Des Lynam

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Desmond Michael Lynam (born 17 September 1942) is an Irish sports presenter and game show host on British television and radio, born in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland. He is one of the best known sports broadcasters in the United Kingdom, having hosted television coverage of high profile events for many years. He has presented the popular shows, Grandstand, Match of the Day, Holiday, How Do They Do That? and Countdown.

Contents 1 Career 2 Trivia 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Career

Lynam started his career in broadcasting as a freelance in radio, on BBC Radio Brighton (1968-1969). He quickly joined national BBC radio in London, originally specialising in commentating on boxing, and went on to anchor Sport on Two and Sports Report (1969-1978) on BBC Radio 2. From 1974 - 1976 he co-presented the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 on three mornings each week.

He moved to television in 1977 starting off with Sportswide as part of Nationwide which he did until the show's end until 1983 and then presented Grandstand (1979-1991, occasionally until 1999), Sportsnight (1991-1997) and Match of the Day (1988-1999) on the BBC for many years, and also fronted BBC coverage of Wimbledon, The Grand National, the Football World Cup (1982-1998) and the Olympic Games (1980-1996).

Lynam made a return to radio in 1986 to commentate for the BBC on the Frank Bruno vs Tim Witherspoon WBA Heavyweight World Title fight at Wembley Stadium on July 19, 1986. He also made a brief return to BBC Radio 2 in 1998, presenting the 5-7pm Drivetime show on Fridays only. Johnnie Walker had started presenting the show Mondays - Thursdays.

Lynam defected to ITV in 1999, where he presented their flagship football programmes, including coverage of the FA Premier League and UEFA Champions League. He decided to retire from television presenting after the Euro 2004 football championships. Soon afterwards the BBC announced that Lynam would present a new weekly radio programme, Des Meets..., on BBC Radio Five Live from August 2004. He also covered the 2005 Wimbledon for BBC Radio Five Live.

In May 2005, Lynam presented the BBC1 programme 'We'll Meet Again', marking the 60th anniversary of VE Day and which celebrated the end of the second World War. The following month, he presented an episode of Have I Got News For You on BBC1, the third time he had presented the show having been in the hotseat twice the previous year. In June and July 2005, he co-presented (with Sir David Frost) the series The World's Greatest Sporting Legend on Sky One.

On September 22, 2005, Lynam was named as the new entry into Great Britains hall of moustache growing fame and later threatened to shave it off, much to the shock of the British public and threatening his contract with ITV sports.^{[citation needed]}

In Early 2006 he realeased his autobiography called 'I Should Have Been at Work'.

[edit] Trivia

• He is a supporter and former director of Brighton and Hove Albion F.C.^[1]
• Des was a master of the (un)prepared witticism, arguably his finest being while presenting the BBC's coverage of the Atlanta Olympic Games: "Going down to the pub is not yet an Olympic sport, but beach volleyball is."
• He had a hit football song entitled 'IF'

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• BBC News Coverage of Lynam and Countdown
• Channel 4Countdown Profile
• Des Lynam Page
• In-depth article on Des Lynam

Preceded by David Coleman	Regular Host of Grandstand 1984-1991	Succeeded by Steve Rider
Preceded by Steve Rider	Regular Host of Sportsnight 1991-1997	Succeeded by Show ended
Preceded by Richard Whiteley	Host of Countdown 2005-2007	Succeeded by Des O'Connor