Des Lynam

TV Show Host

Des Lynam was born in Ennis, Munster, Ireland on September 17th, 1942 and is the TV Show Host. At the age of 82, Des Lynam biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.

  Report
Date of Birth
September 17, 1942
Nationality
Ireland
Place of Birth
Ennis, Munster, Ireland
Age
82 years old
Zodiac Sign
Virgo
Profession
Autobiographer, Sports Commentator, Television Presenter
Des Lynam Height, Weight, Eye Color and Hair Color

At 82 years old, Des Lynam physical status not available right now. We will update Des Lynam's height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, and measurements.

Height
Not Available
Weight
Not Available
Hair Color
Not Available
Eye Color
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Build
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Measurements
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Des Lynam Religion, Education, and Hobbies
Religion
Not Available
Hobbies
Not Available
Education
Not Available
Des Lynam Spouse(s), Children, Affair, Parents, and Family
Spouse(s)
Susan Skinner, ​ ​(m. 1965; div. 1974)​, Rosemary Diamond ​(m. 2011)​
Children
1
Dating / Affair
Not Available
Parents
Not Available
Des Lynam Career

Lynam started his career in broadcasting as a freelance radio journalist on BBC Radio Brighton (1968–1969). He quickly joined national BBC radio in London, and went on to anchor Sport on Two and Sports Report (1969–1978) on BBC Radio 2. From 1974 to 1976, he co-presented the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 on three mornings each week. He was also the radio boxing commentator for 20 years.

Lynam moved to television in 1977 starting off with Sportswide as part of Nationwide continuing until the series ended in 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 1983 to 1989 with Gerald Williams, main presenter 1991–1997 and 1999), the Grand National (1985–1999), the Football World Cup (1982–1998) and the Olympic Games (1980–1996).

In 1988 and 1989, Lynam presented the BBC series Holiday.

In April 1989, Lynam was present at the Hillsborough disaster whilst covering the FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest for Match of the Day.

Between 1988 and the end of the 1991–1992 season, the BBC had lost the rights for top flight league matches to ITV, although the BBC retained rights for the FA Cup. Lynam presented Match of the Day on FA Cup weekends for four years until the end of the 1991–1992 season. In August 1992, at the start of the new formation of the Premier League, the BBC regained highlights of top flight league matches. Lynam presented Match of the Day highlights of Premier League matches on the BBC until 1999.

Throughout his time on the BBC, Lynam was praised for his witty and down-to-earth style. In 1998, Lynam made a brief return to BBC Radio 2, presenting the 5–7pm Drivetime show on Fridays only. During this period, Johnnie Walker presented the show from Monday to Thursday.

Lynam moved from the BBC to ITV in August 1999, to present ITV's live football coverage, including coverage of the midweek UEFA Champions League. Lynam said at the time: "Leaving the BBC after 30 years was not an easy decision to make, but it was time for a new challenge – and it's no secret that live football is what I love best." A month earlier, Lynam had complained in a newspaper interview about BBC1's late scheduling on a Saturday evening of Match of the Day, which had sometimes been shown with a late start time of 10.50pm. Lynam said: "The moment you put it past 10.30 I start fuming."

ITV later gained a deal to air Premier League highlights. In 2001, Lynam presented The Premiership, which was first aired on ITV at 7pm on 18 August 2001. After disappointing viewing figures in the first couple of months for The Premiership on ITV, a decision was made to shift the programme from its original 7pm slot to a permanent later time of 10:30pm, from 17 November 2001. The programme ran until May 2004.

Lynam continued to present football coverage for ITV until 2004. He decided to retire from presenting live sport 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.

In May 2005, Lynam presented the BBC1 programme We'll Meet Again, marking the 60th anniversary of VE Day. During the show Tara McDonald performed the song "We'll Meet Again" live. 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 twice hosted the show the previous year.

In June and July 2005, Lynam co-presented (with Sir David Frost) the series The World's Greatest Sporting Legend on Sky One. In the summer of 2005, Lynam also covered the Wimbledon Championships for BBC Radio Five Live.

