15 February 2024 , 17:56
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BBC has today confirmed content remembering Steve Wright this weekend following the radio DJ's death at 69.
BBC spokesperson said: “We’ve been remembering Steve on air all week together with our presenters and listeners, and we’ll continue to celebrate his decades with the BBC this weekend. On BBC Four, audiences can catch his first ever Top of the Pops from 1980, on BBC Sounds there’s a special collection and this weekend’s Pick of the Pops and Sunday Love Songs will be dedicated to Steve, presented by Gary Davies and Liza Tarbuck.”
This weekend, Gary Davies will present this Saturday’s Pick of the Pops, dedicated to Steve. Listeners will hear Gary turning the clock back to 1980, the year when Steve joined BBC Radio 1, and 1996, when he joined BBC Radio 2. Liza Tarbuck will present a special episode of Sunday Love Songs, paying tribute to the BBC Radio 2 stalwart and with dedications from his listeners.
Steve was part of the BBC Radio family for over four decades (Getty Images)
BBC will be honoured Steve with a selection of programmes (BBC)A collection of programmes featuring Steve Wright is also available to listeners on BBC Sounds, including his Peter Kay Christmas special and numerous episodes of Tell It To Steve. The broadcaster has also confirmed a special commission celebrating Steve Wright’s BBC career will be aired later this year.
On Friday, BBC Four will mark Steve's time hosting Top of the Pops with four episodes from the BBC archive, including his first and last shows from 1980 and 1989. At 7pm, BBC Four will air Steve's first Top of the Pops, which was first broadcast on 7 February 1980 and featuring The Tourists, Cliff Richard, The Chords, The Regents, Queen, The Selecter, AC/DC, The Buggles, The Specials and Legs & Co.
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This episode is followed by a Top of the Pops from 1984 which saw Steve and Peter Powell present the pop chart programme. It was first broadcast on 13 December 1984 and featured Black Lace, Wham!, Paul Young, Kool & the Gang, Madonna, Tears for Fears and Band Aid.
At 8pm on BBC Four, Steve and Gary Davies present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 13 February 1986 and featuring Belouis Some, Whitney Houston, Su Pollard, Shakin' Stevens and Billy Ocean. To conclude the evening of Top of the Pops, Steve Wright and Jackie Brambles present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 5 October 1989. It featurs Curiosity Killed the Cat, Sonia, Black Box, Cher, Billy Joel, Belinda Carlisle, Living in a Box, Milli Vanilli and Bros.
Steve's death was confirmed in a statement released by his family on Tuesday. Emergency services were rushed to the Steve's home in Marylebone, London on Monday, just after 10am.
Steve was pronounced dead at the scene and the police have confirmed his "unexpected" death is not being treated as suspicious. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: "A man in his 60s was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed. The death was unexpected, but is not being treated as suspicious. A report will be prepared for the coroner."
London Ambulance Service confirmed they were called to the address following "reports of an incident". Despite their efforts, Steve was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Steve's brother Laurence Wright, 65, has broken his silence following the death of the radio DJ, hitting out at claims his late sibling died "due to a broken heart" following his BBC Radio 2 afternoon slot being axed in 2022.
"He was aware that he could have looked after himself better, in his lifestyle choices. Obviously we all wish he had," Laurence said today when discussing his brother's passing. "It's like anyone who doesn't look after themselves over an extended period. The normal stuff - diet, nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress - he was a very stoic kind of guy as well so if he had something wrong with him and he had to go to have some treatment or go to the doctors, he wouldn't talk about it."
He went on to tell the MailOnline: "That's just how he was - that probably didn't help really, because he wouldn't have help or take advice necessarily." Laurence explained how Steve didn't agree with the decision to ditch his weekday show almost two years ago, but he had needed a break.