BBC Radio 1 icon Malcolm Brown who worked alongside DJ Steve Wright dies as tributes pour in

Much-loved BBC Radio producer Malcolm Brown, who famously worked alongside DJ Steve Wright, has died.

Malcolm was a leading BBC producer throughout the 80s took part in his shows Young Steve and The Afternoon Boys and The Legendary Pub Singer.

He began his career with the broadcaster way back in 1963 as a trainee studio manager before moving onto to work for Irish station Atlantic 252.

Radio presenter Shaun Tilley, paid tribute and wrote: 'Such sad news about legendary BBC producer Malcolm Brown passing away. 

'He was hugely respected and liked in equal measure as well as being very helpful to me during the making of the My Radio 1 series. Although I could never persuade him to sit down with me and record his wonderful memories'.

Alongside his tribute he shared a joyous snap of Malcolm, alongside fellow Radio 1 stars including Tony Blackburn.  

The Mirror reports that songwriter David Mindel shared his own tribute writing: 'Sad that we lost Malcolm Brown yesterday, the only Radio One producer to buy a round in my presence and after being injured in a football match against us pluggers, insisted on having a few pints and lunch before going to hospital...with a broken leg!'.

Meanwhile fans were also quick to share their condolences as they fondly remembered Malcolm's humour and down to earth nature. 

They wrote: 'That's terribly sad news Shaun. I have very fond memories of Malcolm too': 'I've raised a glass to him tonight . He wrote a book, “Maurice the Stoat” gosh around 35 years ago. Autobiographical I guess, don’t think it was ever published. Possibly the funniest thing I ever read . RIP Malcolm': 

'Sad news - one of the best and nicest': 'A lovely man …. RIP Malcolm…': 'Oh nooooo! That’s terrible news… such a nice man and dear friend. Seems we’re at an age when we are hearing these things more and more often'.

Broadcasting veteran Steve was found dead in his £2million home in Marylebone on February 12 this year. 

BBC News had reported that the Metropolitan Police had said in the past that the DJ's death was 'was unexpected, but is not being treated as suspicious.' 

His death certificate then stated that his causes of death were acute peritonitis and a perforated gastric peptic ulcer. 

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. 

Steve joined BBC Radio 1 in 1980 to host a Saturday evening show before moving on to host Steve Wright In The Afternoon a year later, where he stayed until 1993. 

He then fronted the Radio 1 Breakfast show for a year until 1995, and completed a stint at commercial radio stations before returning to BBC Radio 2 in 1996 to host Steve Wright's Saturday Show and Sunday Love Songs. 

In 1999, he recreated Steve Wright In The Afternoon every weekday on Radio 2, with celebrity interviews and entertaining trivia featured in his Factoids segment.

He was made an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to radio. 

Steve stepped down from the show in September 2022 and was replaced by Scott Mills in a schedule shake-up, but continued to present Sunday Love Songs.

Following his death Michael Ball took over as the host of a new Sunday love songs show, which was retitled Love Songs With Michael Ball.

At the time of his death, Steve was hailed by former BBC radio colleagues Paul Gambaccini and Noel Edmonds as 'one of the greatest exponents of the art of radio'.

The radio DJ was a fixture on BBC Radio 1 and then Radio 2 for more than four decades, attracting millions of listeners.

His former colleagues and friends were among those to remember him for his dedication to radio and as a 'lovely kind man'.

Appearing on ITV’s This Morning, Gambaccini recalled how Wright would come into the studio hours before his show to ensure he was prepared.

'He knew what he was going to do (and) when and that's when the greats like Noel (Edmonds) and Chris Evans shone. They made it sound like it was off the cuff, but it was really well planned.

'And Steve stayed afterwards, this was his life. He gave us his life for 44 years, five days a week and then six with Love Songs.'

Paul also revealed the news was a shock to him as he last spoke to Steve two days before his death - and had sent him two emails the day after his death, not realising his friend had died.

Noel, who worked across BBC radio during his career, also described Wright as a 'brilliant communicator'.

He told This Morning: 'We have lost one of the greatest exponents of the art of radio. And radio, if done well, is an art form.