BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright’s cause of death confirmed

BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright’s cause of death has been confirmed.

Wright died aged 69 in February, having worked as one of the broadcaster’s most popular presenters for over four decades. The news was confirmed by his family in a statement, though at the time no cause of death was given.

Previously, the Metropolitan Police said Wright’s death at a flat in Marylebone “was unexpected, but is not being treated as suspicious”.

Now, according to his death certificate [via BBC News] it has been confirmed that the DJ died from acute peritonitis and a perforated gastric peptic ulcer. Peritonitis is an infection of the lining of the abdomen.

His death had been registered at Westminster Register Office on July 3 by a family member.

It comes after an inquest into the cause of his death was recently ruled out.

Wright began on BBC Radio 1 in 1980, hosting the Steve Wright In The Afternoon show the following year. He worked at the BBC all the way up until 2022, recently replacing veteran broadcaster Paul Gambaccini on the station’s Pick Of The Pops that year.

Figures from across the entertainment industry paid tribute to the broadcaster following his death, with his Radio 2 colleague Jo Whiley writing: “The broadcaster’s broadcaster. One of the kindest, loveliest people I’ve had the pleasure to work with. Thanks for the support & music chat over the years. Can’t believe we won’t meet in the bowels of MV for our weekly catch up. Love ya Wrighty.”

BBC Radio 2 also aired a special tribute episode of Sunday Love Songs shortly after his death, hosted by Liza Tarbuck. Opening with George Michael and Mary J. Blige’s ‘As’, Tarbuck said, “This is Steve Wright’s Sunday Love Songs but without the chief, without our genius friend. So while you’re getting a tissue, I think it would be lovely if you lit him a candle. I make no apologies if I get upset over the next two hours and I don’t think you should either.”

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