Des Lynam

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• TV/Radio Presenter

Desmond Lynam is an Irish-born British sports presenter and game show host on television and radio. He is one of the best known sports broadcasters in the UK, 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.

The Early Broadcasting Career

Des 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.

Television & Radio Sports Presenter

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.

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 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 hot seat 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.

In 2005, Lynam was named as the new entry into Great Britain's hall of moustache growing fame and later threatened to shave it off, much to the shock of the British public.

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