No more Steve Wright in the afternoon as Radio 2 axes top star, 67, to bring in younger DJ
The BBC has axed Steve Wright’s Radio 2 afternoon show after more than 20 years in what is believed to be part of moves to cut the age of its main presenters on the station.
The 67-year-old host, who has fronted Steve Wright In The Afternoon on the station since 1999, announced the news on air yesterday.
he told listeners that at the beginning of the year, Radio 2 boss helen Thomas said ‘she wanted to do something different in the afternoons’, adding he could not ‘hog the slot for ever’ and ‘let’s give somebody else a go’.
The veteran presenter will be replaced in the 2pm slot in the autumn by Scott Mills, 49, who is leaving Radio 1 this summer. Wright is one of the BBC’s highest-paid presenters, earning up to £469,999 last year, making him the third highest on the corporation’s talent pay list after Gary Lineker and Zoe Ball.
But according to sources the decision to axe his show was not about cutting costs but more about a desire to bring down the age of presenter talent on the station.
A well-placed insider told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s an age thing as they try to target the 35 to 44 age group, right at the heart of the commercial rivals.’
Last night, listeners said they were saddened by the announcement with one branding it a ‘terrible decision’ and another calling it ‘horrendous news’.
The BBC is desperate to bring in more younger listeners to its stations, which has seen it previously accused of trying to sideline a number of older presenters.
When Mills – who currently fronts The Official Chart show on Radio 1 – joins Radio 2, his new show will be an hour shorter than Wright’s currently is, with Sara Cox’s programme being extended by an hour to start earlier.
Wright will carry on presenting his weekday show until the end of September. But he will continue to host his Sunday Love Songs show after that as well as ‘seasonal specials’. his Serious Jockin’ show will be put on BBC Sounds with additional broadcasts on Radio 2.
The popular DJ became a presenter on Radio 1 in 1980 – where he presented a version of the afternoon show between 1981 and 1993. In total, including his stint at Radio 1 and Radio 2, he has worked for the BBC for more than 40 years of his career, with a brief stint in commercial radio in 1995.
Yesterday, he told listeners: ‘Let me just break off for a moment to make an announcement. I’ll try not to become emotional. At the end of September, I’ll be… stepping down from this programme.’
he added: ‘The great news is onwards and upwards. I’m staying at the BBC and Radio 2 to do some very exciting digital projects and new podcasts.’
A Radio 2 spokesman said the station wanted ‘to explore a new weekday afternoon schedule’ and that ‘there was no other factors involved in the decision’.
But the move could be controversial with listeners who in the past have not been afraid to criticise the station’s line up.
Fans were unhappy when the station launched the ill-fated pairing of Simon Mayo and Jo Whiley in the drivetime slot which was abandoned after a short period of time.