chuckled at some of his jokes.
I listened to last weekend shows on Sounds on Monday and was very shocked to read of his untimely death on Tuesday.

He mentioned Keith Chegwin during one show and how he was no longer with us but was such a nice guy. He also mentioned Steve Harley was keeping poorly and wished him a speedy recovery. Apparently they were at school in London around the same time.

I know when people die there are loads of posts from celebrities on social media about them, but the posts about Wright were on another level.

Everyone with a story and all about how good a host/colleague he was. DJs both young and old were gutted, as they genuinely seemed to love the guy and each one spoke about how professional and dedicated to radio he was.

RIP

[Portland Road]

Good points guys 

daz - yes, I grew to like Steve Wright more and more over his long career, and he didn't seem to be a 'celebrity' himself - he was dedicated to his own work, without being 'up' himself, appearing as a guest on banal chat shows etc.

By contrast, e.g. Zoe Ball, as westminster suggests, has probably got worse since her younger days, and epitomises the 'lifestyle' element at Radio Two which I grew tired of. 

[chopper]

Sad news, I was never an avid listener but always appreciated his style and enjoyed his shows when I did tune in. He was a unique talent and there was a great feature about him in The Guardian. I think he found his home in ‘semi retirement’ on POTP, shame it was relatively short lived.