| Des Lynam | |
 Lynam at a book signing
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| Born | September 17, 1942 Ennis, County Clare, Ireland |
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| Occupation | TV presenter |
| Spouse | Susan Skinner (1965 - 1974; divorced) |
| Children | Patrick, born 1970 |
Desmond Michael "Des" Lynam, OBE[1] (born 17 September 1942, Ennis, County Clare, Ireland) is a sports presenter and game show host on British television and radio. Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Ennis ( is the County town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway County Clare ( Irish: Contae an Chláir) commonly referred to as simply Clare, is a county on Ireland and part of the wider Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Ennis ( is the County town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway County Clare ( Irish: Contae an Chláir) commonly referred to as simply Clare, is a county on Ireland and part of the wider Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world
He has 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. Grandstand was a British Television Sport programme and was one of the BBC 's longest running sports shows alongside BBC Match of the Day (sometimes abbreviated as MOTD) is the BBC 's main football Television programme Holiday was a long-running UK television programme on BBC One, and was the oldest travel review show on UK television How Do They Do That? was a 1990s British television show produced by Reg Grundy Productions and broadcast on BBC1. Countdown is a British Game show presented by Des O'Connor and Carol Vorderman, with regular lexicographer Susie Dent
Contents |
Career
Desmond Michael Lynam moved with his family to Brighton in 1949. Brighton ( is a town on the south coast of England and with its neighbour Hove, forms the city of Brighton and Hove. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He eventually lost his strong Irish accent, and passed the eleven-plus in 1954, to attend Varndean Grammar School. In the United Kingdom the Eleven Plus or Transfer Test is an Examination administered to some students in their last year of primary education Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) A grammar school is one of several different types of School in the history of education in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries He did not go on to University, however, after sitting his A-levels. A university is an institution of Higher education and Research, which grants Academic degrees in a variety of subjects The A-level, short for Advanced Level, is a General Certificate of Education qualification in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, He went into the Insurance business, working as a salesman, where he remained for most of the 1960s.
He married Susan Skinner in 1965 and had one son, Patrick (born 1970); however by 1973 the marriage began to break down due to Lynam's career and other commitments, and they divorced in 1974. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Lynam has never remarried, but has lived with Rose Diamond, his long-time partner, for many years.
Lynam 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 is a supporter and former director of Brighton and Hove Albion F.C.[2]
On the radio
He started his career in broadcasting as a freelance in radio, on BBC Radio Brighton (1968–1969). Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club are an English football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is a person who pursues a profession without a long-term commitment to any one employer 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. Sports Report is one of the longest-running programmes on British radio. From 1974–1976 he co-presented the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 on three mornings each week. Today, sometimes referred to as the Today programme to avoid ambiguity is BBC Radio 4 's long-running early morning news and current affairs
BBC Television
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 (highlights 1985-1990, main presenter 1991-1997 and 1999), The Grand National, the Football World Cup (1982–1998) and the Olympic Games (1980–1996). Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Nationwide was a BBC current affairs television series broadcast on BBC One each weekday following the early evening news Grandstand was a British Television Sport programme and was one of the BBC 's longest running sports shows alongside BBC Sportsnight was a midweek BBC television sports programme that ran from 1968 until 1997 Match of the Day (sometimes abbreviated as MOTD) is the BBC 's main football Television programme The Championships Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon, is the oldest Tennis tournament in the world and is widely considered as the most prestigious The Grand National is the most valuable National Hunt horse race in the world The FIFA World Cup, occasionally called the Football World Cup, but usually referred to simply as the World Cup, is an international Association football The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games
Lynam made a return to radio in 1986 to commentate for the BBC on the Frank Bruno vs. Franklin Roy Bruno (born November 16, 1961) is an English former boxer whose career highlight was winning the WBC Heavyweight Tim Witherspoon WBA Heavyweight World Title fight at Wembley Stadium on July 19, 1986. "Terrible" Tim Witherspoon (born December 27, 1957) is an American boxer who was twice recognized as Heavyweight Champion of the World by The World Boxing Association (WBA is a Boxing organization that sanctions official matches and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level original Wembley Stadium was a football Stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the Events 711 - Muslim forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeat the Visigoths led by their king Roderic. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) 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. Johnnie Walker MBE (born Peter Waters Dingley 30 March 1945 in Olton, Birmingham, England) is a popular British
In 1995, Lynam co-operated with Matt Dawson to publish 'The Definitive Guide to Conkers' for the Childline children's charity. Matthew James Sutherland "Daws" Dawson MBE (born 31 October 1972 in Birkenhead) is a now retired English Rugby union ChildLine is a Charity and free 24 hour counselling service for young people provided by The NSPCC.
