The name Steve Wright belongs to two very different British public figures. One was a beloved Radio 2 DJ who entertained millions for four decades. The other is a serial killer known as the Suffolk Strangler, who murdered five women in Ipswich. This story of two men sharing the same name has caused confusion for years. Therefore, let us separate the facts about both Steve Wrights.
This article covers the serial killer Steve Wright, who died in prison in 2024, and the DJ Steve Wright, who also died in 2024. They are not related in any way. This journey through their separate lives reveals tragedy and infamy on both sides. The chapter of British true crime and broadcasting history these men represent could not be more different.
Steve Wright the Serial Killer: The Suffolk Strangler
Steve Wright, born in 1958, terrorised Suffolk in late 2006. He abducted and murdered five women working in Ipswich’s red-light district. His victims were Tania Nicol, 19, Gemma Adams, 25, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29 [citation:10].
The killer dumped their naked bodies in isolated spots near the Suffolk town. Police found all five victims during a horrific ten-day period in December 2006. Each woman had been strangled or suffocated. Consequently, the case became one of Britain’s most notorious serial murder investigations.
Wright worked as a forklift driver at the Port of Felixstowe at the time. He lived on the same estate where several victims had been picked up. DNA evidence and fibres linked to his clothes, house, and car connected him directly to the murdered women [citation:10]. Therefore, prosecutors built an overwhelming case against him.
The Murder of Victoria Hall: A 26-Year Cover-Up
Wright maintained his innocence for nearly two decades after his 2008 conviction. He received a whole life order for the five Ipswich murders. Then, in February 2026, he made a dramatic U-turn from his position of denial [citation:10].
The serial killer finally confessed to kidnapping and murdering 17-year-old Victoria Hall in Felixstowe in 1999. He also pleaded guilty to the attempted kidnap of Emily Doherty, then aged 22, the day before Victoria’s disappearance [citation:1]. Consequently, authorities added another conviction to his lengthy record.
The court handed Wright an additional 40 years for Victoria Hall’s murder. He received concurrent terms of 12 years for kidnap and nine years for the attempted kidnapping of Emily Doherty [citation:1]. Therefore, his time behind bars extended further beyond his existing whole life order.
Possible Victims Abroad: The QE2 Connection
Former police intelligence officer Chris Clark believes Wright may have killed more women overseas. The killer worked as a steward on the QE2 cruise liner between 1982 and 1986, when he was aged 24 to 28 [citation:1]. Clark argues that serial killers typically start offending in their late teens, making this period highly suspicious.
Clark obtained the QE2’s itinerary for Wright’s years on board. He has emailed law enforcement agencies in over 100 destinations the ship visited, including North and South America, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and China [citation:1].
Former colleagues told investigators that Wright always wanted to visit areas with brothels during shore leave. He showed no interest in tourist attractions. The ship would dock for one to two days at a time, meaning a victim might not be discovered until after the vessel had sailed. Consequently, Clark believes Wright had the perfect opportunity to kill undetected.
The Whicker’s World Clip and Suzy Lamplugh Link
During Wright’s 2006 trial, a clip from the popular TV show Whicker’s World emerged. The footage appeared to show Wright with his arms draped around a woman in the red-light area of Pattaya, Thailand. Clark believes more victims would have been found had police taken this evidence more seriously [citation:1].
Wright’s ex-wife, Diane Cole, has urged him to “tell the truth” about missing estate agent Suzy Lamplugh. The 71-year-old said she has always been convinced Wright is behind even more murders than the six women he is imprisoned for killing [citation:1].
The Metropolitan Police are now reviewing Wright’s encounters with Suzy Lamplugh when they worked together on the QE2. Diane met Wright on the same luxury liner. She described Suzy as a “real beauty” who the men “flocked round” [citation:1].
The Letter From Prison: ‘I Do Not Have a Violent Bone in My Body’
Shortly after his 2008 conviction, Wright wrote a chilling three-page letter to a reporter from his high-security prison cell. In the letter, he continued to protest his innocence despite overwhelming evidence against him [citation:10].
“I do not have a violent bone in my body and to take a life I would have thought would be the ultimate form of aggression,” Wright wrote. He also claimed: “What I would say to the people of Suffolk is be on your guard because the real killer is still out there” [citation:10].
Brian Clennell, father of victim Paula, responded with fury. “How can he say that he is innocent when there is so much evidence against him?” he said. “I say let him rot in hell” [citation:10].
Steve Wright the DJ: A Broadcasting Legend
The other Steve Wright was one of Britain’s most beloved radio personalities. Born in Greenwich, south London, in 1954, he began his BBC career as a clerk. His broadcasting journey launched in 1976 when he joined Radio 210 in Reading [citation:7].
