Gary Newbon
Encyclopedia
Gary Newbon is a television sports presenter and executive.
He attended Culford School
near Bury St Edmunds (in the same year as John Motson
) and upon leaving school he became a junior reporter in Cambridge and then a freelance Fleet Street journalist reporting on tennis and rugby. He began his television career at Westward TV in the 1960s, and then as an ATV
sports reporter for their ATV Today
programme in the early 1970s. The continuing illness of his boss, Controller of Sports Billy Wright, the former England football captain meant that he and a small team - including Trevor East
- had to carry out Wright's functions whilst covering up the extent of his ill-health. He himself later became Controller of Sports (West Midlands) for ATV and, later, Central Television
, Newbon reported on football and hosted boxing and darts programmes for the ITV
network, whilst hosting sports coverage on ATV and Central, while also presenting sports reports on the regional news programmes and performing his executive role. Newbon conducted post-match interviews, including a memorable exchange with Brian Clough
after Nottingham Forest had lost 4-0 to Everton, when Newbon's question about Forest's lack of commitment was replied to with "Because they're just like you and me, Gary - a bunch of pansies", after which Clough kissed Newbon on the cheek and walked off.
Now retired from ITV after 36 years, he is currently a Sky Sports
presenter. He hosted the football phone-in show You're On Sky Sports
, which is usually scheduled immediately after the evening's main game. He hosts live greyhound racing on Sky Sports
as well as Time of our Lives
.
In 2004 he presented a phone-in show on UK national radio station talkSPORT
, "Final Whistle", which was broadcast on Saturdays between 5.00 and 8.00pm after the day's league fixtures. The show is now presented by Terry Christian
and Micky Quinn
.
But Newbon is back on talkSPORT with weekend breakfast programmes from August 2008
He became well known as a roving reporter for ITV Sport
, especially in obtaining match reactions from players in the tunnels during UEFA Champions League
games. His role was later filled by Gabriel Clarke.
After his ITV Sport
reporter job, Gary joined up with Central Television
and became the Central Sports reporter on Central's flagship News programme Central News at Six
, before being replaced by Sarah Jane Mee
and Matt Teale in 2005. He also led the ITV Sport
team at his time at Central, during which they won various awards for their UEFA Champions League, Formula One coverage and sports documentaries.
Gary subsequently returned to Central's screens as a pundit on Central Soccer Night in 2005 before moving to his current job at Sky Sports
.
Newbon is a Leicester City F.C.
fan and was seen wearing a Leicester shirt when he was ordered to Tamworth F.C.
after saying on Central Soccer Night that Tamworth would not progress to the FA Cup 2nd Round, which Tamworth in fact did, and which ended up seeing Newbon at the Lamb Ground having kicked at him in jest.
Gary and his wife Katie live in Solihull. They have three children: Clare Newbon, a journalist for Grazia magazine; Neil Newbon
, an actor who has had numerous film and television appearances, including an appearance as an English waiter in the award winning British comedy Goodness Gracious Me, and a film role acting opposite Stephen Fry; and Lawrence Newbon, twin brother of Neil.
He attended Culford School
Culford School
Culford School is a coeducational HMC and IAPS public school for pupils age 3–18. Founded in 1881, it is situated in Culford, four miles north of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, England.-History:...
near Bury St Edmunds (in the same year as John Motson
John Motson
John Walker Motson OBE ,AKA Motty, is an English football commentator on both television and radio as well a well known moter. He made his name as 'Moty' after he moted out the entire Huddersfield huddersfield cheerleaders team. writer.-Biography:The son of a Methodist minister, Motson was educated...
) and upon leaving school he became a junior reporter in Cambridge and then a freelance Fleet Street journalist reporting on tennis and rugby. He began his television career at Westward TV in the 1960s, and then as an ATV
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
sports reporter for their ATV Today
ATV Today
ATV Today was a regional television news and current affairs programme, produced by ATV, serving the Midlands area of England. The programme aired from October 1964 until 31 December 1981 - the final day of broadcasting from ATV before the company was restructured and relaunched as Central...
programme in the early 1970s. The continuing illness of his boss, Controller of Sports Billy Wright, the former England football captain meant that he and a small team - including Trevor East
Trevor East
Trevor East, was originally presenter of Tiswas; stooge to Chris Tarrant and Derby County obsessed. He was subsequently ranked 27 in The Guardian's "Media 100" most influential people in the industry.-Presenter:...
- had to carry out Wright's functions whilst covering up the extent of his ill-health. He himself later became Controller of Sports (West Midlands) for ATV and, later, Central Television
Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting...
