Editing Des Lynam

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{{short description|Television and radio presenter (born 1942)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = Des Lynam
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE|size=100%}}
| image       = Deslynam.jpg
| caption     = Lynam in 2005
| birth_name  = Desmond Michael Lynam
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1942|9|17}}
| birth_place = [[Ennis]], [[County Clare]], Ireland
| death_date  = 
| death_place = 
| years_active = 1968–present
| occupation  = [[Television presenter|Radio/Television presenter]]
| spouse      = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Susan Skinner|1965|1974|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Rosemary Diamond|2011}}
}}
| children    = 1
}}
'''Desmond Michael Lynam''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}} (born 17 September 1942) is an Irish-born British television and radio presenter. In a broadcasting career spanning more than forty years, he has hosted television coverage of many of the world's major sporting events, presenting ''[[Grandstand (TV programme)|Grandstand]]'', ''[[Match of the Day]]'',  [[Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]], the [[Grand National]], ''[[Sportsnight]]'', the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] and [[Olympic Games]], as well as presenting non-sporting programmes such as ''[[Holiday (TV series)|Holiday]]'', ''[[How Do They Do That?]]'' and ''[[Countdown (game show)|Countdown]]''.

==Early years==
Lynam was born in [[Ennis]], [[County Clare]], Ireland,<ref name="Lynam2005">{{cite book |author=Des Lynam |title=I Should Have Been at Work |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I5oRKN6xVZ4C |year=2005 |publisher=HarperCollins Entertainment |isbn=978-0-00-720544-8 |page=1}}</ref> and moved with his family to [[Brighton]], England, at the age of six.<ref name="euro 96">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/17/des-lynam-euro-96-football-gary-lineker-terry-venables-england|title=Des Lynam on the story behind Euro 96: 'Football got its smile back'|last=Butler|first=Michael|date=12 June 2021|work=The Guardian|accessdate=18 June 2021}}</ref> He recalled having a strong Irish accent at the time, but eventually lost it. He passed the [[eleven-plus]] in 1954, to attend [[Varndean College|Varndean Grammar School]]. After sitting his [[Advanced Level (UK)|A-levels]], he went into the insurance business.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

==Broadcasting career==

===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>

===ITV: 1999–2004===
Lynam moved from the BBC to [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] in August 1999, to present ITV's live [[football (soccer)|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."<ref>{{cite news |title=Des Lynam moves to ITV |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/aug/02/newsstory.sport24 |access-date=16 February 2013 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=2 August 1999 |location=London}}</ref>

ITV later gained a deal to air [[Premier League]] highlights. In 2001, Lynam presented ''[[The Premiership (TV programme)|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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1511568.stm |title=ITV Premiership ratings plunge |work=BBC News |date=27 August 2001 |access-date=14 February 2013 }}</ref> 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 [[2004 European Football Championship|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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Des Lynam makes BBC radio return |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3882939.stm |work=BBC |access-date=16 February 2013 |date=10 July 2004}}</ref>

===2005–2013===
In May 2005, Lynam presented the [[BBC One]] 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 BBC One, 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 [[David Frost|Sir David Frost]]) the series ''The World's Greatest Sporting Legend'' on [[Sky One]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a19777/des-lynam-david-frost-join-sky-one.html |title=Des Lynam, David Frost join Sky One|publisher=Digital Spy |date=9 March 2005 |access-date=17 February 2013}}</ref> 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''.<ref name="LynamAuto">{{cite book |author=Des Lynam |title=I Should Have Been at Work |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I5oRKN6xVZ4C |year=2005 |publisher=HarperCollins Entertainment |isbn=978-0-00-720544-8}}</ref> 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 during the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 Football World Cup]] finals.<ref>{{cite news |title=Profile: Des Lynam |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5394462.stm |work=BBC News |access-date=16 February 2013 |date=30 September 2006}}</ref>

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".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a26618/des-lynam-regrets-move-to-itv.html |title=Des Lynam regrets move to ITV |work=Digital Spy |date=26 November 2005 |access-date=15 December 2012}}</ref>