ITV
Lynam defected to ITV in 1999, where he presented their flagship football programmes, including coverage of the FA Premier League and UEFA Champions League. Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered The Premier League, colloquially referred to as the Premiership, is an English professional league for football clubs See also List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League winners The UEFA Champions League, which evolved from the European Champion Clubs' Cup is a seasonal club He decided to retire from television presenting after the Euro 2004 football championships. The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship (or just Euro 2004) was the twelfth edition of the UEFA European Football Championship, a quadrennial football 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 2002, the BBC released a CD of poems read by Lynam to music. 'Time to stand & stare' featured classic poems such as Rudyard Kipling's 'If', and others written by Roald Dahl, Sir John Betjeman and Brian Patten. Joseph Rudyard Kipling (30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936 was an English Author and poet "If" is a poem written in 1895 by Rudyard Kipling and first published in the Brother Square Toes chapter of Rewards and Fairies, Kipling's Roald Dahl ( 13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British Novelist Short story Writer Sir John Betjeman, CBE ( 28 August 1906 &ndash 19 May 1984 was an English poet writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who Brian Patten (born 7 February 1946, Liverpool, Lancashire, England) is an English Poet. The CD featured one of Lynam's own poems, "The Silly Isles", written about the Falklands War. The Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the
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 hot seat twice the previous year. Have I Got News for You is a British television panel show produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. In June and July 2005, he co-presented (with Sir David Frost) the series The World's Greatest Sporting Legend on Sky One. Sir David Paradine Frost, OBE (born 7 April 1939) is an English Satirist and Television presenter, famed as both a
Countdown
On 22 September 2005, Lynam was named the host (replacing the late Richard Whiteley) of Channel 4's Countdown, with his first episode airing on October 31. Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. John Richard Whiteley, OBE DL ( 28 December 1943 – 26 June 2005) usually known as Richard Whiteley, was Channel 4 is a public-service Television and Radio broadcaster in the United Kingdom centred around a television channel of the same name which began Events 445 BC – Ezra reads the Book of the Law to the Israelites in Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 91 NLTse Although his contract was for two years, on 30 September 2006, it was announced that Lynam would quit Countdown at the end of 2006 [3], due to the fact that he needed to regularly travel to Leeds where Countdown is filmed, while his home is in West Sussex. Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Leeds ( is located on the River Aire in West Yorkshire, England Settlements Most settlements in West Sussex are either along the south coast or are situated in the M23 corridor It had previously been suggested that Countdown may move to London to better suit Lynam, but this was impractical as all of the programme's staff are based in the North. He was then replaced by Des O'Connor. Desmond Bernard O'Connor, CBE (born as Conrad Desmondson on 12 January 1932 is a well-known veteran English Television personality.
On October 3, 2005 he released his autobiography called I Should Have Been at Work, taken from when Lynam, during an England game that kicked off at 2pm on a Monday afternoon during the 1998 Football World Cup finals, said to those watching "Shouldn't you be at work?". Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th staging of the World Cup was held in France from June 10 to July 12 after 60 years to celebrate the third edition scheduled
Setanta Sports advert
In July 2007, Lynam signed on to appear in Setanta Sports' commercials for its coverage of the Premier League, and it is rumoured that he will take some part in Setanta's Premier League programming. July 2007 is the seventh month of that year It began on a Sunday and 31 days later ended on a Tuesday. Setanta Sports (sɛˈtantə is a sports broadcaster based in Ireland, operating 12 channels in 24 countries The Premier League, colloquially referred to as the Premiership, is an English professional league for football clubs [4]
In the advert, he plays a Pie-man, serving pies out of a van outside a stadium, and the woman he works with (played by Star Stories & Balls of Steel star Thaila Zucchi) gets annoyed with the customer, who cannot pronounce "Setanta". A modern stadium (plural stadiums or stadia in English is a place or venue for (mostly outdoor Sports Concerts or other events consisting Star Stories is a British Television comedy programme that takes a Satirical look at Celebrities and their lives Thaila Lucia Zucchi (pron /tai lə/ (born 19 January 1981, Swindon, Wiltshire, England) is a Italian - British The customer refers to Lynam as 'Dickie', a reference to Lynam's rival sports presenter Dickie Davies. Richard "Dickie" Davies (born 30 April 1933, Wallasey, Cheshire) is a British Television presenter, best He also appeared on a Christmas advert, playing the role of "Setanta Claus".
He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The New Year Honours 2008 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 29 December 2007, to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 2008
References
- ^ New Year Honours List 2008
- ^ A press release distributed by PR Newswire Europe
- ^ Countdown's Des quits show. Countdown. The Sun (2006-09-30). Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the
- ^ "Lynam fronts Setanta campaign", The Guardian, 2007-07-27. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1214 - Battle of Bouvines: In France, Philip II of France defeats John of England. Retrieved on 2007-07-27. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1214 - Battle of Bouvines: In France, Philip II of France defeats John of England.
External links
- BBC News Coverage of Lynam and Countdown
- Channel 4Countdown Profile
- Des Lynam Page
- In-depth article on Des Lynam
| Media offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by David Coleman |
Regular Host of Grandstand 1984–1991 |
Succeeded by Steve Rider |
| Preceded by Jimmy Hill |
Regular Host of Match of the Day 1988–1999 |
Succeeded by Gary Lineker |
| Preceded by Steve Rider |
Regular Host of Sportsnight 1991–1997 |
Succeeded by Show ended |
| Preceded by Richard Whiteley |
Host of Countdown 2005–2006 |
Succeeded by Des O'Connor |
| Awards | ||
| Preceded by Jim Rosenthal |
RTS Television Sport Awards Best Sports Presenter 1998 |
Succeeded by Jim Rosenthal |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Lynam, Des |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | TV presenter |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 17 September 1942 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Ennis, County Clare, Ireland |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
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