20 Facts About Des Lynam

1.

Des Lynam recalled having a strong Irish accent at that time, but eventually lost it.

2.

Des Lynam passed the eleven-plus in 1954, to attend Varndean Grammar School.

3.

Des Lynam started his career in broadcasting as a freelance radio journalist on BBC Radio Brighton.

4.

Des Lynam quickly joined national BBC radio in London, and went on to anchor Sport on Two and Sports Report on BBC Radio 2.

5.

Des Lynam was the radio boxing commentator for 20 years.

6.

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

7.

Des Lynam presented Match of the Day highlights of Premier League matches on the BBC until 1999.

8.

Des 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.

9.

In 2001, Des Lynam presented The Premiership, which was first aired on ITV at 7pm on 18 August 2001.

10.

Des Lynam continued to present football coverage for ITV until 2004.

11.

Des Lynam decided to retire from presenting live sport after the Euro 2004 football championships.

12.

In May 2005, Des Lynam presented the BBC1 programme We'll Meet Again, marking the 60th anniversary of VE Day.

13.

In June and July 2005, Des Lynam co-presented the series The World's Greatest Sporting Legend on Sky One.

14.

In October 2005, Des Lynam published his autobiography I Should Have Been at Work.

15.

In 2005, Des Lynam said that he regretted his decision to move to ITV from the BBC in 1999.

16.

Also that year, Des 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.

17.

Des Lynam did return for Countdown's 5000th episode, broadcast on 26 March 2010, as the Dictionary Corner guest.

18.

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

19.

Des Lynam was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2008 New Year Honours.

20.

In 2013, Des Lynam endorsed the United Kingdom Independence Party, revealing that he voted for the party in local elections that year.