Steve Wright said “sometimes people don’t want you” as he walked out of his Radio 2 show yesterday.
The 67-year-old DJ has had his weekday afternoon slot axed after 24 years on the airwaves in one of the biggest schedule shake ups the station has ever seen.
Scott Mills is set to replace him from September as the corporation wants to “try something different”.
Speaking outside the BBC studios, the veteran presenter told reporters it was “nice of you to come over”.
Hinting it wasn’t his decision to walk, he added: “That’s the way it goes... you know, sometimes people want you, sometimes they don’t.
“Sometimes they want to make changes, give you another offer, and that’s OK. I understand that, I really understand that.”
Despite not hosting Steve Wright in the Afternoon anymore on weekdays between 2 and 5pm, Steve will continue to work for Radio 2.
He will still present Steve Wright’s Sunday Love Songs on Sunday mornings and said he has been offered “lots of projects”.
“I’ve been offered loads of stuff at the BBC and I’m staying at Radio 2,” he said.
“What it actually means for me is rather than working six days a week, I’ll be working maybe two and a half days a week.
“So maybe I can get lunch, maybe I can have a rest. Whatever for a little while.”
The veteran DJ added: “It’s ok. I’m cool.”
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Some fans said they would stop listening to the afternoon slot when Steve leaves and branded it “the worst decision the BBC have made yet”.
Taking to social media, one wrote: “What awful news, no one can replace Steve Wright in the afternoon. It’s what I look forward to most listening to radio 2 all day. I won’t be listening from Autumn."
Another said: "Big mistake @BBCRadio2 huge!!!! Steve Wright is fundamental to radio 2. Looking for a new afternoon 2-4 slot to listen to if anyone can recommend a different station……"
While another fumed: "Worst decision BBC have made yet. I’ve listened to Steve Wright in the afternoon for as long as I can remember on BBC 1 and BBC 2. The title 'The Big Show' doesn’t do it justice. It IS the best radio show anywhere, anytime."
Steve joined the BBC in 1980 hosting a Saturday evening slot on Radio 1 before moving to Saturday mornings.
He hosted his original afternoon show, also called Steve Wright in the Afternoon from 1981 to 1993 on Radio 1.
After stints at Talk Radio and BBC World Service he joined Radio 2 in 1996 where he began presenting a Saturday show and Steve Wright’s Sunday Love Songs. He took over the weekday afternoon slot in 1999.
Announcing his departure from the afternoon show, Steve said: “After nearly 24 years of presenting six shows a week on Radio 2, onwards and upwards for some brand new challenges!
“Radio 2 told me several months back that they wanted to do something different in the afternoons, and I thought – fair enough.
"Let’s give somebody else a go. Scott [Mills] is a brilliant and versatile broadcaster, he is the man for the job!
"Later this year, fans of the afternoon show can go to BBC Sounds to hear a Serious Jockin’ series and I’m also looking forward to developing and creating some exciting new digital programmes and podcasts, which will feature elements of the afternoon show.
“I get so much creative freedom at the BBC, I have no complaints. They’ve always been fair and kind to me.
"We’re not done yet. Afternoons will finish in September, we’ll move onto new programmes and projects in October, and Love Songs will continue every Sunday morning."
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