Frank Bough facts for kids

Frank Bough (born Francis Joseph Bough; 15 January 1933 – 21 October 2020) was a famous English television presenter. He was well-known for hosting popular BBC sports and news shows. These included Grandstand, Nationwide, and Breakfast Time. He helped launch Breakfast Time with Selina Scott and Nick Ross.

During his career, Frank Bough was known for being calm and professional on live TV. People often said he was one of the most reliable presenters in British television. In 1987, TV host Michael Parkinson even said that if his life depended on a TV show running smoothly, he would choose Bough to be in charge. After his time at the BBC, he also worked for other channels like London Weekend Television, ITV, and Sky TV. He also presented on LBC radio in London before he retired in 1998.

Early Life and Education

Frank Bough was born on 15 January 1933 in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, England. His family later moved to Oswestry, Shropshire. His father worked with furniture, and his mother painted pots in a factory.

Frank went to Oswestry Boys' High School. After that, he studied at Merton College, Oxford. While at Oxford, he played football for the university team. He also completed his national service in the Royal Tank Regiment.

Television Career

Starting at the BBC

Frank Bough began his career at the BBC as a presenter and reporter. He hosted a show in Newcastle upon Tyne called Home at Six, which later became BBC Look North. From 1964 to 1968, he presented Sportsview. In 1964, he also started hosting the BBC Sports Review of the Year, which he did for 18 years.

Between 1968 and 1983, he was a regular host of Grandstand. This was the BBC's main Saturday afternoon sports programme.

Major Sports and News Shows

Frank Bough was one of the BBC's football commentators for the 1966 World Cup in England. He covered a famous match where North Korea beat Italy 1–0. This game is still seen as one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

He then went on to present Nationwide, an early evening news and magazine programme. This made him one of the most recognizable faces on British television in the 1970s. For Nationwide, he reported on big events like the Watergate scandal in the United States. He also covered many UK general elections and US presidential elections.

Frank Bough was a surprise guest on the Morecambe and Wise Christmas special in 1977. He performed a song and dance routine with other TV personalities. This show was watched by over 21 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched Christmas programmes ever in the UK.

He was also the main presenter for the BBC's coverage of the 1978 World Cup finals in Argentina.

Breakfast Television and Later Roles

In January 1983, Frank Bough became the first presenter of the BBC's new breakfast television show, Breakfast Time. He hosted it with Selina Scott and Nick Ross. He was chosen because he had a lot of experience presenting live TV for many hours each week on Grandstand.

Frank Bough left Breakfast Time at the end of 1987. He then focused on the Holiday programme. He took over as the main presenter of this travel show in 1986.

In 1989, Sky News hired him to present The Frank Bough Interview for Sky TV. He also joined London Weekend Television in September 1989. There, he hosted Six O'Clock Live. He also presented ITV's coverage of the 1991 Rugby World Cup tournament.

Later Career in Radio and TV

In the early 1990s, Frank Bough worked as a presenter on LBC radio in London. He stayed with the station for several years. Later, he presented Travel Live for the cable channel Travel.

In 2009, he appeared in a programme on BBC Four that looked back at the Nationwide show.

Personal Life and Passing

Frank Bough met Nesta Howells during his national service. They got married in 1959 after he left the army. They had three sons: David, Stephen, and Andrew.

From 1994, he was a regular member of a choir in Windsor called the Royal Free Singers. In 2001, Frank Bough had a liver transplant after he was diagnosed with cancer. He later lived in retirement in Holyport, Berkshire.

Frank Bough passed away on 21 October 2020, at the age of 87.