BBC R2 boss Helen Thomas sparks outrage among staff for issuing a ‘tone deaf’ and ‘shameless’ tribute to Steve Wright following his death 18 months after she axed his show

Radio 2 boss Helen Thomas sparked outrage behind the scenes at the station yesterday as she made a statement in tribute to Steve Wright, less than 18 months after he axed his popular Afternoon Show.

BBC staff are said to be ‘furious’ with her for describing the late legendary DJ as ‘second to none’ despite moving his 2pm to 5pm slot, which he held for 24 years, to Sunday mornings where he held Sunday Love Songs presented.

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, who died on Tuesday at the age of 69, with Scott Mills.

Shortly after Wright’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 provided 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 honest, and he wanted to present them and their work in the best possible light and bring brilliant stories to our bring guests. listeners.

BBC staff are said to be ‘furious’ with her for describing the late legendary DJ as ‘second to none’ despite moving his 2pm to 5pm slot, which he held for 24 years, to Sunday mornings where he held the Sunday Love Songs presented (photo BBC R2 boss Helen Thomas)

‘Steve was the first presenter I ever produced, over twenty years ago, and I remember the sheer amazement I felt as I sat opposite this legendary broadcaster, whose shows I had listened to and admired growing up in Hull.’

But workers at BBC headquarters were furious, with one telling MailOnline: ‘It’s unbelievable that Helen has just said this, she must have forgotten she moved him from a job he had held for 24 years.

‘It was absolutely disgraceful. She was also behind the getting rid of Ken Bruce and Paul O’Grady. Things really would have gone better if she hadn’t said anything at all.’

Their views were echoed by hundreds of listeners who took to social media to share their dismay at Ms Thomas’ removal from the afternoon slot.

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

‘It’s a shame R2 controller Helen Thomas didn’t show him the same respect when she deprived him of his fantastic afternoon show.

While another said: ‘I wonder what Helen Thomas thinks about the number and scale of people posting about Steve Wright? She really didn’t understand how big the man was.’

Meanwhile, a former fan said: ‘Listening to everything said – especially on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4 – about Steve Wright just underlines that Helen Thomas simply had no idea. How on earth did she manage to get the job of head of BBC Radio 2 and cause so much damage.’

Radio fans were stunned in 2022 when Wright was fired from his Afternoon Show slot, bringing an end to his beloved show (pictured at the start of his career in 1980)

Sources at the station insisted that Ms Thomas “should have just kept her mouth shut” and that her statement was “shameless” and “tone deaf.”

Radio fans were stunned in 2022 when Wright was fired from his Afternoon Show slot, bringing an end to his beloved show.

Following the news that his time on air would be coming to an end, the star was asked how he felt and he said at the time: ‘Sometimes people want you, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes there are changes and they give you a different offer – and that’s okay. I understand that, I really understand that.’

His final program in that timeslot aired on September 30, 2022, with Wright playing Queen’s Radio Ga Ga as his final record.