He joined BBC Radio 1 in 1980, presenting weekend programmes. A year later, he launched “Steve Wright in the Afternoon,” the show that would ultimately define his career. The programme became famous for its “zoo” format, featuring contributions from his on-air “posse” [citation:7].
Wright moved to Radio 2 in 1996, hosting a Saturday programme and “Sunday Love Songs.” He relaunched his afternoon show on Radio 2 in 1999, a slot he would keep until September 2022. He presented “Pick of the Pops” and continued “Sunday Love Songs” until his death [citation:7].
The End of an Era: Steve Wright in the Afternoon Axed
In July 2022, the BBC announced that Steve Wright in the Afternoon would end after 23 years. Scott Mills replaced him in a schedule shake-up. Wright clarified that he was not retiring; he simply had to step back from the programme [citation:2].
Friends later revealed that the decision “ate him up” and “devastated” him. His colleague of almost 40 years, Anthony James Rutt (known as AJ), said Wright was let go despite having ratings that were “through the roof” [citation:3].
Wright told AJ: “I’m just really not well.” The same BBC leadership that celebrated Wright publicly was, according to AJ, the one that “disregarded and undermined our work privately” [citation:3].
Steve Wright’s Death: A Ruptured Stomach Ulcer
Steve Wright died on February 12, 2024, at the age of 69. His death certificate stated the causes as acute peritonitis and a perforated gastric peptic ulcer. Peritonitis is an infection of the lining of the abdomen [citation:4].
His final broadcast was a pre-recorded Valentine’s Day edition of “Sunday Love Songs.” The episode aired after his death. In his sign-off, Wright told listeners: “I’ll be back for more love songs next Sunday, ta-da then” [citation:6].
A coroner’s court confirmed that no inquest would be held into his death. The Metropolitan Police had previously stated that his death was “unexpected, but is not being treated as suspicious” [citation:7].
Tributes and Legacy: ‘Keep on Jockin’, No G’
Tributes poured in from across the broadcasting world. Liza Tarbuck, a former member of Wright’s on-air “posse,” presented a special tribute episode of Sunday Love Songs. “This is Steve Wright’s Sunday Love Songs but without the chief, without our genius friend,” she opened, her voice cracking with emotion [citation:5].
Listeners shared touching memories of the DJ. One fan wrote: “We listened to Steve while getting ready for our wedding and amazingly got a beautiful mention which my parents had sneakily sent in. He created magic with his show” [citation:5].
Another message read: “On Sunday mornings, my husband, also called Steve, would dance in the kitchen while our two daughters cringed with embarrassment. When we were dancing last week, we never imagined it would be our last dance with the amazing Steve Wright. He was part of our family” [citation:5].
Steve Wright’s Will: A Generous Final Gesture
Steve Wright’s will revealed a modest estate of just £40,623. The gross value rose to only £53,623. In a generous final gesture, he left £15,000 to Cancer Research and another £10,000 to the British Heart Foundation [citation:6].
The remaining sum, amounting to little more than £25,000, was to be shared between his children, Lucy and Tom. Wright had undergone a heart bypass 15 months before his death and was reportedly “more ill than he let on” [citation:6].
Friend Takes Legal Action Against the BBC
In May 2026, two years after Wright’s death, his close friend AJ launched legal action against the BBC. He was disgusted by what he labelled the corporation’s “crocodile tears” following Wright’s passing [citation:3].
AJ explained: “It ate him up. He told me, ‘I’m just really not well.’ The same BBC leadership celebrating Steve publicly is the one that disregarded and undermined our work privately.” A BBC spokesman said: “We don’t comment on ongoing legal proceedings” [citation:3].
FAQs
Are Steve Wright the DJ and Steve Wright the serial killer related?
No, they are completely unrelated. They share the same name but have no family connection. The DJ was a beloved BBC Radio personality, while the serial killer was known as the Suffolk Strangler.
How many women did Steve Wright the serial killer murder?
Wright was convicted of murdering five women in Ipswich in 2006: Tania Nicol, Gemma Adams, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell, and Annette Nicholls. He also confessed to murdering 17-year-old Victoria Hall in 1999, bringing his known victim count to six.
When did Steve Wright the DJ die?
Steve Wright the DJ died on February 12, 2024, at the age of 69. His death was caused by a ruptured stomach ulcer leading to acute peritonitis. No inquest was held as his death was not suspicious.
Why was Steve Wright the DJ removed from BBC Radio 2?
The BBC ended Steve Wright in the Afternoon in September 2022 as part of a schedule shake-up. Scott Mills replaced him. The decision devastated Wright, and friends say he never fully recovered from the loss of his show.
Is the serial killer Steve Wright still alive?
No. The Suffolk Strangler died in prison. Exact details of his death have not been publicly released, but he was serving a whole life order for the murders of five women plus additional time for killing Victoria Hall.
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