BIOGRAPHY
Gary Newbon has been a front-line figure in UK sports broadcasting for nearly half a century. Born on 15 March 1945 in Cambridge, he began his career in journalism as a junior reporter and later as a freelance Fleet Street writer covering tennis and rugby.
He entered television in the late 1960s with Westward Television before joining ATV Today in the early 1970s. Rising to Controller of Sport for ATV and later Central Television, he presented regional bulletins, interviewed top football managers and hosted coverage of football, boxing, darts and more. Over the years, he covered seven World Cup finals, three Olympic Games and numerous boxing championships.
In 2004, Gary moved to Sky Sports where he hosted live boxing events, greyhound racing and sports nostalgia shows including Sporting Heroes and Time of Our Lives. He also became a popular after-dinner speaker and conference host, sharing stories from iconic moments like post-match interviews in UEFA Champions League tunnels.
On the executive side, Gary served as Deputy Head of ITV Sport and led Central Television’s sport department for 23 years, mentoring talent such as Jimmy Greaves, Andy Gray, Sarah-Jane Mee and Manish Bhasin. He also co-founded Prime Ticket Productions and remains active as an industry consultant.
His achievements have earned him three Royal Television Society awards and, in 2019, an MBE for services to media, sport and charity. He is also a patron of Deafblind UK, an Honorary Barker of the Variety Club of Great Britain, and a proud member of the Grand Order of Water Rats.
Outside broadcasting, Gary supports the Lord’s Taverners and in 2023 released his autobiography, Newbon, Bloody Hell – A Life in Sports Broadcasting. He lives in Solihull with his wife Katie and their three children, including actor Neil Newbon.
Gary Newbon’s career is a model of editorial integrity, storytelling and live-event hosting. From regional studios to major sporting stages, he has remained a trusted voice in British sports broadcasting across generations.
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