Newspaper headlines: 'BBC legend dies' and 'Labour ditches second candidate'

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By BBC News
Staff

DJ Steve Wright pictured in the studio in 1979

The death of Steve Wright features on most of the front-pages. "Radio Wonder" is the headline in the Sun across a photo of the DJ relaxing with his legs up on a radio desk. Inside, the paper says he brought "love and laughs" to millions.

"Genius of radio," says the Daily Mirror, while the Daily Mail describes him as a "legend". The i says he spoke to millions "as if chatting to a mate". The paper describes him as "one of the most beloved broadcasters of his time", more "entertainer than musical trendsetter".

In its obituary, the Times says Steve Wright was so obsessed with radio that in the long distant days before the internet he once flew to New York for the sole purpose of sitting in a hotel room and listening to as many local stations as he could to pick up tips and ideas. The Guardian says he spoke to every listener as a friend.

Labour's handling of a row, that resulted in the party ditching its candidate for the Rochdale by-election and suspending another selected in Lancashire, continues to dominate many front pages.

The i says Sir Keir Starmer, is fighting to "limit damage" and head off a "deepening crisis". A Labour insider tells the paper MPs had to intervene "to lobby the party leadership" to withdraw its support for Azhar Ali when his comments first emerged.

The Daily Telegraph says the Labour leader is coming under pressure to investigate five more MPs and candidates the paper claims have been involved in controversies over Israel. Its Matt Cartoon depicts a couple at home on Valentine's Day.

As the woman selects a chocolate from the box in front of her, the man bemoans: "They're like Labour candidates. As soon as you've picked one you realise you've made a terrible mistake."

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The main story in the Financial Times is what it calls a "Trump containment" strategy from Nato. It says the military alliance is expected to announce today that 18 of its 31 members are on course to hit a key target of spending two per-cent of GDP on defence.

The paper says the alliance is bracing itself for "more Russian aggression" and the potential election of Donald Trump, a declared Nato-sceptic.

The main story in the Daily Mail is what it believes to be a royal row over a decision by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to rebrand their website to Sussex.com.

The paper describes the move as "provocative" and claims Prince Harry and Meghan have breached an agreement with the late Queen by using their Sussex titles.

The Times reports on the return of a racing event in Lincolnshire. The "Lamb National", at the Barton Carnival in June, features Herdwick lambs jumping over hurdles dressed in colourful silks with a stuffed toy monkey in place of a jockey.

Organisers had called off the event this year after protests from animal rights activists but after discovering the sheep would otherwise have been killed, the carnival committee declared a "ewe turn" and said the show would now go ahead.