Stephen Richard Wright MBE (26 August 1954 – 12 February 2024) was an English disc jockey, radio personality, and occasional television presenter, credited with introducing the morning zoo format on British radio, known for its zany, multi-personality approach. He presented Steve Wright in the Afternoon for 12 years on BBC Radio 1 and 23 years on BBC Radio 2, two of the BBC's national radio stations, the latter being the most popular station in the United Kingdom, ending on 30 September 2022. He continued to present his Sunday Love Songs weekend mid-morning show on Radio 2 until his death, and in October 2023, he took over as the host of Pick of the Pops from Paul Gambaccini. On BBC Television Wright hosted Home Truths, The Steve Wright People Show, Auntie's TV Favourites, Top of the Pops and TOTP2.[1] Wright won awards, including Best DJ of the Year as voted by the Daily Mirror Readers Poll and by Smash Hits in 1994. In 1998 he was awarded TRIC Personality of the Year for his radio programmes.[1]
Stephen Richard Wright was born on 26 August 1954 in Greenwich,[2] and grew up in New Cross, in South London. He had a brother, Laurence.[3] Their father, Richard, managed the Burton's store in Trafalgar Square. A quiet and unacademic child, Wright always had an ambition to work in the entertainment industry.