Steve Wright reportedly had hopes of returning to the BBC shortly before his death, after the broadcaster canceled his Radio 2 show after 24 years, leaving him “devastated”.
Steve, one of the most familiar voices on the UK airwaves, died suddenly at the age of 69 on Tuesday 13 February.
But it has now been claimed he was in talks to host his own TV show, 18 months after being replaced on radio by Scott Mills.
Simón Margorali said Mirror how he told Steve about his plans when the DJ stayed at his hotel just two weeks before his death.
“He talked about an impending meeting with a lady from the BBC about a new TV series he was hoping to be involved in, and which he was very excited about.”
Steve Wright reportedly had hopes of returning to the BBC shortly before his death, after the broadcaster canceled his Radio 2 show after 24 years, leaving him “devastated” (pictured in 2003).
Veteran broadcaster Steve, one of the most familiar voices on the UK airwaves, died suddenly at the age of 69 on Tuesday 13 February (pictured in 1980).
“He said these were people like airline stewards or restaurant managers, waitresses and traffic guards.”
“They all tell their lives, basically, the people we see every day but never hear their stories.”
MailOnline 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 Sun, said: Steve lives for the show, he loved it and the listeners loved it. My opinion is that he died of a broken heart.
It comes after Radio 2 boss Helen Thomas sparked outrage behind the scenes at the station for issuing a statement paying tribute to Steve less than 18 months after canceling his show.
BBC staff are said to be “furious” with her for describing the late legendary DJ as “second to none” despite moving him from the 2pm-5pm slot he occupied for 24 years to Sunday evenings. tomorrow, where he presented Sunday Love Songs.
Station sources insisted that Ms. Thomas “should have kept her mouth shut” and that her statement was “shameless” and “tone-deaf” after she replaced Wright with Scott Mills.
But it has now been claimed that Steve was in talks to host his own TV show, 18 months after being replaced on radio by Scott Mills (pictured in 2004).
A source said: “He discussed an impending meeting with a lady from the BBC about a new TV series he was hoping to be involved in, and which he was very excited about” (pictured in 1995).
Shortly after his family announced Steve’s sudden death yesterday afternoon, Ms Thomas said the radio veteran understood the connection and camaraderie that radio engendered better than anyone “and we all loved him for that”.
He added: “He was a consummate professional whose attention to detail was always second to none, he made his guests laugh, he was fair and wanted to showcase them and their work in the best way possible, bringing brilliant stories to our listeners.
“Steve was the first presenter I ever produced, over 20 years ago, and I remember the sheer awe I felt sitting in front of this legendary broadcaster whose programs I had listened to and marveled at while growing up in Hull.”
But employees at BBC HQ were left furious, with one telling MailOnline: “It’s incredible Helen came out and said this, she must have forgotten she kicked him out of a job he had had for 24 years.”
It comes after Radio 2 boss Helen Thomas sparked outrage behind the scenes at the station for issuing a statement paying tribute to Steve less than 18 months after axing his show (pictured BBC R2 boss Helen Thomas).
‘It was absolutely disgraceful. He was also behind getting rid of Ken Bruce and Paul O’Grady. It really would have been better if he hadn’t said anything at all.
His views were shared by hundreds of listeners who took to social media to share their dismay at being moved from the afternoon slot by Thomas.
Someone wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “It’s ironic to hear all the tributes to the late, great Steve Wright.”
‘Pity R2’s handler Helen Thomas didn’t show him the same respect when she stripped him of his fantastic afternoon show.
While another said: ‘I wonder how Helen Thomas feels about the number and magnitude of people posting about Steve Wright. She really didn’t understand how huge the man was.