Latest news with #SundayLoveSongs
Evening Standard
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright's touching final act after death revealed
He left his afternoon show in 2022, telling press that the station "wanted to do something new" as he was replaced by Scott Mills, but he continued hosting Sunday Love Songs until his death.
Metro
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright's emotional final good deed revealed after death
Steve Wright's incredible final act has been revealed in his final will and testimony. The BBC Radio legend died at the age of 69 in February 2024,just days after pre-recording his final shows, which are said to be locked away and won't see the light of day. Now, months after his passing, it has been revealed that the disk jockey left a sizable amount of money to charity. Wright gave tax-free donations of £15,000 to Cancer Research UK, and £10,000 to the British Heart Foundation. This was part of a total will of £53,623, which was reduced to £40,623 after costs and taxes, with the remainder being split between his children. His will was signed in 2023, just the year before his death, and approved in the High Court last week. The DJ's millions earned over his 40-year career are held in his business, 22 Media Limited, which reportedly held £3.3million in cash in 2023. A showbiz source told The Sun: 'It is typical of Steve that he thought of charities as well as his family. 'He was known for his big heart throughout his career and was always thinking of others.' Wright had two children named Tom and Lucy, from his relationship with Cyndi Robinson, whom he was married to from 1985 until 1999, when they divorced. Wright presented programmes for BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 for more than four decades, after joining the broadcaster in the 1970s. He was probably best known for hosting Steve Wright in the Afternoon on BBC Radio 2 and fronting Top of the Pops from 1980 until 1989. Some BBC co-workers have blamed his death on 'heartbreak' over the axing of his Radio 2 show. Celebrity PR Gary Farrow said Wright was left 'brokenhearted' after his long-running Radio 2 afternoon show was axed in 2022 after 23 years on air and was replaced by Scott Mills. He told Metro: 'Steve lived for that show, he absolutely loved it — and the listeners loved him. 'My view is that he died from a broken heart. I'll never understand the decision to let him go.' Speaking about the axing at the time, Wright said on his show: 'Sometimes people don't want you.' He added: 'I've been offered loads of stuff at the BBC and I'm staying at Radio 2. What it actually means for me is rather than working six days a week, I'll be working maybe two and a half days a week.' He went on to work on Sunday Love Songs, and the day before he died he signed off saying: 'I'm back for more Love Songs next Sunday … ta-ra then.' Former BBC presenter Liz Kershaw also blasted the treatment of Wright, calling BBC bosses 'hypocritical' after his death. 'It makes me feel sick. It's shabby, it's hypocritical. They just dumped him,' the 65-year-old presenter told Eamonn Holmes and Ellie Costello on GB News. Announcing Wright's death, his family said in a statement: '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. More Trending '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.' It was revealed in a death certificate released in July 2024 that Wright died from a ruptured stomach ulcer. The BBC further confirmed that the stated causes of death were acute peritonitis and a perforated peptic gastric ulcer. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Met Police boss grilled into apologising to ITV's Selina Scott after vicious mugging MORE: 'Harrowing' film from 28 Years Later director now available on completely free streaming service MORE: The 90s and 2000s were the best time for video game creativity – Reader's Feature
Scottish Sun
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright's will revealed – with touching gift to charity & rest left to his kids after tragic death
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright has left behind over £40,000 to charity and his kids in his will. The veteran DJ, who presented Steve Wright in the Afternoon and fronted Top of the Pops, passed away aged 69 in February last year. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 9 Steve Wright passed away aged 69 Credit: BBC 9 His will has now been revealed following his death Credit: Alamy 9 Steve and Cindi Robinson got married in 1972 but later divorced 9 Wright with his son Tom in July 1988 Credit: Getty Now, his will has been revealed with his children Tom and Lucy Wright the executors of his estate. Steve left behind a total of £40,623 after tax. The radio legend donated £15,000 to Cancer Research UK and generously donated £10,000 to the British Heart Foundation - with both contributions free from inheritance tax. The rest of the money was left to Steve's two children to be split between them. During a stellar career, Steve also presented the popular Sunday Love Songs mid-morning show on Radio 2. His last show was a pre-recorded Valentine's Day edition of Sunday Love Songs. He had been due to front a new BBC spin-off show as the broadcaster planned to launch four fresh stations before his tragic death. His family said in a moving statement at the time: "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. 9 The veteran presenter was best known for his time on BBC Radio 2 Credit: Alamy 9 Steve and his then wife Cindi in 1985 Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 9 The DJ had been a permanent fixture at the BBC for 40 years Credit: Getty "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." Steve joined the BBC in the 1970s and spent four decades hosting his beloved afternoon shows. He also fronted TV programmes for the broadcaster, including Top of the Pops. In 1976, he briefly left the broadcaster for Thames Valley Radio but returned four years later to present weekend programmes. The move paid off and his defining show Steve Wright in the Afternoon was launched in 1981. 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. Although a scheduling shake-up meant Scott Mills took over his afternoon slot, Steve stayed on to present Sunday Love Songs. Speaking about the shock axing, the DJ said at the time: "Sometimes people don't want you". He continued: "I've been offered loads of stuff at the BBC and I'm staying at Radio 2. What it actually means for me is rather than working six days a week, I'll be working maybe two and a half days a week." In his personal life, Steve was married to US-born Cindi Robinson until they divorced in 1999. He later revealed he had struggled to find love since due to his demanding radio schedule. Most recently, Steve was made an MBE in the New Year Honours for services to radio. 9 Steve also presented Top of the Pops Credit: BBC
