Why did Steve Wright leave Radio 2 and where is he moving to?
After more than two decades of anchoring the afternoons, it was announced in August 2022 that Steve Wright would be leaving his Radio 2 afternoon show.
BBC Radio 2 have issued a statement ahead of last “Steve Wright in the Afternoon” to explain why.
Where is Steve Wright now ?
Steve Wright is working on other BBC projects including the Queen music special. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Queen’s eponymous debut album and first single, Keep Yourself Alive, Radio 2 today launches a listener vote to find Your Ultimate Queen Song, with the results revealed in a countdown chart hosted by Steve Wright on Monday 10 April at 4pm. The vote is the centrepiece of a Radio 2 season dedicated to the legendary band.
The shortlist will include all of the UK Top 75 hits, as well as collaborations with the band after Freddie Mercury’s death. The poll is now open, and listeners can vote for their top three songs at www.bbc.co.uk/queenvote. The polls close at 23:59 on Wednesday, March 8th. The results will be revealed in a countdown chart, Your Ultimate Queen Song, which will be available on BBC Sounds from Friday 31 March and broadcast on Radio 2 at 4pm on Monday 10 April.
Full article : https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/bbc-radio-2-queen-listener-vote
The article from Radio 2 reads :
“In advance of our last ‘Steve Wright in the Afternoon” show for a while, I just wanted to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has taken the trouble to listen at any time over the last 23 years. I personally would like to say what a privilege it’s been bringing you great tunes, conversation, information, entertainment, high humour and of course great guests.
I am taking a break from daytime radio. Steve Wright’s Sunday Love Songs continues on Radio 2 every weekend.”
What is on radio 2 in the afternoon from Monday ?
The Radio 2 schedules listed OJ Borg as the presenter after Steve Wright left. The BBC also reports that Scott Mills will be the permanent replacement. Scott started on the 31st October 2022. A report on the radio today website suggests that Steve Wright could be moving his radio show to a commercial rival station in 2023, rumoured to be Bauer’s Greatest Hits Radio.
Why are Radio 2 presenters leaving ?
Some of it is motivated by the need to cut costs. Some have accepted voluntary redundancy. Some celebrities dislike the idea of having their wages disclosed and therefore leave. Another reason to staff leaving is because It’s time to make a shift and develop a new generation of presenters to draw in a younger audience,
Further articles online :
https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/celebrity-news/simon-mayo-still-upset-over-28117794
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/steve-wright-leaving-bbc-radio-25088931
When did Steve Wright start on Radio 2?
Steve began working for Radio 2 in April 1996, hosting two programs on BBC radio 2: Steve Wright’s Saturday Show, a morning program including music and celebrity interviews, and Steve Wright’s Sunday Love Songs, which continues to play the nation’s most popular love songs and incorporates dedications.
When the news was verified in August 2022, Steve Wright gave supporters an explanation for why he was leaving Radio 2, saying that BBC executives had decided to reorganise the schedule.
Before radio 2, Steve was airing on BBC Radio 1 ( 1981 until 1993). It was on Radio 1 where the “Steve Wright in the Afternoon” show first appeared.
#SteveWrightInTheAfternoon #stevewright and #Radio2 are currently trending on Twitter
So farewell Steve Wright in the Afternoon. Shows of a staggeringly high standard, day after a day, year after year, from a brilliant operator and one of the hardest workers I’ve met.
— Simon Mayo 🇺🇦 (@simonmayo) September 29, 2022
Loved the show Steve.
A huge thank you to Steve Wright for his 23 years of Steve Wright In The Afternoon! 🧡
— BBC Radio 2 (@BBCRadio2) September 29, 2022
Read in full 👉 https://t.co/Joqs2nL0RL pic.twitter.com/zL1a83lOHB
I’ve worked on @BBCRadio2‘s Steve Wright In The Afternoon for years. I wanted to give the show a parting gift, so I recorded a little harp thing which Steve played out. So it turns out I was the last ever harpist (it being a Wednesday)!!😢#SteveWright#SteveWrightInTheAfternoon pic.twitter.com/c4TqNL50dW
— Marc Willcox (@MarcWillcox) September 29, 2022
Why is Steve Wright leaving Radio 2 and which station is he moving onto?
Here is the ink to the BBC Radio 2 press release… https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4cF7XGySKBL4vMzZnPYtg0V/steve-wright-statement-for-bbc-radio-2-september-2022
Other presenters leaving (or recently left) BBC Radio
Fi Glover and Jane Garvey, two broadcasters, are leaving the BBC to produce a new show and podcast for Times Radio. Simon Mayo made the decision to turn over BBC Radio 2 and Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review to for-profit media outlet Jon Sopel and Emily Maitlis quit the BBC to start a podcast and present LBC programmes. After 21 years, Andrew Marr quit the BBC in order to “get my own voice back,” as he put it. He writes for publications, presents a “opinion-led programme” on the radio station LBC, and broadcasts a show on Classic FM. In 2018 The host of BBC Radio 4’s PM show, Eddie Mair, announced he was quitting the organisation after more than 30 years.
Will Steve Wright now follow these broadcasters and be snapped up by commercial radio ?
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Steve Wright’s current whereabouts after he left his long-running show on BBC Radio 2?