Steve Wright’s cause of death at London flat revealed as ruptured stomach ulcer

Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright died from a ruptured ulcer in his stomach, according to his death certificate. Veteran BBC radio broadcaster Wright, one of the most familiar voices on the airwaves in the UK, died at the age of 69 in February. The causes of death were acute peritonitis and a perforated gastric peptic ulcer, the certificate obtained by the BBC says. Peritonitis is an infection of the lining of the stomach, according to the NHS. A perforated ulcer is a rarer complication when the lining of the stomach splits open. The Metropolitan Police previously said Wright’s death at a flat in the Marylebone area of central London “was unexpected, but is not being treated as suspicious”. Wright first joined BBC Radio 1 in 1980 to host a Saturday evening show and held various positions including an afternoon show and a breakfast show at the station. He had a stint at commercial radio before returning to BBC Radio 2 in 1996 to host Steve Wright’s Saturday Show and Sunday Love Songs and three years later presented Steve Wright In The Afternoon every weekday on Radio 2. Wright stepped down in September 2022, replaced by Scott Mills in a schedule shake-up, but Wright continued to present Sunday Love Songs on BBC Radio 2. Michael Ball has since replaced Wright as the host of a Sunday love songs show, which has been retitled Love Songs With Michael Ball. It was previously confirmed no inquest will be held into Wright’s death. Westminster Coroner’s Court said in a statement in May: “An inquest will not be required for Mr Wright. “The coroner has now discontinued this case.” Wright was made an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to radio.

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