Steve Wright was 'hopeful for BBC TV comeback' before his tragic death 18-months after the broadcaster axed his Radio 2 show leaving him 'devastated'

Steve Wright was reportedly hopeful for a comeback on the BBC shortly before his death, following the broadcaster axing his Radio 2 show after 24-years and leaving him ‘devastated

Steve, one of the most familiar voices on the airwaves in the UK, died suddenly at the age of 69 on Tuesday February 13.

But it’s now been claimed that he was in talks to host his own TV show, 18-months after being replaced on the radio by Scott Mills.

Simon Margorali told The Mirror how he spoke to Steve about his plans when the DJ stayed at his hotel just two weeks before his death.

‘He talked of an imminent meeting with a lady from the BBC regarding a new TV series that he was hoping to be involved with, which he was very excited about’.

Steve Wright was reportedly hopeful for a comeback on the BBC shortly before his death, following the broadcaster axing his Radio 2 show after 24-years and leaving him ‘devastated’  (pictured 2003)

Veteran broadcaster Steve, one of the most familiar voices on the airwaves in the UK, died suddenly at the age of 69 on Tuesday February 13 (pictured 1980)

‘He said it was about people such as airline stewardesses or restaurant managers, chambermaids, and traffic wardens,’

‘All spilling the beans about their lives basically the people we see every day but never hear their stories’.

MailOnline has contacted BBC for comment.

Steve’s friend of 40 years, publicist Gary Farrow, said he believes Steve ‘died from a broken heart’ after he was ‘devastated’ to lose his popular Radio 2 afternoon slot in 2022.

Speaking to The Sun, he said: Steve lives for the show, he absolutely loved it – and the listeners loved him. My view is that he died from 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 axing his show.

BBC staff are said to be ‘enraged’ at her for describing the late legendary DJ as being ‘second to none’ despite moving him from the 2pm until 5pm slot which he held for 24 years to Sunday mornings where he hosted Sunday Love Songs.

Sources at the station insisted that Ms Thomas ‘should have just kept her mouth shut’ and that her statement was ‘shameless’ and ‘tone deaf’ after she replaced Wright with Scott Mills.

But it’s now been claimed that Steve was in talks to host his own TV show, 18-months after being replaced on the radio by Scott Mills  (pictured 2004)

A source said: ‘He talked of an imminent meeting with a lady from the BBC regarding a new TV series that he was hoping to be involved with, which he was very excited about’ (pictured 1995)

Shortly after Steve’s sudden death was announced in a statement by his family yesterday afternoon, Ms Thomas said the radio veteran understood the connection and companionship that radio engendered better than anyone ‘and we all loved him for it.’

She added: ‘He was a consummate professional whose attention to detail was always second to none, and he made his guests laugh, he was fair, and he wanted to showcase them and their work in the best possible light, bringing brilliant stories to our listeners.

‘Steve was the first presenter I ever produced, more than 20 years ago, and I remember the pure amazement I felt, sitting opposite this legendary broadcaster whose shows I had listened to and marvelled at whilst growing up in Hull.’

But employees at BBC HQ were left raging, with one telling MailOnline: ‘It is unbelievable that Helen has just come out and said this, she must have forgotten that she moved him from a job he had held 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 utterly disgraceful. She was also behind getting rid of Ken Bruce and Paul O’Grady. It really would have gone down better if she had said nothing at all.’

Their views were shared by hundreds of listeners who took to social media to share their dismay at Ms Thomas moving him from the afternoon slot.

One wrote on X – formerly known as Twitter: ‘Ironic hearing all the tributes for the late, great Steve Wright.

‘Pity R2 controller 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 the magnitude of people posting about Steve Wright? She really didn’t get how massive the man was.’