, Newbon reported on football and hosted boxing and darts programmes for the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
network, whilst hosting sports coverage on ATV and Central, while also presenting sports reports on the regional news programmes and performing his executive role. Newbon conducted post-match interviews, including a memorable exchange with Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
after Nottingham Forest had lost 4-0 to Everton, when Newbon's question about Forest's lack of commitment was replied to with "Because they're just like you and me, Gary - a bunch of pansies", after which Clough kissed Newbon on the cheek and walked off.
Now retired from ITV after 36 years, he is currently a Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
presenter. He hosted the football phone-in show You're On Sky Sports
You're On Sky Sports
You're On Sky Sports is a topical football phone-in discussion television programme on Sky Sports 1. Originally hosted by Rob Hawthorne then Rob McCaffrey and Gary Newbon, the show is now chaired by Jason Cundy. There will always be one or two panel members, whether former football professionals or...
, which is usually scheduled immediately after the evening's main game. He hosts live greyhound racing on Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
as well as Time of our Lives
Time of Our Lives
Time of Our Lives is a television programme hosted by Jeff Stelling on Sky Sports. The format isa gathering of three players from a successful British football team from history talking over their memories of the team.-Episodes:...
.
In 2004 he presented a phone-in show on UK national radio station 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....
, "Final Whistle", which was broadcast on Saturdays between 5.00 and 8.00pm after the day's league fixtures. The show is now presented by Terry Christian
Terry Christian
Terry Christian is a British television and radio presenter whose credits include Channel 4's late night Youth Entertainment show The Word and ITV1 moral issues talk show It's My Life...
and Micky Quinn
Micky Quinn
Michael "Micky" Quinn is a former footballer. He was predominantly a centre forward during a career in which he scored 228 goals from 515 games in the Football League.- Club career :...
.
But Newbon is back on talkSPORT with weekend breakfast programmes from August 2008
He became well known as a roving reporter for ITV Sport
ITV Sport
ITV Sport is a sport producer and brand name owned by ITV plc. It was formed from the amalgamation of Granada Sport, Carlton's sports department and ISN, the sports division of London News Network. The company produces Champions League and FA Cup Football, along with coverage of England's national...
, especially in obtaining match reactions from players in the tunnels during UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
games. His role was later filled by Gabriel Clarke.
After his ITV Sport
ITV Sport
ITV Sport is a sport producer and brand name owned by ITV plc. It was formed from the amalgamation of Granada Sport, Carlton's sports department and ISN, the sports division of London News Network. The company produces Champions League and FA Cup Football, along with coverage of England's national...
reporter job, Gary joined up with Central Television
Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting...
and became the Central Sports reporter on Central's flagship News programme Central News at Six
Central Tonight
Central Tonight is a regional television news and current affairs programme, produced by ITV Central, serving the English Midlands.-History:...
, before being replaced by Sarah Jane Mee
Sarah Jane Mee
Sarah-Jane Mee is a British sports presenter for Sky News and is also part of Sky Sports' UEFA Champions League broadcasting team on Wednesday evening....
and Matt Teale in 2005. He also led the ITV Sport
ITV Sport
ITV Sport is a sport producer and brand name owned by ITV plc. It was formed from the amalgamation of Granada Sport, Carlton's sports department and ISN, the sports division of London News Network. The company produces Champions League and FA Cup Football, along with coverage of England's national...
team at his time at Central, during which they won various awards for their UEFA Champions League, Formula One coverage and sports documentaries.
Gary subsequently returned to Central's screens as a pundit on Central Soccer Night in 2005 before moving to his current job at Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
.
Newbon is a Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
fan and was seen wearing a Leicester shirt when he was ordered to Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
after saying on Central Soccer Night that Tamworth would not progress to the FA Cup 2nd Round, which Tamworth in fact did, and which ended up seeing Newbon at the Lamb Ground having kicked at him in jest.
Gary and his wife Katie live in Solihull. They have three children: Clare Newbon, a journalist for Grazia magazine; Neil Newbon
Neil Newbon
Neil Newbon , is an English actor.-Biography:Newbon was born in Birmingham, England, the son of ITV sportscaster Gary Newbon. His family was originally from Scotland on his mother's side, and Belarus on his father's side. His twin brother also works in the film and television industry as a...
, an actor who has had numerous film and television appearances, including an appearance as an English waiter in the award winning British comedy Goodness Gracious Me, and a film role acting opposite Stephen Fry; and Lawrence Newbon, twin brother of Neil.