Sports Report
Encyclopedia
Sports Report is one of the longest-running programmes on British radio
. It started in the first week of 1948, and has always been aired from 5.00 to 6.00 p.m. on Saturday evenings during the football
season, although commentaries on evening matches kicking off shortly after 5pm on Saturdays had often curtailed it in recent years, however, it regained its full hour for the start of the 2010-11 football season after 5 Live lost the Saturday evening Premier League radio rights to talkSPORT
.
Originally produced by Angus Mackay it went out on the BBC Light Programme
, where it stayed until 25 April 1964. On 22 August 1964 it became part of Sports Service and moved to the wavelengths of the BBC Third Programme
(used for other purposes during daytime hours), where it initially started at the earlier time of 4.42 p.m.. On 4 April 1970, however, it moved back to what had by then become BBC Radio 2
, where it stayed until 25 August 1990 (throughout this time it was part of Sport on 2). From 1 September 1990 to 26 March 1994 it was on the original BBC Radio 5
, and since 2 April 1994 it has been heard on BBC Radio 5 Live
(on both of these networks it has been part of Sport on 5 then renamed 5 Live Sport in 2006).
Presenters have included Raymond Glendenning
(1948–55) Eamonn Andrews
(1955–64), Robin Marlar
(1964–68), Peter Jones
(1968–70), Des Lynam
(1970–80), Mike Ingham
(1980–85), Renton Laidlaw (1985–87), John Inverdale
(1987–94), Ian Payne
(1994–2000) and Mark Pougatch
(2000-) among many others, while the football results were originally read out by John Webster but, since 1974, have been heard in the distinctive voice of James Alexander Gordon
(famous for pronouncing "Wanderers", in the name of several football clubs, as "Wanderer-ers"). The programme, almost uniquely, has used the same theme music since its inception - "Out of the Blue", written by Hubert Bath
. This already sounded old-fashioned in the early 1970s, and it is said that Lynam prevented it from being dropped. Now, the theme has the status of a charming anachronism, a very British institution, amid the fast-paced modern style of the rest of Five Live.
Radio in the United Kingdom
There are over 250 radio stations in the United Kingdom. For a more comprehensive list see List of radio stations in the United Kingdom.-BBC Radio:The most prominent stations are the national networks operated by the BBC....
. It started in the first week of 1948, and has always been aired from 5.00 to 6.00 p.m. on Saturday evenings during the football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
season, although commentaries on evening matches kicking off shortly after 5pm on Saturdays had often curtailed it in recent years, however, it regained its full hour for the start of the 2010-11 football season after 5 Live lost the Saturday evening Premier League radio rights to talkSPORT
TalkSPORT
Talksport , owned by UTV radio, is one of the United Kingdom's three terrestrial analogue Independent National Radio broadcasters, offering a sports and talk radio service broadcast from London to the United Kingdom....
.
Originally produced by Angus Mackay it went out on the BBC Light Programme
BBC Light Programme
The Light Programme was a BBC radio station which broadcast mainstream light entertainment and music from 1945 until 1967, when it was rebranded as BBC Radio 2...
, where it stayed until 25 April 1964. On 22 August 1964 it became part of Sports Service and moved to the wavelengths of the BBC Third Programme
BBC Third Programme
The BBC Third Programme was a national radio network broadcast by the BBC. The network first went on air on 29 September 1946 and became one of the leading cultural and intellectual forces in Britain, playing a crucial role in disseminating the arts...
(used for other purposes during daytime hours), where it initially started at the earlier time of 4.42 p.m.. On 4 April 1970, however, it moved back to what had by then become BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
, where it stayed until 25 August 1990 (throughout this time it was part of Sport on 2). From 1 September 1990 to 26 March 1994 it was on the original BBC Radio 5
BBC Radio 5 (former)
BBC Radio 5 was a BBC radio network that carried sport, children's and educational programmes.It was transmitted via analogue radio on 693 and 909 kHz, and lasted for three years and eight months. The success of BBC Radio 4's coverage of the Gulf War, on a service known as Scud FM,...
, and since 2 April 1994 it has been heard on BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
(on both of these networks it has been part of Sport on 5 then renamed 5 Live Sport in 2006).
Presenters have included Raymond Glendenning
Raymond Glendenning
Raymond Glendenning was a BBC radio sports commentator.-Early years:He was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, and was educated at Newport High School and the University of London...
(1948–55) Eamonn Andrews
Eamonn Andrews
Eamonn Andrews, CBE , was an Irish television presenter based in the United Kingdom.-Life and career:...
(1955–64), Robin Marlar
Robin Marlar
Robin Geoffrey Marlar is an English cricketer and cricket journalist. He was educated at Harrow and Cambridge....
(1964–68), Peter Jones
Peter Jones (broadcaster)
Peter Jones was a Welsh-born broadcaster, best known as a sports commentator on BBC radio in the United Kingdom, although many of his commentaries were also broadcast internationally on the BBC World Service...
(1968–70), Des Lynam
Des Lynam
Desmond Michael "Des" Lynam, OBE is an Irish television and radio presenter based in the UK.He has hosted television coverage of high profile events for many years...
(1970–80), Mike Ingham
Mike Ingham
Mike Ingham, MBE is a British football commentator and broadcaster.-Early life:He grew up in Duffield and Quarndon , and attended The Herbert Strutt School in Belper, then a grammar school...
(1980–85), Renton Laidlaw (1985–87), John Inverdale
John Inverdale
John Inverdale , is an English radio and television broadcaster who works for the BBC, mainly covering sporting events.-Biography:...
(1987–94), Ian Payne
Ian Payne
Ian Payne is a British television broadcaster who has appeared on Radio 5 Live, Sky Sports News and Sky Sports. He is the son of Peter Payne, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist.-Early career:...
(1994–2000) and Mark Pougatch
Mark Pougatch
Mark Pougatch is a freelance radio and television broadcaster, a journalist and author who works mainly as a sports presenter for the BBC.-Early life:...
(2000-) among many others, while the football results were originally read out by John Webster but, since 1974, have been heard in the distinctive voice of James Alexander Gordon
James Alexander Gordon (announcer)
James Alexander Gordon James Alexander Gordon James Alexander Gordon (born 10 February 1936, Edinburgh is a radio broadcaster for BBC Radio Five Live. He reads the classified check of the football results every Saturday at 5 pm on Sports Report....
(famous for pronouncing "Wanderers", in the name of several football clubs, as "Wanderer-ers"). The programme, almost uniquely, has used the same theme music since its inception - "Out of the Blue", written by Hubert Bath
Hubert Bath
Hubert Charles Bath was a British film composer and music director. His credits include Tudor Rose , A Yank at Oxford and Millions Like Us .Bath was born in Barnstaple, Devon in 1883....
. This already sounded old-fashioned in the early 1970s, and it is said that Lynam prevented it from being dropped. Now, the theme has the status of a charming anachronism, a very British institution, amid the fast-paced modern style of the rest of Five Live.