Steve Wright 'needed an arm round the shoulder after BBC said he was too old'

15 February 2024 , 08:16

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Steve Wright 'needed an arm round the shoulder after BBC said he was too old'

A friend of Steve Wright's has said all he needed was "an arm round the shoulder" following the axe of his BBC weekday radio show, but it never came.

Legendary DJ Steve was found dead at his home at the age of 69 this wek, with the Metropolitan Police deeming his death "unexpected" but that it's "not suspicious". Tributes have poured in for the former BBC Radio 1 and 2 star, with some friends of Steve sharing his struggles before his death.

Steve held his much-loved BBC Radio 2 slot from 1999 until 2022 when it was taken over by Scott Mills. At the time he hinted that it wasn't his decision to end the show, while colleague Liz Kershaw recently suggested the broadcaster "dumped him". Celebrity publicist Gary Farrow, who was a friend of Steve for 40 years, said all he needed was support.

Steve worked on BBC Radio 2 for 23 years (BBC)

Gary has said Steve was "devastated" to lose his hugely popular show two years ago, which led to a loss of a million listeners. He told The Sun: “Everybody loved him on and off air, although he was actually painfully shy, and never wanted to attend these big dos that bosses wanted to wheel him out at.

"But he just wanted someone at the BBC to put an arm around him every now and then, and say ‘You’re doing a great job, Steve. We all love you.’ But I don’t think anybody ever did - that’s all he wanted. I’ll never understand the decision to let him go. It devastated him."

Radio 2 listening figures plunge as fans snub station after veteran DJs dumped

Gary also hit out at BBC bosses who he says deemed Steve "too old", saying he "lived for that show". His words echo that of Steve's colleague Liz Kershaw. Speaking on , she said: "I doubt that there was any follow up, or any pastoral care, or any support for him. [...] He didn't need money as he has been one of the highest paid people on air. But, you know, I wonder if they considered how it affected him."

The BBC paid tribute to Steve earlier this week as director-general Tim Davie said in a statement: "All of us at the BBC are heartbroken to hear this terribly sad news. Steve was a truly wonderful broadcaster who has been a huge part of so many of our lives over many decades. He was the ultimate professional - passionate about the craft of radio and deeply in touch with his listeners.

"This was deservedly recognised in the New Year Honours list with his MBE for services to radio. No-one had more energy to deliver shows that put a smile on audiences' faces. They loved him deeply. We are thinking of Steve and his family and will miss him terribly." Following the shock news of the BBC Radio icon's death, an inside source claimed that although Steve's colleagues were shocked, they knew he was struggling with his health.

Steve had reportedly spoken to BBC Radio bosses in recent days about his health. "Steve had been talking to Radio 2 bosses just two or three days ago," a BBC star told Mail Online. Steve's shocked colleague added: "We were aware he was struggling with his health a bit but nothing that seemed this serious. It has come as a huge shock. Nobody can believe it. He was engaging with his colleagues so recently. It doesn't seem at all real."

Mia O'Hare