In October 2005, Lynam published his autobiography I Should Have Been at Work. The title of the book is a reference to when Lynam said "Good afternoon. Shouldn't you be at work?" when introducing coverage of an England match at 2pm on a Monday afternoon during the 1998 Football World Cup finals.

In 2005, Lynam said that he regretted his decision to move to ITV from the BBC in 1999. Lynam said: "If it was a decision I had to make now I probably wouldn't do it. Some people said I went from being a great broadcaster, or at least a very acceptably good one, to being a somewhat inadequate one overnight".

Also that year, Lynam replaced Richard Whiteley as the host of Channel 4's Countdown, with his first episode airing on 31 October 2005, following Whiteley's death. Although his contract was to last until December 2007, Lynam left Countdown after less than 18 months at the end of 2006, because he regularly needed to travel to Leeds where Countdown was recorded, while his home was in Worthing, West Sussex about 250 miles away. He was replaced by Des O'Connor. Lynam did, however, return for Countdown's 5000th episode, broadcast on 26 March 2010, as the Dictionary Corner guest.

After leaving Countdown, Lynam hosted Sport Mastermind and appeared in Setanta Sports' commercials for its coverage of the Premier League.

In April 2009, Lynam spoke about his recollection of the Hillsborough disaster for a Football Focus special programme marking the 20th anniversary of the disaster.

From 2011 to 2013, Lynam co-hosted, with Christopher Matthew, three series of Touchline Tales on BBC Radio 4, a humorous look at sport.

In an interview, Lynam stated that "I liked the radio boxing commentaries very much, especially following Muhammad Ali around the world. That was a great period of my life."

Source

It's the biggest ten minutes for racing in a long time... the Grand National is the perfect opportunity to show that racing is doing everything to make it as safe as we can

www.dailymail.co.uk, April 5, 2024
ED CHAMBERLIN: Are you worried? Usually at this time of year, my friends are keen to know how excited they are getting, but the tone of their query has changed as the Randox Grand National National National National National National National National National National National National peaks. Our greatest race has been scrutinized like never before and after the events of 12 months ago, when demonstrators, those with only a passing interest in racing, are concerned about what will be in store in Aintree seven days from now. To be honest, as I've told my colleagues, I am not concerned in the slightest. I can't wait to be back in Liverpool, and there is no other day in the year when my heart leaps out of my chest with nerves and anticipation before going on air on ITV. The Grand National is a part of our fabric.

Excluding: As ITV and other competitors decide not to bid due to low viewing figures and a burgeoning advertising market, BBC will keep Match of the Day's four years from 2025

www.dailymail.co.uk, November 6, 2023
EXCLUSIVE: The BBC is expected to keep Match of the Day broadcasting for four years from 2025, with terrestrial rivals struggling to apply for the Premier League's highlights package. According to ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, the Premier League's tender released last month is not financially viable for them due to declining viewer numbers and a difficult advertising market.

ED CHAMBERLAIN: Let's marvel at the equine Cantona and joy that horses bring as we celebrate the start of National Racehorse week

www.dailymail.co.uk, September 8, 2023
ED CHAMBERLAIN: The time and date are ingrained in my mind, as well as the words that came into my ears. On Saturday, April 15th, 2004, ITV's legendary director, Paul McNamara, announced a storm. He said, 'Ed,' he said.' This is no longer about sport; this is news.' He was correct. Protesters from Animal Rising were holding the Randox Grand National indefinitely. The situation was chaotic, but at the time I considered my hero, Des Lynam, and knew that I had to remain calm in the midst of horseracing under attack. I was worried that this year would be a year in which orange paint or orange dust would ruin the sport that provides livelihoods and enjoyment to millions of people. Following Aintree, there were incidents at Ayr, for the Scottish Grand National National National Agricultural Festival, and Epsom on Derby Day. Horseracing will always be dangerous, but it is vital to keep correcting myths and misinformation: 98% of horses return home safely after racing, and they are given unconditional love and support from those attached to them that can't be explained in terms.