Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
The voice of Grandstand
Broadcasting giant Frank Bough dies at the age of 87
SUPPORTIVE His wife Nesta
VETERAN broadcaster Frank Bough has died at the age of 87.
He became a household name hosting the BBC’S Grandstand and Sports Review of the Year, before reaching a wider family audience on current affairs show Nationwide.
He went on to be involved in the launch of the BBC’S Breakfast Time in January 1983, and became one of the Beeb’s highest-paid stars, on a reputed £200,000 salary.
However, his career there was brought to an abrupt end in 1988 after a newspaper revealed he had visited brothels, used cocaine, and wore lingerie at sex parties.
He confessed in an interview with the now-defunct News of The World, saying: “I’m not a wicked man, nor do I mean any harm or evil to people.
“I have made mistakes, but everyone’s entitled to do that.
“No one suffered but my wife, my family and myself. It was a brief but appalling period in my life.
“Don’t condemn my entire career for a brief episode I regret.”
Wife Nesta Howells, with whom he had three children, stood by him.
Born in Stoke, Staffs, in 1933, Bough grew up a keen footballer.
He began presenting Sportsview in 1964, taking over from Peter Dimmock. After his stint there ended in 1968, he moved to Grandstand – the BBC’S leading Saturday afternoon sports show, presenting football and rugby world cups.
FAMILY
Audiences loved his song-anddance routine in a sailor outfit on Morecambe and Wise in 1977, which remains the most viewed programme in British history.
It helped cement his image as a squeaky-clean family favourite, which continued up to his final job with the BBC presenting the Holiday programme.
Fel low vet eran broadcast er Michael Parkinson, 85, once said of Bough: “If my life depended on the smooth handling of a TV show, Bough would be my first choice to be in charge.”
After his fall from grace, Bough went on to work on sports broadcasts with Sky, ITV and LBC.
For the best part of 20 years he lived a quiet life with his wife in Holyport, Berkshire, joining a choir in nearby Windsor.
He underwent a liver transplant after a malignant tumour was discovered in 2001.
But in 2014, he was rumoured to be plotting a comeback for a BBC TV anniversary show.
The BBC said last night: “Frank excelled as a live presenter with the BBC for many years and we are very sorry to hear of his passing.
“We send our condolences to his family and friends.”