Vanessa Feltz brands Steve Wright 'a pure genius' in heartbreaking tribute
Vanessa Feltz paid tribute to Steve Wright after his death was announced on Tuesday.
The TalkTV presenter, who is away on holiday but phoned in to pay her respects, admitted she was "shocked to the core" after hearing of the BBC Radio DJ's death, adding: "I rated Steve Wright so highly just as everybody else in the country and beyond did as a pure radio genius, you know, an innovative creator, the presenter of a show that sounded nothing like anybody else’s show ever. A man who was at the absolute top of his game for decade after decade."
Vanessa, who first worked with Steve 34 years ago, became great friends with the radio legend following their time as colleagues at Radio 2. In a touching tribute, Vanessa said: "Thank you Steve, for all the hours, all the music and especially the bit I used to like the best. I know he used to drive some people crazy, but when he used to sing along.
Vanessa phoned in to pay tribute to her friend (James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock for Prime Video)
Steve Wright's family announced his death on Tuesday (REX/Shutterstock)"I used to love it when he sang along. It was hilarious. I'm still not sure whether he could actually sing or not but he didn’t seem to care. He would just blithely sing, come crashing in with his own chords and, you know, some people used to write to the BBC to complain. They regularly got complaints about it but I used to absolutely love it."
She continued: "I never dared do it when I was on Radio 2 and I always used to say If I was Steve Wright, I’d definitely be singing along but I don’t dare inflict this on you lovely listener because I love you but he had no such compunction. He was a really unusual, really unprecedented radio voice.
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"He’ll never be followed. You know when people say ‘You’ll never see his like again’- nobody will ever hear his like again because there's nobody like him and never will be. Really original creative, extraordinary person and I'm absolutely shocked and devastated at this news.
"Sometimes you know you're trying to do your professional job and pay tribute to somebody who thoroughly deserves a thoroughly excellent tribute. But really in my heart and in my head I’m just thinking ‘Oh my God I’m never going to see him again, because this is real, I'm not just making this up. This is years and years of knowing him, working with him, hanging around with him, chatting with him - basically, I used to just try and learn from him."
The presenter joined the BBC in the 1970s and went on to host afternoon shows on both Radio 1 and 2. He fronted shows for the broadcaster for more than four decades, including Top of the Pops on BBC TV.
His family announced on Tuesday: "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.
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"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."
No further details, such as the cause of the DJ's death, have been released.
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