BBC TV icon to leave screens for good today as he says 'I'll go quietly'
The legendary broadcaster is making a low-key departure from TV after over 50 years in the business
Steve Rider (right) is bowing out from TV this weekend
(Image:)
Legendary sports broadcaster Steve Rider will hang up his microphone for the final time today after over 50 years on screen.
The 75-year-old will bring the curtain down on his remarkable career as he fronts ITV4's coverage of the British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park on Sunday afternoon, having held that role for the last 16 years. Rider is probably best known however for presenting the iconic BBC sports show Grandstand, while he covered everything from rugby and golf to rowing and motorsports during his time with the broadcaster.
He also presented Sportsnight and Sports Personality of the Year, as well as hosting the BBC's coverage of every Olympic Games between 1988 and 2004, before leaving the corporation in 2005.
He then joined ITV, where he presented coverage of Formula One, as well as the football and rugby World Cups, before moving on to the British Touring Car Championship.
While his remarkable and varied career saw him become one of the most recognisable and popular names in sport broadcasting, however, Rider will make a low-key departure from our screens - but it's one that suits him fine.
"God knows, I'll be very disappointed if Andrea Bocelli isn't here,' he joked in an interview with the Telegraph, before adding: 'I'll go quietly, don't worry.'
Article continues below
Earlier this year, Rider admitted he would "just sidle away" after presenting the Touring Car Championship for the final time.
"The biggest emotion as you get into the last two minutes of something like that is, 'For God's sake, don't c**k it up,' because you'd be thinking about that for the next 20 years," he told MailOnline.
"I've probably outstayed my welcome. I've been hugely lucky with the places that the career has taken me. But it's close to 50 years now, so the cracks are showing!"
The Dartford-born presenter's exit from TV comes over 18 months after he revealed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Rider had gone to get himself tested after one of his friends was diagnosed with the same cancer following a medical check, with his wife urging him to undergo further examinations after his readings came back "a little high" following his first check-up.
He then underwent "significant" surgery to prevent the disease from spreading and he admitted during an appearance on BBC Breakfast that he had been "incredibly lucky" as the cancer had been detected early.
"I was cutting it a bit fine," Rider said. "They took one look and said, 'We're going to operate in two weeks'. No mucking about.
"We did Brands Hatch for ITV on the Sunday and I had the operation on the Thursday, so it fitted into the schedule quite nicely!
'It was one operation, whip it all out, off you go and enjoy the rest of your life, second chance. But I was one of the lucky ones," he added, as he urged people to undergo checks for the disease.
"Get yourself tested because once this wretched thing develops, as we've been seeing from Chris Hoy and Eddie Jordan, it just gallops away and there's no control. The chance you have is early testing."
Ahead of Rider's retirement, an ITV statement read: "This Sunday, the legendary Steve Rider will present his final show before he retires following a stellar 45 years working for ITV and BBC.
"Steve began his career as a reporter at LBC before moving to Anglia Television. As he progressed through the ranks he went on to work on the Olympic Games, World Of Sport and BBC's Grandstand to name a few. He returned to ITV in 2005 and presented our Formula One coverage, the 2006 Football World Cup, the Champions League and the Rugby World Cup in 2011.