The Irish Sun
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright's will revealed – with touching gift to charity & rest left to his kids after tragic death
BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright has left behind over £40,000 to charity and his kids in his will. The , who presented in the Afternoon and fronted Top of the Pops , passed away aged 69 in February last year. 9 Steve Wright passed away aged 69 Credit: BBC 9 His will has now been revealed following his death Credit: Alamy 9 Steve and Cindi Robinson got married in 1972 but later divorced 9 Wright with his son Tom in July 1988 Credit: Getty Now, his will has been revealed with his children Tom and Lucy Wright the executors of his estate. Steve left behind a total of £40,623 after tax. The radio legend donated £15,000 to Cancer Research UK and generously donated £10,000 to the British Heart Foundation - with both contributions free from inheritance tax. The rest of the money was left to Steve's two children to be split between them. During a stellar career, Steve also presented the popular mid-morning show on Radio 2. His last show was a pre-recorded Valentine's Day edition of Sunday Love Songs. He had been due to His family said in a Most read in Showbiz "In addition to his son, Tom, and daughter, Lucy, Steve leaves behind his brother, Laurence and his father Richard. 9 The veteran presenter was best known for his time on BBC Radio 2 Credit: Alamy 9 Steve and his then wife Cindi in 1985 Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 9 The DJ had been a permanent fixture at the BBC for 40 years Credit: Getty "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." Steve joined the BBC in the 1970s and spent four decades hosting his beloved afternoon shows. He also fronted TV programmes for the broadcaster, including Top of the Pops. In 1976, he briefly left the broadcaster for Thames Valley Radio but returned four years later to present weekend programmes. The move paid off and his defining show Steve Wright in the Afternoon was launched in 1981. From bullied schoolboy to BBC legend By Jane Matthews STEVE Wright went from being a bullied schoolboy cruelly dubbed 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 Although a scheduling shake-up meant Scott Mills took over his afternoon slot, Steve stayed on to present Sunday Love Songs. Speaking about the shock axing, the DJ said at the time: "Sometimes people don't want you". He continued: "I've been offered loads of stuff at the BBC and I'm staying at Radio 2. What it actually means for me is rather than working six days a week, I'll be working maybe two and a half days a week." In his personal life, Steve was married to US-born Read more on the Irish Sun He later revealed he had struggled to find love since due to his demanding radio schedule. Most recently, Steve was made an MBE in the New Year Honours for services to radio. 9 Steve also presented Top of the Pops Credit: BBC 9 He was a much loved figure in the radio industry Credit: Rex
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC workmen ripped apart Steve Wright's old studio in week he died
BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine told how workmen ripped apart Steve Wright's old studio and showed lack of compassion to older staff members BBC workmen ripped apart Steve Wright's old studio in the very week that he died. The Radio Two presenter passed away in February last year aged 69 from a ruptured stomach ulcer. Two years before he had been axed from his very popular weekday show by the station – a move which had angered his army of listeners. Instead he had continued hosting his Sunday Love Songs programme. Now details have emerged that when the BBC moved out of Wogan House in London in the spring last year, their timing for tearing out rooms and removing equipment could not have been worse. Radio 2 host Jeremy Vine has revealed: ' Steve Wright – what an amazing man. 'His studio was torn out in the week he died very sadly because they were changing offices and of course the way they tear these things out is not particularly respectful of the history of all the machines that were in there because Steve had asked for them.. that microphone was Steve's microphone!' Vine, who also has a Channel 5 daytime show, said staff were in tears when word reached them that 'Wrightie' - who had been at the station since the 1980s - had died. And he had to console one newsreader who was especially close to him – but even that moment was ruined by a workman who showed a lack of compassion. He added: 'When he died, there was a particular news reader who was very very close friends with him and she was very upset because she was in the newsroom and she found out he had died because she saw the script for it. Terrible. ' I said 'Let's go and talk about it' and we went off. Now this was all part of this big office move and there was a sign outside (his old studio) saying 'Do Not Enter'... so we of course ignored that. 'So we go into the studio and we start talking, hugging, crying and talking about Steve and then we must have appeared on some camera because a guy comes up with a clipboard and opens the door and says 'Excuse me.. can you not read this sign?' 'I said 'Sorry' but I can see my friend the news reader is about to go ballistic. And she said 'This is our church!' which is such a great line. It made me think how deep all this runs.' Former Strictly contestant Vine also admitted that it was a sad sign of the times that the BBC is staffed with many younger employees who do not know the history of the station nor the legendary radio presenters who helped make the channel what it is today. And a recent experience made him realise how easily famous DJs can be forgotten. The star, who has recently released a murder mystery novel Murder On Line One, explained at the Bath Literary Festival: 'Obviously all my producers now are 22 or 23 years old and as we cleared out the desks in the old building which is called Wogan House, one of them pulled this massive lump of metal out. 'And it was a bust in bronze and they said 'Who the hell is this?' It was a guy with a collar and tie on. And I said 'Look at the name!' And they looked at it and turned it around and said 'Jimmy Young. Who's that?' I said 'Guys he presented the show for 29 years'. But it was a bit of a reminder of the generational gap – and once you are gone, you are gone! And I suppose a lot of broadcasters do worry about that.' A BBC spokesman said: "Radio 2 moved out of Wogan House and all the studios were decommissioned on the same weekend that Steve tragically passed away. Steve's microphone was saved, mounted on a stand and featured prominently in the celebration of his career that took place at the BBC recently. The event was recorded and will be broadcast later this year."