Also that year, Lynam replaced [[Richard Whiteley]] as the host of [[Channel 4]]'s ''[[Countdown (game show)|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]].<ref>{{cite news |title=O'Connor to be new ''Countdown'' host |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6144420.stm |work=BBC |access-date=16 February 2013 |date=13 November 2006}}</ref> Lynam did, however, return for Countdown's 5000th episode, broadcast on 26 March 2010, as the Dictionary Corner guest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1L8uBzW6hQ&ab |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/d1L8uBzW6hQ |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Countdown 5000th episode|website=[[YouTube]] |date=4 April 2010 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

After leaving ''Countdown'', Lynam hosted ''Sport Mastermind'' and appeared in [[Setanta Sports]]' commercials for its coverage of the [[Premier League]].{{cn|date=April 2022}}

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.<ref name="hills" />

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 a 2015 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."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thesetpieces.com/interviews/vox-box-des-lynam/ |title=Vox in the Box: Des Lynam |first=Andy |last=Stevenson |date=19 February 2015 |publisher=Alma Media, Totally & Crisp Sports |work=thesetpieces.com |access-date=21 December 2015}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Lynam married Susan Skinner on 2 October 1965<Ref>Des Lynam - The Biography - Steve Purcell</ref> and they had one son, Patrick (born 1970); however, by 1973 the marriage began to break down owing to Lynam's career commitments, and they divorced in 1974. Lynam married his long-term partner, Rosemary Diamond,<ref name="euro 96"/> in 2011. They live together in [[West Sussex]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/tv/bbc-legend-des-lynam-gives-29727671|title=BBC legend Des Lynam gives brutally honest Gary Lineker Match of the Day verdict|first=Ashleigh|last=Rainbird|date=13 August 2024|website=Chronicle Live}}</ref>

Lynam is a supporter of [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]]. In the 1990s he declined an invitation to join the board of directors at Brighton.<ref>{{cite news |last=Viner |first=Brian |title=The Brian Viner Interview: Des Lynam |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/the-brian-viner-interview-des-lynam--twinkleeyed-leader-of-the-cult-of-des-1101932.html |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=23 June 1999}}</ref>

He was appointed [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[New Year Honours 2008|2008 New Year Honours]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Profile: Des Lynam |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7163434.stm |access-date=9 October 2014 |work=BBC News |date=29 December 2007}}</ref>

In May 2013, Lynam endorsed the [[UK Independence Party]] (UKIP), revealing that he voted for the party in local elections that year.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22483478 |title=Des Lynam endorses UKIP and rewrites Send in the Clowns |work=BBC News |date=10 May 2013 |access-date=9 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Matthew |title=Des Lynam endorses Ukip ... in song! |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/may/10/des-lynam-endorses-ukip-song |access-date=9 October 2014 |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=10 May 2013}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |author=Des Lynam |title=I Should Have Been at Work |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I5oRKN6xVZ4C |year=2005 |publisher=HarperCollins Entertainment |isbn=978-0-00-720544-8}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|id=0528207|name=Des Lynam}}
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4276674.stm BBC News Coverage of Lynam and Countdown]
*[http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/C/countdown/des_lynam.html Channel 4Countdown Profile]

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{{succession box| before = [[Jim Rosenthal]] | title = [[Royal Television Society|RTS Television Sport Awards]]<br>Best Sports Presenter | after = [[Jim Rosenthal]] | years = 1998}}
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[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Association football commentators]]
[[Category:21st-century British autobiographers]]
[[Category:21st-century Irish autobiographers]]
[[Category:BBC Radio 2 presenters]]
[[Category:BBC Radio 5 Live presenters]]
[[Category:BBC sports presenters and reporters]]
[[Category:British game show hosts]]
[[Category:British radio presenters]]
[[Category:British television presenters]]
[[Category:Irish emigrants to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:ITV people]]
[[Category:Mass media people from Brighton and Hove]]
[[Category:Mixed martial arts broadcasters]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Olympic Games broadcasters]]
[[Category:Mass media people from Brighton]]
[[Category:People from Ennis]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from County Clare]]
[[Category:Tennis commentators]]
[[Category:UK Independence Party people]]