Article continues below
"More recently, the 75-year-old has been anchoring the British Touring Car Championship on ITV4. We wish Steve all the best in the future and thank him for all his dedication and hard work in a TV career spanning over 50 years on screen."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
29 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Destination X fans left 'gutted' over latest twist as they issue same complaint
BBC One's Destination X had TV viewers complaining on social media after the latest twist hugely impacted the contestants Viewers of Destination X were left 'gutted' by the latest twist in the popular BBC show, with many voicing the same grievance. The reality programme returned to our telly screens on Wednesday (20 August) with another episode, which saw remaining contestants Nick, Saskia, Judith, Daren, Josh and Claire tackle the latest challenge on the Destination X bus. Regrettably, Nick found himself bidding farewell to the BBC show after his location prediction was the furthest away from the group's actual location, which was revealed to be Pula, Croatia. Fans at home were left heartbroken by Nick's departure from the show, with many taking to social media to vent their disappointment. "I am so gutted, I really thought that Nick would get to the final and win! ! #DestinationX," one person posted on Twitter, now X, while a second said: "I'm in mourning for nick from #DestinationX." A third viewer said: "I haven't watched #DestinationX for long but I'm really sad to see Nick go, that was so unlucky, Could've won," and another added: "Nick was great. Sorry to see him go. #DestinationX." A fifth Destination X fan said: "#DestinationX going to be really boring now Nick's gone. Let's see how they get on without the strongest player on board." Speaking after he was told he was the latest contestant to be eliminated, Nick said: "Stepping off the bus here is frustrating, because I said it as I was placing it. "I couldn't quite find where I needed to be, which was a shame. It's been great, it's been a great experience. It's been really horrible and hard at times, lots of lessons learned. "The social dilemmas, the decision-making, what to tell to who and when, is very draining. The game is hard." Nick's fellow contestants were left stunned by his departure on the coach, with each expressing their astonishment whilst gearing up for the upcoming stage of the competition, reports the Manchester Evening News Judith pondered how Nick had butted heads with particular participants throughout his stint on the BBC One programme, confessing she believed he might have been misjudged and was merely concentrated on the contest. "I really don't think he's as bad a person as some people started to think. I think the game was just the first thing he thought about, the last thing he thought about when he went to bed. I think he was just so in it," Judith revealed to her fellow Destination X participants.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
My Family cast update 25 years later including Harry Potter snub and Bafta wins
It's nearly been 25 years since the hit BBC show first aired. A long 25 years have passed since the well-loved BBC sitcom My Family first aired back in the year 200. The show was a constant on our screens back in the day, revolving around the daily chaos of the eccentric Harper family in London. My Family produced 120 episodes over its run, which came to an end in 2001 with a revolving door of actors joining and departing the cast over the years. Many of its stars remain recognisable faces on our screens, prompting us to revisit what some of the cast members got up to after the show had ended. From Hollywood to Harry Potter, to stepping away from acting altogether, many will have fond memories of watching these stars in the long-gone sitcom. BBC's My Family- where are they now? Ben Harper - Robert Lindsay Robert Lindsay portrayed dentist Ben Harper throughout the entire run of My Family. When he wasn't being henpecked by his wife or swindled by his children, all the character wanted was a bit of time to himself. However, one thing or another would always crop up, preventing him from ever truly kicking back and relaxing. Robert has graced our telly screens for nearly half a century, with roles like Wolfe Smith in Citizen Smith. He's got numerous awards under his belt from over the years, including Baftas and Tonys from throughout his glittering career, reports the Liverpool Echo. Since the show wrapped up in 2011, Robert has kept himself busy with appearances in Atlantis, Galavant, Genius, Bounty Hunters, Plebs, and McDonald and Dodds. He also starred in 2015's Bull, alongside Maureen Lipman. In 2014 and 2019, he played King John in the Maleficent film franchise, sharing the screen with Angelina Jolie. Most recently, he featured in Sherwood and Generation Z. Susan Harper - Zoe Wanamaker Zoe Wanamaker portrayed the head of the Harper family. As Susan, Zoe was a tour guide, a total control freak, and, most of the time, would get her way. Zoe, like her on-screen husband, has been on our screens since the early '70s. Her film appearances include Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone in 2001 and Five Children And It in 2004. Many people will recognise her from her various TV roles such as her portrayal of Ariadne Oliver in Agatha Christie's Poirot from 2005 until 2013. More recently, she was seen in Britannia, Netflix's Shadow and Bone, and Showtime's The Man Who Fell To Earth. Other credits