Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

United Kingdom

BBC Yorkshire legend Harry Gration retires after 40 years

BBC regional television “legend” Harry Gration is to retire after more than 40 years.

Gration is a Yorkshire institution having presented the BBC’s Look North news for 38 years.

He started filing rugby league reports during the mid-70s while working as a teacher.

Advertisement

During his time, he covered nine Olympic Games for the broadcaster.

Gration, 69, also won two Royal Television Society (RTS) awards for sporting documentaries.

And he won two RTS awards for best regional presenter.

Gration said:

“For the past four decades, it’s been a privilege to meet the people of the county I love.

“Make no mistake, these good folk are the heartbeat of the programme.

“I’ve interviewed every Prime Minister since Margaret Thatcher, covered every major Look North story even at the expense of my holidays, and I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

“I’ve always lived the story.

“Horrendous events such as the devastating news of Jo Cox’s death, the disastrous floods of recent times, the Bradford riots, Hillsborough, have always affected me.

“They were always an assault on my county.”

Helen Thomas, director of BBC England, said it would be an understatement to call Gration a broadcasting legend:

She said:

“Over the past 40 years he has been a constant and reassuring presence on our screens.

“It is testament to his skill that he has been as much at home interviewing the people of Yorkshire as he has Prime Ministers and royalty.

“Despite his extraordinary tenure, Harry never lost his passion for news, particularly regional news, and that shined through every evening.”

 

Comments

Trending

Latest Tweets

Advertisement

You May Also Like

United Kingdom

Film director Ridley Scott has recalled the death of actor Oliver Reed while making the Oscar winning blockbuster Gladiator. Scott said hard-drinking Reed “just...

Business

The controversial Russian businessman Viktor Baturin, well-known for his years-long counterstanding with his wealthy sister Elena, widow of Moscow ex-mayor Yuri Luzhkov, is likely...

United Kingdom

The Tremeloes. Dave Munden centre Dave Munden the Tremeloes drummer – and often lead singer – with the 60s chart toppers has died. He...

United Kingdom

The Watneys Party Seven is making a comeback. The ubiquitous 70s beer was a bland fizzing bitter ridiculed by many. The drink’s insipidness helped...