Singer and West End star Ball, who currently presents on Sundays from 11am to 1pm, will host Love Songs with Michael Ball from 9 to 11am from June. Wright was the long-time host of the Love Songs show on the radio station and continued to present it even after he stepped down from his weekday afternoon show on Radio 2 in September 2022. Wright died in February at the age of 69 and Ball hailed him as “an icon”.
He said: “When this opportunity arrived, I knew I couldn’t turn it down. I’m so nervous, but of course I’m also incredibly excited. “I want to do the show justice because Steve was and still is such an icon.
He showcased the best of what radio is and the enjoyment it could bring to countless people. “I loved Steve’s Sunday Love Songs, I loved to listen to it when I woke up on a Sunday morning. It really was an appointment to listen, so I’m incredibly honoured and humbled that they’ve asked me to have a go.
“I’ve been at Radio 2 for almost 20 years now, and I can’t imagine not being on the station as I truly love doing my shows and connecting with the listeners.” Ball said he hopes his new show will be “relaxing” and “a Sunday morning hug from the radio”. He added: “I’ll wake you up gently with the music selection and guide you through your morning with the most wonderful, wonderful songs.
” While there will be some new features to the show, such as people reading out love letters and sharing memories of special days such as a w.