include Killing Eve, Worzel Gummidge, and the film My Week with Marilyn. This year, she starred in Bergerac in the main role as the character Charlie Hungerford. Nick Harper - Kris Marshall Kris Marshall, who portrayed the eldest Harper child, Nick, from 2000 to 2005, was known for his character's carefree nature and knack for landing in tricky situations. Nick tried various jobs, including a stripper and stuntman, but was notoriously inept at all of them. Marshall, who had already starred in 2003's Love Actually and other roles such as DS Luke Stone in Murder City and Dudley Sutton in Funland, left the show in 2005. His most significant role post-departure was DI Humphrey Goodman in Death in Paradise from 2014 to 2017. He returned to this role last year in a new spin-off series, Beyond Paradise. Janey Harper - Daniela Denby-Ashe The only daughter of the Harper family, Janey, was a fashion-conscious shopaholic and rebel, much to her father Ben's dismay. Denby-Ashe was already well-known on television in 2000, having appeared in EastEnders as Sarah Hills from 1995 to 1999. She also featured in episodes of Torchwood and played Margaret Gale in North and South. Throughout her career, she's graced the screens in Channel 4's Desmond's, The Bill, and Absolutely Fabulous alongside comedy duo Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders. After My Family wrapped up, Daniela stayed in the limelight, taking on roles such as Lorraine Donnegan in Waterloo Road and lending her voice to Channel 5's Colin and Justin's Hotel Hell. Michael Harper - Gabriel Thomson As the youngest of the Harper brood, Michael was a bit of a mystery compared to his family members. From the get-go, Michael was portrayed as intelligent and held contrasting views to the rest of the Harper tribe. Gabriel, who was once rumoured to be in the running for the role of Harry Potter before Daniel Radcliffe bagged it, made a comeback with the film The Lost Choices in 2014 after a three-year hiatus from the spotlight. He took a break from acting to pursue university studies. Over time, he has featured in a host of short films. Roger Bailey Jr - Keiron Self Welsh actor Keiron Self from series 3 until the show's conclusion in 2011. Roger, the offspring of Ben's mentor, Roger Bailey Sr, ended up falling head over heels for Ben's cousin, Abi. Unlike Ben, he was a straightforward and jovial character. Keiron, who hails from Newport, has an extensive career in television and theatre. His CV includes roles as PC Claude Cox in High Hopes and recent appearances in Still Open All Hours, Bittersweet Symphony and A Christmas Number One, for which he also contributed to the screenplay. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Press and Journal
an hour ago
- Press and Journal
Exclusive: How superfast broadband could turbocharge Belladrum Festival
If you were a returning festivalgoer at Belladrum this summer, you may have noticed your phone signal was better than in previous years. And that basic improvement could be about to unleash exciting new ideas for improvement at the popular Tartan Heart Festival. That's because the event now benefits from superfast 10 gigabit per second broadband being rolled out across rural areas in the Highlands. Organiser Dougie Brown said the improved connectivity was a 'gamechanger' for campers and traders. For example, businesses were able to process card payments smoothly. And families could keep in touch by accessing four wi-fi hotspots across the festival site. 'It was pretty flawless,' Dougie said. Dougie hopes the next step will be to have seamless wi-fi connectivity across the whole festival site. And the superfast broadband has given organisers some fresh ideas for what could come next. Concert highlights are already shown on the BBC. But future editions of Belladrum could perhaps see more live gigs streamed. And the ultra-fast internet could even result in quirky ideas like introducing online gaming at the festival. 'We're in the Highlands, but the reality is we're on a level playing field now with any big city, which is great,' Dougie said. Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival has been steadily growing for years. It can now hold up to 25,000 people and is the biggest camping music festival in Scotland. Organisers hailed this year's event as 'incredible'. We have already revealed how Highland businesses have been cashing in on the festival. And organisers are aiming big – with an open invitation to Scottish superstar Paolo Nutini. A 2014 report estimated visitors spent around £3.3 million at that year's festival. The event brought a £4.4 million boost to the local Highland economy. And those figures are only likely to have gone up in the 11 years since then given the festival's growth. Festival chiefs hope to soon commission another report to find out how much the event now contributes each year. 'Sometimes festivals are seen as frivolous fun, but there's huge economic impacts they have to the local area,' Dougie said. Belladrum is far from the only beneficiary of improved broadband. Recently we revealed how ultra-fast wi-fi was changing lives in Grantown as the Scottish Government announced Highland Broadband will receive £50 million. Dougie spoke to the Press and Journal after meeting Labour MP Chris Bryant, the UK Government telecoms minister. Mr Bryant was also interviewed by the P&J during his trip to Strathpeffer. He touted Belladrum as a huge success story for connectivity. 'It's been transformative for them,' Mr Bryant said.
