Steve Wright left BBC Radio co-star with heartbreaking regret after sad warning

16 February 2024 , 09:27

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Steve Wright gave his BBC colleague a four-word warning (Image: PA)

Steve Wright's BBC Radio co-star has shared the four-word warning he gave when starting out in the industry.

Adrian Chiles emotionally opened up on his encounters with the legendary radio presenter following his sudden death earlier this week. The BBC Radio 1 and 2 host sadly died on Monday, with his family sharing the sad news a day later. Tributes soon poured in for Steve, as the police revealed his death was "unexpected" but "not suspicious".

In his own tribute to Steve, Adrian revealed he became a huge fan of the presenter when he was stuck at home after breaking his leg. He became an avid listener of Steve Wright in the Afternoon every weekday, who became a "cheering companion" at his side. After nine months of being in his parents house, Adrian decided to write the only fan letter he'd ever done and sent it to Steve.

Adrian has opened up on meeting Steve for the first time (WireImage)

Steve tragically died earlier this week aged 69 (PA)

He didn't put his address on the letter, so never knew if Steve received it. Yet just five years later Adrian started working in radio and TV. Adrian ended up fronting BBC Two business show Working Lunch and at the Sony Radio Industry Awards, Steve recognised him from the show.

Steve told Adrian how much he loved the programme. Writing in The Guardian, Adrian recalled: "Then he grabbed my arm and said something to me with real feeling: 'You know, in person you’re exactly like you are on TV. And that’s very nice.' I nodded, taking this as a compliment, which it probably was."

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Adrian revealed Steve gave him a telling warning as he shared: "'But in the end,' he added, 'you’ll go completely mad'." The pair saw each other over the years and Adrian said he once reminded Steve about his warning. He admitted she didn't really understand what Steve had meant at the time, but now did.

The former One Show host admitted: "He laughed and said that we should have a talk, which I’ll always regret not having. I hope he was never driven too mad. I hope he was happy. Because he spread a great deal of happiness in his time." Some of Steve's close friends have claimed he died "due to a broken heart" after his BBC Radio 2 afternoon slot was axed in 2022.

Steve held his much-loved slot from 1999 until 2022 when it was taken over by Scott Mills. He hinted that it wasn't his decision to end the show, as following his death some friends have shared how the loss of his show "devastated" him. He last appeared on air on Sunday for a pre-recorded Valentines Day special, just two days before his death was announced.

Steve's friend of 40 years Gary Farrow has said all Steve needed was "an arm round the shoulder" following the axe of his BBC weekday radio show, but it never came. Colleague Liz Kershaw recently suggested the broadcaster "dumped him". Gary told the Sun: "Steve lived for that show, he absolutely loved it - and the listeners loved him. My view is that he died from a broken heart."

Steve's brother Laurence has since hit out at the suggestion, saying it wasn't the case at all. "He was aware that he could have looked after himself better, in his lifestyle choices. Obviously we all wish he had," Laurence said to MailOnline: "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." Laurence has also said that Steve found losing his BBC Radio 2 show "unfair" but he "needed rest".

Mia O'Hare