Steve Wright was reportedly hoping for a comeback to the BBC shortly before his death after the broadcaster canceled his show on Radio 2 after 24 years, leaving him “devastated”.
Steve, one of the most recognizable voices on British radio, died suddenly on Tuesday, February 13, aged 69.
However, it is now claimed he is in talks to host his own TV show, 18 months after he was replaced on radio by Scott Mills.
Simon Margorali told The Mirror how he spoke to Steve about his plans when the DJ stayed at his hotel just two weeks before his death.
“He was talking about an upcoming meeting with a lady from the BBC about a new TV series that he would like to be involved in and which he was really looking forward to.”
Steve Wright was reportedly hoping for a comeback to the BBC shortly before his death after the broadcaster canceled his show on Radio 2 after 24 years, leaving him “devastated” (pictured in 2003).
Veteran broadcaster Steve, one of the most recognizable voices on British radio, died suddenly aged 69 on Tuesday 13 February (pictured 1980).
“He said it was about people like flight attendants and restaurant managers, chambermaids and traffic police.”
“Everyone talks about their lives, basically the people we see every day but never hear their stories.”
Web has contacted the BBC for comment.
Steve's friend of 40 years, publicist Gary Farrow, said he believes Steve “died of a broken heart” after being “devastated” to lose his popular afternoon slot on Radio 2 in 2022.
Speaking to The Sun, he said: Steve lives for the show, he absolutely loved it – and the listeners loved him. In my opinion he died of a broken heart.'
This comes after Radio 2 boss Helen Thomas caused outrage behind the scenes at the station by issuing a statement paying tribute to Steve less than 18 months after he stopped broadcasting.
BBC staff are said to be “furious” with her for describing the late legendary DJ as “second to none” despite being moved from the 2pm to 5pm slot he held for 24 years to Sunday mornings, where he hosted “Sunday Love Songs.”
Sources at the broadcaster insisted that Ms Thomas “should have just kept her mouth shut” and that her statement was “shameless” and “tone deaf” after she replaced Wright with Scott Mills.
However, it is now claimed that Steve is in talks to host his own TV show, 18 months after he was replaced on radio by Scott Mills (pictured in 2004).
A source said: “He was talking about an upcoming meeting with a lady from the BBC about a new TV series which he was hoping to be involved in and which he was really looking forward to” (pictured in 1995)
Shortly after Steve's sudden death was announced in a statement from his family yesterday afternoon, Ms Thomas said the radio veteran understood better than anyone the connection and camaraderie that radio created, “and we all loved him for it.”
She added: “He was a consummate professional whose attention to detail was always second to none and he made his guests laugh, he was fair and he wanted to present them and their work in the best possible light and tell us brilliant stories.”
“Steve was the first presenter I ever produced more than 20 years ago and I remember the sheer amazement I felt sitting across from this legendary broadcaster whose programs I had listened to and admired when I was in Hull grew up.”
But staff at BBC headquarters were furious, with one telling Web: “It's unbelievable that Helen has just come out and said that, she must have forgotten that she removed him from a job he had had for 24 years held.”
This comes after Radio 2 boss Helen Thomas caused outrage behind the scenes at the station by issuing a statement honoring Steve less than 18 months after he stopped broadcasting (pictured BBC R2 boss Helen Thomas) .
“It was an absolute disgrace.” She was also responsible for getting rid of Ken Bruce and Paul O'Grady. “It really would have gone over better if she hadn’t said anything at all.”
Her views were shared by hundreds of listeners who took to social media to express their dismay that Ms Thomas had removed him from the afternoon slot.
One wrote on X – formerly known as Twitter: “It's ironic to hear all the tributes to the late, great Steve Wright.”
“It’s a shame R2 controller Helen Thomas didn’t show him the same respect when she took away his fantastic afternoon show.”
While another said: “I wonder what Helen Thomas thinks about the number and scale of people posting about Steve Wright?” “She really didn't understand how massive the man was.”