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Edited by George Bowden
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Latest PostHundreds of tributes to a radio legend - thank you
We're ending our live coverage of tributes to radio legend Steve Wright, after his death aged 69.
In just a few hours, we received more than 500 emails alone from listeners across the world keen to share their memories of him. It's clear how well loved Wrighty was - and how missed he will be.
Updates were written by Andrew Humphrey, Lou Newton and Barbara Tasch, with editing by Johanna Chisolm and George Bowden.
Our colleague Ian Youngs has reflected on Steve Wright's career and legacy here.
Post update
As we bring our live coverage to a close this evening, a final tribute from Liz Scarff, who remembers meeting a young Steve Wright at a new radio station in Reading...
Radio host Zoe Ball hails Wright as 'the Godfather' of radio
Radio 2 breakfast show host Zoe Ball described Steve Wright as both "a wonderful magic man" and "her hero".
"Our radio friend, our inspiration, master of broadcasting, the Godfather, a dear friend, always there for us all with support, advice & love & most importantly laughter," she wrote in an Instagram post.
"Rest well you wonderful magic man. Life won't be the same without you here. Love you my friend my hero x."
World of music marks 'end of an era'
Being a BBC Radio 2 presenter, Steve Wright of course hosted lots of musical guests and some of the big names have been sharing their tributes to him.
Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant posted on social media that it was a "sad day for UK radio" and "the spirit and the fun we enjoyed from the great Steve Wright, he will be greatly missed".
Alison Moyet described Wright's death as "the end of an era for so many of us".
"Indefatigable and spirited. A kind, good natured, generous presence welcoming us into the airwaves of our days, Goodbye Mr., I’m glad you were there".
Billy Bragg wrote of his respect for Steve Wright: "You'd think that, as a daytime DJ, he wouldn't have much time for what I do, but whenever I had a record out, he would invite me onto his show to talk about my music and my activism and be interested in both."
Singer and actor Michael Ball described Wright as "an inspiration" and " funny, creative and supportive".
And perhaps an unexpected tribute came from Shaun Ryder of the Happy Mondays:
'Definition of a national treasure'
'Wright was my radio' and 'he got me through university... cancer treatment'
Let's hear more now from listeners who have been flooding the BBC with messages after Steve Wright's death.
Wright's recent praise meant so much, says LBC's Iain Dale
We're now hearing from one of Steve Wright's peers, LBC presenter Iain Dale, who has shared a small anecdote that tells us a great deal about the late DJ.
Dale says Wright recently got in touch with him after an edition of his nightly talk programme.
"He phoned me two weeks ago just to tell me I'd done a brilliant show the previous night. You can imagine what that meant to me," he wrote on X.
"I tried to get him to do an All Talk [show] but he hated talking about himself. Legend."
Watch: Nicky Campbell's touching tribute to Steve Wright
Jo Whiley: 'Steve was the soundtrack to our lives'
BBC Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley told listeners how it was "a very strange show to be doing" as she hosted her usual programme just hours after Wright's death was announced.
"It's extremely hard to know what to say and to be talking about someone that you saw only days ago in this very studio where I am right now - doing a tribute show to that person just does not feel right," she said, noting that it had already been a day marked with "many tears",
"It's very hard to find the words to say and to talk about someone in the past tense when it's someone that you wish was very much still here."
"I mean, Steve was the soundtrack to our lives wasn't he?"
He inspired most of us, says travel news host Bobbie Pryor
Travel news presenter Bobbie Pryor, who worked with Wright for many years, was tearful as she spoke on Sara Cox's show on Tuesday.
"It's very difficult... he gave us so many people opportunities, he inspired most of us, and he would be furious we are crying now and making such a fuss... so dearly missed. Such a great friend."
'We all tried to do the impressions' and 'my companion for years'
BBC Radio 1 and 2 listeners are sharing some of their memories of legendary presenter Steve Wright. Here are some more of those tributes that they've sent in:
Simon Mayo on his 'magical' friend
Victoria Bourne
BBC News
I met with Simon Mayo shortly after he came off air from presenting his Greatest Hits radio show this evening.
The radio presenter was still processing the news of Steve Wright's death, which had broken while he was on air.
"I had to announce it on the radio which is really tough when you announce the death of a friend and you know that you've got to try and keep it together," he told me.
The pair had known each other since the 80s when they had both worked at Radio 1 and they had crossed paths at various radio stations since.
He went on to tell me one of his favourite memories was being a guest of Wright's: "When you're on the receiving end of a Steve Wright interview, it's quite unlike any other interview that you do.
