Steve Wright’s cause of death has been confirmed in his death certificate. The BBC Radio 2 icon died from a ruptured ulcer in his stomach. His certificate states that the causes of death were acute peritonitis and a perforated gastric peptic ulcer.
Peritonitis is an infection of the inner lining of the abdomen. The radio presenter’s family announced his death on February 13, telling fans: “It is with deep sorrow and profound regret that we announce the passing of our beloved Steve Wright.”
In addition to his son, Tom, and daughter, Lucy, Steve leaves behind his brother, Laurence and his father Richard. Also, much-loved close friends and colleagues, and millions of devoted radio listeners who had the good fortune and great pleasure of allowing Steve into their daily lives as one of the UK’s most enduring and popular radio personalities.
The broadcaster was found dead at his home in Marylebone in central London. The Metropolitan Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious.
Steve’s co-stars rushed to pay tribute to the tragic host. A BBC star told Mail Online that his death was seen as “very, very sudden” by colleagues and said he was in contact with bosses at the station just days before he died.
Steve joined the BBC in the 1970s and went on to host shows on BBC Radio 1 and 2 for more than four decades. He began presenting a Saturday programme and Sunday Love Songs on Radio 2 in 1996 and launched his afternoon show in 1999.
He held the afternoon slot until 2022 when he was replaced by Scott Mills. The 51-year-old said the announcement had left him in “absolute shock.”
He added in a lengthy statement: “Steve Wright is one of our greatest ever broadcasters. He made everything sound effortless, and worked so hard to make every show world class. He was a constant inspiration to me on how to do radio that sounded big.”
The presenter was not known to have battled any serious health issues, but his weight loss had often been a topic of discussion. On BBC Breakfast back in 2009, he expressed the importance of shedding the pounds as being overweight was “dangerous.” Steve, who weighed 18 stone at his heaviest, explained: “I’ve been trying to lose weight for the last 10 years.”
As you get older, it’s important to be healthy and it is a little dangerous to be overweight. I am a couple of stones over, so I’m about to go on a regime.” The following year, he revealed to Mail Online that he had managed to lose a stone and a half after changing his diet.
Steve’s death came as a shock for many of his co-stars including Rylan Clark and Scott Mills, who paid touching tributes on social media. Steve Wright’s memory will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, colleagues, and loyal listeners as a talented broadcaster and a beloved personality in the radio industry.