LONDON (CelebrityAccess) — Stephen Richard Wright MBE, the veteran DJ and television presenter who helped to introduce the American-style ‘morning zoo’ radio format to the UK, has died. He was 69.
His passing was announced by his family in a statement shared by the BBC:
“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.”
A cause of death was not provided.
Born in the London suburb of Greenwich, Wright started his career in broadcasting at Thames Valley Radio Radio 210 in 1976 before landing at the BBC’s Radio 1 in 1980, taking over the Saturday evening slot before moving to daytimes the following year.
For his daytime show, Wright introduced the audience to a cast of telephone characters, before transitioning to a ‘Zoo’ format featuring skits, call-in segments and other morning show antics.
Wright joined BBC Radio 2 in 1996, where he began presenting Steve Wright’s Saturday Show until 1999 and then Steve Wright’s Sunday Love Songs, which remained on the air until his passing.
In addition to his work on the radio, Wright hosted the BBC TV show The Steve Wright People Show, which ran from 1994 to 1995 and was a writer and narrator for Top of the Pops 2 for more than a decade, starting in 1997.
Wright was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to radio
“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,” said Lorna Clarke, Director of BBC Music.
