Inside Steve Wright's bitter exit from the BBC: How broadcasting legend left Radio 2 after feeling 'unwanted' as heartbreaking video resurfaces following his death - while corporation faces fierce backlash over star's treatment

BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright had left his afternoon slot at the station while feeling ‘unwanted’ – as a heartbreaking video resurfaces following his death.

News of the broadcasting veteran’s death yesterday at the age of 69 sent shockwaves across the world of radio – as tributes poured in for the star.

In July 2022, Wright departed his Radio 2 afternoon slot after it was announced Wright was being replaced by Radio 1’s Scott Mills.

As he exited Wogan House on July 1, 2022, donning a purple shirt, red striped tie and suit jacket, Wright told reporters it was ‘nice of you to come over’.

Speaking at the time, he added: ‘That’s the way it goes… You know, sometimes people want you, sometimes they don’t.

As he signed off his show in September 2022, Steve Wright told reporters it was ‘nice of you to come over’, adding: ‘That’s the way it goes… You know, sometimes people want you, sometimes they don’t.’

‘Sometimes they want to make changes, give you another offer, and that’s okay, I understand that, I really understand that.’

Wright added that the BBC had ‘always been fair and kind’ to him.

Nevertheless, he continued working for the broadcaster, presenting the Love Songs on Sunday mornings.

READ MORE: CHRISTOPHER STEVENS: Snobby BBC execs cheated listeners out of the last 18 months of Steve Wright’s life

Fans of the DJ, who has been with the corporation for more than 40 years after joining in 1980 to present a Radio 1 Saturday night show, vowed to stop listening to the afternoon slot when he left.

One called it a ‘diabolical’ decision, with another Tweeting: ‘Ending his show is a terrible mistake BBC. There goes your audience.’

Wright continued to present Sunday Love Songs on BBC Radio 2 and since October last year he presented the long-running show Pick Of The Pops, which had previously been fronted by Paul Gambaccini.

His family made the shock announcement yesterday that he had died, aged 69, with BBC director general Tim Davie leading the tributes declaring the BBC was heartbroken to hear of his death.

‘Steve was a truly wonderful broadcaster who has been a huge part of so many of our lives over many decades,’ he said.

‘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.’

But a visibly angered Ms Kershaw says the BBC should apologise for the way Wright was treated.

‘Steve was so focused and driven and it’s their life, that is who they are, and to take it away from somebody and then come back months later and say, “We will miss Steve, he was such a professional, he was brilliant, he was the best”.

‘I just don’t know how they can say that. And also are they going to apologise to the public?

‘Because since his last show and I know there have been other changes Radio Two has lost 1.2 million listeners. This is 8 per cent of its audience.

A string of older presenters have left or been sidelined at the station in recent years, with younger hosts being drafted in to replace them. Critics have accused station chiefs of chasing younger listeners and alienating swathes of its loyal audience.

Radio 2 boss Helen Thomas made the comments during an online meeting with BBC staff who produce news programmes for the station.

She is understood to have told staff to be ‘aware’ of the posts they were liking or retweeting, no matter what their own views were on what was happening at Radio 2.

Radio 2 boss Helen Thomas (pictured) made the comments during an online meeting with BBC staff who produce news programmes for the station

Steve Wright, 69, had his afternoon show axed in 2022

It was taken over by former Radio 1 presenter Scott Mills, 50

Ms Thomas, who was announced as head of the station in 2020, said it could be ‘challenging’ for presenters to see social media posts which suggested Radio 2 was ‘much better in the old days’ had been ‘liked’.

Another manager, Julian Vaccari – a senior news editor in the BBC radio newsroom – said there had been a few tweets people had liked, which used phrases like ‘things are going down the toilet at Radio 2’.

Ken Bruce, 72, quit the station last year to join Greatest Hits Radio, replaced by Vernon Kay, 49. And Steve Wright, 69, had his afternoon show axed in 2022, taken over by former Radio 1 presenter Scott Mills, 50.

An insider said they believed Ms Thomas had been given orders to make the station younger and more diverse.

The BBC has been approached for comment.

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