Steve Wright's Love Songs airs 'without the chief'

The Radio 2 show “Love Songs” pays tribute to the late DJ Steve Wright, their long-time host, with a special opening segment.

The Radio 2 show opens with a tribute to DJ Steve Wright, its long-time host, who died this week.

Liza Tarbuck introduced a special episode of the show, noting the absence of the usual host, and shared heartfelt messages from listeners honoring the late DJ. Wright’s last broadcast occurred on the previous Sunday with a pre-recorded Valentine’s Day edition of his Love Songs program. His passing at the age of 69 was reported on Monday. Wright’s tenure at the BBC spanned over four decades, during which he hosted afternoon shows on both Radio 1 and Radio 2, as well as presenting Top of the Pops on BBC One. The recent tributes by the BBC included a dedicated episode of his Pick of the Pops show on Saturday, helmed by his former Radio 1 colleague, Gary Davies.

Tarbuck commenced the show with the song “As” by George Michael and Mary J. Blige, remarking, “Welcome to Steve Wright’s Sunday Love Songs, albeit without the chief, without our cherished friend.”

“As you reach for a tissue, I believe it would be beautiful to light a candle for him. I won’t apologize if I become emotional over the next two hours, and I don’t believe you should either.”

It was inevitable that the Sunday Love Songs episode this week would be filled with listener tributes to Wright, as he was the creator of the format himself, allowing him to read out listener emails and letters exactly as they were written.

The show held a special place in the presenter’s heart. Following his 15-year tenure on Radio 1, he briefly worked in commercial radio before joining Radio 2 as part of the weekend lineup and introducing Sunday Love Songs in 1996.

Even after he moved on to host the Radio 2 afternoon show for 23 years, he arranged a special agreement to continue presenting Sunday Love Songs each week. Even when Scott Mills took over the afternoon show in 2022, Wright persisted with his Sunday slot until the day before his passing.

For the tribute show, Tarbuck shared several messages from devoted listeners whose requests had been played by Wright over the years.

“Steve read out every request as if he was talking to a friend – thank you Steve. We’re going to miss you so much,” one fan expressed.

“We listened to Steve while we were getting ready for our wedding, and amazingly we got a beautiful mention which my parents had sneakily sent in,” noted another listener.

“Our videographers added this sound bite to the end of a special memories reel that they’d made, so Steve is always going to be part of the ‘best day of our lives’. He created magic with his show.”

Tarbuck became emotional while reading a tribute from a long-time listener who had enjoyed the show with their husband for years.

“On Sunday mornings, my husband, also called Steve, would dance in the kitchen while our two daughters would cringe with embarrassment,” they shared.

“When my husband and I were dancing in the kitchen last week – we would never have imagined that would have been our last dance with the amazing Steve Wright. He was part of our family.”

Janey Lee Grace, who co-presented the Radio 2 afternoon show with him for 23 years, fondly recalled him as “extremely humorous” and “remarkably clever.” She emphasized that for many celebrities, authors, and experts who appeared on the show, it was their preferred platform due to the enjoyable atmosphere he created—a sense of chatting with friends.

Grace highlighted his humility and generosity towards others, noting his willingness to support their careers whenever possible. She emphasized his knack for making time for people he encountered.

Gavin McCoy, a long-time collaborator who met Wright in 1976 and featured on his Radio 1 show during the 1980s, shared his own tribute. McCoy remembered their instant friendship and shared experiences, particularly through their work on radio characters like Sid the Manager and Gervais the Hairdresser.

Despite having lunch plans with Wright last Tuesday, McCoy received a message from him saying he wasn’t feeling well. He didn’t think much of it until he learned of Wright’s passing from his daughter later on.

Reflecting on their collaborative efforts, McCoy praised Wright’s ability to meticulously prepare in advance, giving the impression of effortless spontaneity during their broadcasts—a quality cherished by millions of listeners.

It recently aired ‘without the chief’ and certainly kept listeners hooked from start to finish. The show’s airtime without the chief brought about a different vibe, giving room for a fresh perspective on the wonderful world of love songs. It was intriguing to witness the unique blend of tunes that resonated with different emotions.

The absence of the chief seemed to infuse a new energy into the show, making it a must-listen for fans. What were your thoughts on this episode? Feel free to share your favorite moments from the show and let’s keep the love for music alive!

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