Steve Wright leaves Radio 2 show after 24 years in ANOTHER major BBC shake up as he is replaced by R1 star Scott Mills – while his co-host Chris Stark also announces his departure

BBC Radio has announced a major shake-up as Steve Wright revealed he is leaving his long-running Radio 2 afternoon slot and will be replaced by Scott Mills.

Scott, 49, will be stepping down from his R1 weekday afternoon slot in order to  succeed radio legend Steve, 67, as the host of his programme.

Scott’s co-host Chris Stark also announced that he will be stepping down from their popular show, which airs from 1.30pm until 3pm.

The news is the latest reshuffle for BBC Radio, after the broadcaster said goodbye to Radio 1 breakfast host Nick Grimshaw and Future Sounds star Annie Mac last year. 

Moving on: BBC Radio has announced a major shake-up as Steve Wright revealed he is leaving his long-running Radio 2 afternoon slot and will be replaced by Scott Mills

Moving on: BBC Radio has announced a major shake-up as Steve Wright revealed he is leaving his long-running Radio 2 afternoon slot and will be replaced by Scott Mills

Steve made the announcement during his show on Friday afternoon, revealing he would be bowing out after 24 years as the show’s host.

The radio veteran told listeners his boss had told him she wanted to do ‘something different’ with his mid-afternoon slot.

Steve said: ‘At the beginning of this year, my friend and boss Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said she wanted to do something different in the afternoons.

‘Now, I’ve been doing this programme for 24 years at Radio 2, and so how can I possibly complain? The support and creative freedom that I’m given is fantastic at Radio 2 and really I can’t hog the slot forever, so let’s give somebody else a g

Co-hosts: Scott, 49, will be stepping down from his R1 weekday afternoon slot in order to succeed radio legend Steve, 67, as the host of his Radio 2 show

Co-hosts: Scott, 49, will be stepping down from his R1 weekday afternoon slot in order to succeed radio legend Steve, 67, as the host of his Radio 2 show

There appears to be no ill feeling towards Scott, as Steve described the radio host as a ‘brilliant and versatile’ presenter. 

Scott’s show will air from 2pm until 4pm – an hour shorter than Steve’s programme – while Sara Cox’s drivetime show will be extended by an hour and now start at 4pm

The news was announced on BBC Radio 1’s official Twitter account in a statement which read: ‘A sad day here at @BBCR1 as we say goodbye and a massive thank you to the legends Scott Mills and Chris Stark.

‘Wishing you both all the best for the future, you’ll be a huge miss. Tune into Radio 1 next Tuesday at 2pm for a big announcement.’

Following the move to Radio 2, Scott will also no longer present his Saturday morning show on Radio 5 Live. 

Wright, who will leave afternoons in September, is not leaving the BBC completely and will continue to present Steve Wright’s Sunday Love Songs on Radio 2.

More to follow. 

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Originally posted 2022-07-01 17:15:08.