Voices of UK radio - Steve Wright ('In the afternooooooon')

Steve Wright (b. Greenwich 1954) first worked for several departments in the BBC including the record library during the mid-1970's. In 1976 he moved to Reading's  Thames Valley Radio initially making trails and jingles and later presented his own show. He also worked at Radio Atlantis (Belgium) and Radio Luxembourg (RTL) in 1979.

In late 1979 Steve joined Radio 1 originally presenting a Saturday night show, then a chat show, the Top 40, and, with Mike Read as his partner for the entertaining Read and Wright show.

In 1981 he moved to daytime with 'Steve Wright in the Afternoon'. This popular, entertaining and innovative programme featured comical guests such as Mr. Angry from Purley, and 'Mick Jagger', catchphrases such as 'Get Some Therapy' and 'He's Allright'.  He was helped on-air by the 'afternoon boys' who included Jonathan Ruffle, entertainment producer, (Happening Boy) playing the characters 'The Pervy' and co-creating 'Dr Fish Filleter'. Many of the characters were voiced by top comedy impressionist Phil Cornwell.

By 1988 his show attracted 7.2 million listeners. Steve was voted the nation's most popular DJ by readers of Smash Hits magazine in a 1994 poll.

In January 1994 he was offered the premier show slot at the station, the Breakfast Show.

Steve put forward his resignation from Radio 1 just a year later on 13th January 1995 as he was unhappy with the plummeting listening figures of the station due to its restructuring under Radio 1 controller Matthew Bannister. He was also known to be bitterly unhappy that his producer, Mik Wilkojc had chosen to leave. He also disagreed with being told what records to play on his morning show. BBC bosses subsequently threatened court action against Steve's prospective employer, Talk Radio UK since Steve’s Radio 1 contract was valid until 1997.

His morning show was replaced by Mark Goodier for 3 months and Steve went on to front an afternoon show on Talk Radio.

Since April 1996 he has been heard on BBC Radio 2, broadcasting a Saturday morning show until 1999 when he once again presented the 'Steve Wright in the Afternoon' show, 2pm-5pm Weekdays. His show includes 'Old Woman' 'Elvis' 'Another True Story' and his excellent 'Non-Stop Oldies' feature.