| Other names | The Big Show |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy, Talk |
| Running time | 3 hours |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Languages | English |
| Home station | BBC Radio 1 (1981-1994) BBC Radio 2 (1999 onwards) |
| Hosts | Steve Wright |
| Starring | Tim Smith Janey Lee Grace |
| Recording studio | London |
| Air dates | since 1981 (except 1994-1999) |
| Audio format | 88–91 FM, DAB digital radio, TV and online |
| Website | Official BBC Website |
| Podcast | Steve Wright in the Afternoon - The Big Podcast |
Steve Wright in the Afternoon is the name of the current afternoon show on BBC Radio 2, hosted by Steve Wright. The show is one of the most popular on the station, and is often referred to as The Big Show. The show is broadcast from 14:00 until 17:00 Monday to Friday.
Contents |
The show originally started on Radio 1 in the 1980s where it ran successfully for a number of years until ending in the early 1990s. Steve Wright then worked on other shows for the network until moving to Radio 2 in 1996. He started as a weekend presenter hosting a Saturday morning show (later taken over by Jonathan Ross) and Sunday morning's Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs. Steve Wright in the Afternoon was revived in 1999 following a shake-up at Radio 2 and Wright now presents the show every Monday to Friday from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. It has built up a huge following and was given its own podcast in 2006 as part of a trial period. This is still available every week with highlights from the show.
The Show follows the zoo format, with Steve Wright as the host, and co-presenters Tim Smith and Janey Lee Grace, as well as input from news and travel presenters on the day. There is also the character 'The Old Woman'. No one knows her identity, and there are many rumours circulating on the internet as to her true identity. Other spoof characters include 'Barry from Watford' (the octogenarian lifestyle coach - played by the actor Alex Lowe) and 'Elvis', who appears in the feature Ask Elvis.
The show begins at 14.00 after the lunchtime news with the show jingle/theme. The show is well established as being a 'brand' over just a normal DJ like most other shows and Steve regularly uses the standard BBC Radio 2 jingles along with the specially written 'Steve Wright In the Afternoon' jingles, written/composed and performed by AJ Productions. Guests regularly appear on the show, often connected with an upcoming television series. The guest will often read the entertainment news as well talking about their project, and what BBC events are coming up. The team will often chat amongst themselves for a while.
There are no stand in presenters for 'Steve Wright in the afternoon' as The Big Show is Copyright to Steve Wrights and his production company. So when This will explain why when Steve is not on air, there is not theme tune, and the presenters who typically stand in (listed below) do 'their own thing, and do not replicate Steve's Show. Stand in presenters are Mark Radcliffe, Aled Jones, Liza Tarbuck, Dale Winton, Richard Allinson and Chris Tarrant.
Some regular features include;
This is along with entertainment news, music and chat, and news on the hour