"...you really have to be on your mettle because he'll ask you a stupid bunch of questions based on the book, but also questions such as what's your favourite colour?"
"He was a creative whirlwind, not just to listen to but to watch."
Mayo finished our chat by saying that Wright was the envy of presenters like him: "He was a real one-off, a lot of us tried to be as good as Steve Wright but no-one was. He made radio magical."
He added: "When Steve was on the radio, you did not turn it down, you turned it up, you lent in to listen to what he was doing, what he was saying.
Serious Jockin' and Mr Angry: More of your memories with Wrighty
We're continuing to get some really lovely messages of your memories of listening to Steve Wright, so here is another round-up of those.
Please continue to get in touch with your tribute at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Tributes for Wright keep pouring in
Entertainers and presenters have been posting tribute after tribute for Wright on X, formerly Twitter, this evening. Many are recollecting being a guest on his show and celebrating his talent as a radio host.
Actor and presenter Matt Lucas called Wright a gifted and brilliant radio broadcaster: "It was always a pleasure and an honour to appear on his show. What a huge loss," he wrote.
Gary Lineker also took to X, calling Wright a "truly brilliant broadcaster and lovely man".
In a touching post, comedian and writer Stephen Merchant wrote that he loved being a guest on Wright's show and "being a listener even more".
"No matter what was happening in real life, his programme was an oasis of breeziness and good humour. RIP to a brilliant broadcaster," Merchant added.
Former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond wrote that he had "lost his hero", saying Wright was the reason he had started his career. "Steve, you changed radio and thus broadcasting for us and shall be very, very sadly missed. Go Well."
BBC is heartbroken by Wright's death, Tim Davie says
The director general of the BBC, Tim Davie, has described Steve Wright as the "ultimate professional" whose audiences "loved him deeply" and will be terribly missed.
Davie said: "All of us at the BBC are heartbroken to hear this terribly sad news. Steve was a truly wonderful broadcaster who has been a huge part of so many of our lives over many decades.
"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."
'A genuine radio star' - Danny Baker pays tribute to fellow DJ
We've heard from another luminary of the radio world - the multi-hyphenate DJ, presenter and writer Danny Baker.
In a post on social media Baker calls Steve Wright a "thoroughly good man" and a "loyal chum".
He says news of Wright's death was a "dreadful shock" and that he was a "genuine radio star".
'A big part of our lives for so many years' - Sara Cox reacts
Reacting to the news on her BBC Radio 2 show earlier, Sara Cox became emotional as she summed up how she, other DJs and listeners felt.
"It’s really hard to know what to say about the news of Steve Wright’s passing except that we are all absolutely devastated and shocked and blindsided by this news," she said.
"Steve was an extraordinary broadcaster, a really, really kind person. He was witty, he was warm, and he was a huge, huge part of the Radio 2 family. And I know my fellow DJs will all be absolutely shattered too.
"And I imagine you're feeling sad, too… We've all lost a lovely friend who's been a big part of our lives for so many years. So we're going to try and do Steve proud for the rest of the show. And we're going to play the music that he loved so much."
'I timed shop closing to Steve Wright's closing jingle'
Your memories of listening to Wrighty are continuing tonight - get in touch with your tribute at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
From a Covid companion, to meeting him in real life... laughter and joy shine through:
'He was a constant inspiration': Scott Mills on Wrighty
Scott Mills said Wrighty was "a constant inspiration" to him and "one of our greatest ever broadcasters", in a post on X.
The BBC Radio 2 DJ wrote: "He made everything sound effortless, and worked so hard to make every show world class.
"When I first started doing shows at Radio 2, he and I spent hours reminiscing about his days at Radio 1, and I would listen to his stories and wisdom in awe."
In 2022, BBC Radio 2 ended 'Steve Wright in the Afternoon' and Mills took over the primetime slot.
Wright encouraged people to listen to Scott Mills and continued to present Sunday Love Songs.
Wright had described Mills as a "brilliant and versatile" presenter.
Wright's long and storied career with the BBC spanned decades
Emma Saunders
Culture reporter
Steve Wright joined the BBC in the 1970s and went on to host the afternoon shows on Radio 1 and Radio 2. He also fronted television programmes for the BBC, including Top of the Pops.
He was last on air on Sunday, hosting a pre-recorded special Valentine's Day edition of his Love Songs programme.
He had a brief stint hosting the Radio 1 breakfast show in the 1990s and then left to join Talk Radio, before rejoining the BBC in 1996.
He began presenting a Saturday programme and Sunday Love Songs on Radio 2 from 1996, before launching his afternoon show in 1999, a slot he would keep until 2022.