“Broadcasting legend” Harry Gration to leave BBC after 42 years

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Legendary broadcaster Harry Gration, who has presented BBC Look North since 1982, is to leave the broadcaster after more than four decades.

Bradford-born Gration joined the BBC in 1978 having filed match reports for the BBC while working as a history teacher in the mid-70s.

He joined BBC Radio Leeds as sports editor in 1978, and went on to cover nine Olympics and present iconic shows such as Grandstand, Sportsnight and Match of the Day.

He won two Royal Television Society awards for his sports documentaries and was also twice named RTS Best Presenter.

His last show will be on Wednesday October 21st. His co-presenter, Amy Garcia, will continue as lead 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 worked with the best of the best and leave Look North in the good hands of Amy and the team, although I don’t know how Paul Hudson is going to cope without me checking his forecasts! Seriously though, I’ll miss my good old mate.

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Harry Gration joined BBC Look North back in 1982


“I’m looking forward to some new broadcasting adventures and some special time with my family and a certain one year old!”

His charity work has included several exhausting challenges for BBC Children in Need and BBC Sport Relief, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for good causes.

Gration added: “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.”

The Director of BBC England, Helen Thomas, described Gration as a “broadcasting legend”.

She added: “His professionalism, journalistic talent, sense of humour and kind nature around the newsroom will be greatly missed, but he will always be a friend of Look North.”

In July, the BBC announced plans to transform its local and regional operations, cutting 450 jobs as part of wider plans to save £25m by March 2022. The plans will see 6.30pm regional bulletins reduced to one presenter.

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