Editing Des Lynam (section)

===1968–1999===
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 ''[[Today (BBC Radio 4)|the Today programme]]'' on [[BBC Radio 4]] on three mornings each week.<ref name="speakerscorner1">{{cite web |title=Des Lynam Biography |url=http://www.speakerscorner.co.uk/speaker/des-lynam |access-date=16 February 2013}}</ref> He was also the radio boxing commentator for 20 years.

Lynam moved to television in 1977 starting off with ''Sportswide'' as part of ''[[Nationwide (TV series)|Nationwide]]'' continuing until the series ended in 1983, and then presented ''[[Grandstand (BBC)|Grandstand]]'' (1979–1991, occasionally until 1999), ''[[Sportsnight]]'' (1991–1997) and ''[[Match of the Day]]'' (1988–1999). He also fronted BBC coverage of [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] (highlights 1983<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC Genome|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/049e89e74fa94b5a87a2cdbdd56ea3d5|website=genome.ch.bbc.co.uk|date=29 June 1983 }}</ref> to 1989<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC Genome|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c865675bf45d4c63a270085663ada940|website=genome.ch.bbc.co.uk|date=30 June 1989 }}</ref> with [[Gerald Williams (tennis commentator)|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).<ref name="speakerscorner1"/>

In 1988 and 1989, Lynam presented the BBC series ''[[Holiday (TV series)|Holiday]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Debretts: Desmond Lynam, Esq, OBE |url=http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/l/7268/Desmond+Michael.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523043052/http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/l/7268/Desmond+Michael.aspx |archive-date=23 May 2013 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In April 1989, Lynam was present at the [[Hillsborough disaster]] whilst covering the [[FA Cup]] semi-final match between [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] and [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] for ''Match of the Day''.<ref name="hills">{{cite news |title=Hillsborough remembered - Des Lynam |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/football_focus/7994051.stm |work=BBC |access-date=16 February 2013|date=11 April 2009}}</ref>

Between 1988 and the end of the [[1991–92 in English football|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 those four seasons. In August 1992, at the start of the new formation of the [[Premier League]], the BBC regained highlights of top flight league matches.<ref>{{cite news |last=Millward |first=David |title=It's all over for Match of the Day |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1342981/Its-all-over-for-Match-of-the-Day.html |access-date=16 February 2013 |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |date=15 June 2000 |location=London}}</ref> 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 (DJ)|Johnnie Walker]] presented the show from Monday to Thursday.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Smoothie+Des+joins+Radio+2.-a060770845|title=Smoothie Des joins Radio 2. - Free Online Library|website=www.thefreelibrary.com}}</ref>