My radio star dad died of a ‘broken heart’ after being dumped by BBC just like Steve Wright – he worked there 47 years

THE daughter of a BBC DJ who died weeks after being sacked has told the corporation: "How many people are they going to let die?"

Richard Cartridge, 72, worked at the Beeb for 47 years and was best known for his BBC Radio Solent show but died in 2020.

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Following the death of Radio 2 legend Steve Wright - who pals say died of a broken heart - Richard's daughter says the BBC have failed to learn any lessons.

Lucy Cartridge, from Southampton, told The Sun: "My dad died of a broken heart after the BBC got rid of him.

"They literally said to my dad: 'you have to say that you're retiring otherwise we are going to do it for you and you're not going to get a goodbye show'.

"50 bloody years, it is just outrageous.

"They wanted me to keep quiet, they didn't want me to say anything and fed me a load of bull."

"Hilarious" and "always laughing" Richard was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2016.

But his family claim he was treated as a "weak old man" following his diagnosis and his pay was cut by £20 a week.

Soon after, a reasonable request to work from home during the Covid-19 pandemic due to his disability was also refused.

Lucy, 34, explained: "Every other presenter was doing their show from home.

"They refused to let my father do his at home so that, in the words of the line manager, they could 'keep an eye on him'.

"They shoved him on Sunday afternoons, they put Steve Wright on Sunday afternoons. It is god's waiting room.

"It's where they're put before they're pushed. He was so upset and heartbroken.

"It was just atrocious. They made him resign. He got sacked. Six weeks later he was dead."

Pals of Radio legend Steve Wright - found dead at his London falt on Monday - claim he also “died of a broken heart” after being dumped by the BBC.

They said the 69-year-old never got over being axed from his Radio 2 afternoon show after 24 years.

His death is not being treated as suspicious.

Shockingly, Lucy claims "none" of the BBC bosses reached out to Richard after he was hospitalised or the family after he died.

"No flowers were sent. We didn't even get a card. They couldn't care less. No one spoke up when they pushed him out", she added.

Lucy claims she emailed BBC Director General Tim Davie who "didn't even bother" to send his condolences - instead handing the email over to an HR rep.

In a message to Mr Davie, she said: "I hope to god you never have to go through what we had to.

I blame the BBC in the way they dealt with his departure.

Lucy Cartridge

"Protocol needs to change, things need to be dealt with in a kinder way."

Reflecting on the ordeal, Lucy said: "I blame the BBC in the way they dealt with his departure. It could have been dealt with a lot kinder.

"There is disability and age discrimination at play here. Parkinson's disease doesn't kill you like that.

"You certainly don't die as quickly as he did. He lost his lifeline, he lost the thing that he lived for. His job was his world.

"His last words on air were 'I don't know what I'm going to do now'.

"When they're fired and pushed, no one is there backing them. They called my dad Mr Radio Solent. But no one was there for him."

The BBC - who launched an investigation into Richard's death in 2022 - said: “Richard Cartridge was a much loved presenter, both with the BBC team and our audiences, and our sympathies are with his family.”

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