Steve Wright (DJ) - Current Work

Current Work

Wright can currently be heard on BBC Radio 2 weekday afternoons in Steve Wright in the Afternoon from 2 pm until 5 pm, and on Sunday mornings 9–11 am presenting Sunday Love Songs. He presents the former with several sidekicks; Tim Smith and Janey Lee Grace (both radio DJs in their own right, and often heard as solo holiday relief presenters on Radio 2), plus traffic reporter Sally Boazman (who Wright calls 'Sally Traffic') and "The Old Woman", whose identity has never been revealed, though it is apparent that she is genuinely a senior citizen and not a younger actress (despite her vocal similarity to the late Wendy Richard). It has been rumoured that she is actress Edna Doré. During the 14 May 2007 edition of Steve Wright in the Afternoon, guest Shane Ritchie referred to Old Woman as Nana Moon: a character from the soap EastEnders played by Hilda Braid. The Old Woman was mistakenly described in this article as having appeared on Channel 4's Paul O'Grady Show, credited as "Joyce from Dagenham"; in fact, Joyce from Dagenham was a caterer at Channel 4 whereas the Old Woman's showbusiness career had been launched years before the O'Grady Show began in 2006.

Wright allegedly earns an annual salary of £440,000 for his work on Radio 2.

Current afternoon show features include:

• "Ask Elvis": an Elvis impersonator (comedian Mitch Benn) answers questions from listeners, particularly those of a scientific or technical nature.
• Celebrity interviews (usually two in each programme - at 3.30-3.45pm and 4.30-4.45pm)
• 'Factoids' (sic) These are diverse nuggets of (not always reliable) information. (N.B. This is a misuse of the term. A factoid is not a snippet of information but an item of unreliable information that is repeated so often that it becomes accepted as fact.)

A popular feature that disappeared in the summer of 2007 with the start of the BBC investigation into 'rigged' contests (although there was no suggestion of Wright's show being involved) was "The Big Quiz", a general knowledge quiz in which a challenger took on the current champion (referred to as the 'champnio' or 'champine') in order to win prizes. Each contestant had a time limit to answer questions, then the round ended following the first incorrect answer from that contestant. Winners were given a selection of prizes, building up if they remained 'champnio', whilst the loser gained a coveted 'Sustificate of Muppetry' if they did particularly poorly.

Sunday Love Songs, which Wright presents on his own, on Sunday mornings between 9 and 11, features a number of standard items including Contact, I Just Met, Getting Hitched and Chocolate and Flowers. The selection of music played usually has a romantic feel. Wright occasionally features dedications and requests for partners in same-sex relationships.