STEVE Wright was reportedly found dead at home by paramedics after they were called to an incident.
The veteran DJ, who presented Steve Wright in the Afternoon and fronted Top of the Pops, this week passed away aged 69.
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The Mail reports that emergency services scrambled to the star’s home in Marylebone just after 10am on Monday.
He was reportedly pronounced dead at the scene, with his “unexpected” death not treated as suspicious.
The London Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 10.07am on Monday 12 February to reports of an incident.
“We sent a number of resources to the scene. Very sadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Friend Anthony James shared what is believed to be the last picture of Wright – a selfie the pair took together.
James said: “I’m thinking of my dear friend Steve. We took this picture 4 weeks ago in New York.
“We were trying to do, as he put it, ‘ironic selfies’. He had such a love of life and radio. I miss him.”
In a statement yesterday, 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.”
Tributes have flooded in from colleagues, including from presenter Sara Cox.
She 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.”
Zoe Ball said: “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.”
Jo Whiley 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.”
Chris Evans, who was also a stalwart on Radio 1 and 2 for many years before joining Virgin Radio, said Wright was to afternoons as Sir Terry Wogan was to breakfast.
Wake Up To Wogan on Radio 2 ran from 1993 to 2009 and was the most listened-to radio show in the UK.
Evans wrote on Instagram: “Oh my goodness. What terribly sad news.
“It goes without saying that Steve was the soundtrack to millions of our afternoons for decades.
“Nobody will ever come close to the length and breadth of the way he encompassed all things entertainment, in his own highly original and light-hearted style.
“He was to afternoons as Sir Terry was to breakfast.”
More to follow.
From bullied schoolboy to BBC legend
By Jane Matthews
STEVE Wright went from being a bullied schoolboy cruelly dubbed ‘Big Nose’ to a BBC radio legend.
Wright was born in Greenwich, London and attended Eastwood High School in Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
It was there that he was cruelly nicknamed Big Nose and Concorde.
His first job after leaving school was in marine insurance but after three years he realised it wasn’t for him.
It was then that Wright left to become a local newspaper reporter.
This led him to BBC, as a record librarian, which then went on to his own shows – and the rest was history.
But in 2022 he announced he was stepping back from his Afternoon show after more than two decades.
He said at the time: “Before we start the show proper, if I may, I’d just like to say thank you ever so much for all the messages that have come in, over the weekend after I announced on Friday on the afternoon that we are leaving the afternoon show.”
The axing saw him take another step towards his Sunday Love Songs show – which he last appeared on just days ago.
