Former World Of Sport presenter Dickie Davies dies aged 94
Former World Of Sport presenter Dickie Davies has died at the age of 94.
Davies is best known for fronting the ITV show between 1968 and its end in 1985.
Davies’ former colleague Jim Rosenthal wrote on Twitter: “With huge sadness we announce Dickie Davies passed away this morning.
“So proud of his 20 years of World Of Sport, three Olympic Games and a brilliant career on the telly.
“He is survived by a loving wife, two adoring sons, four grandkids and two beloved dogs.”
Rosenthal described Davies as “a wonderful friend and colleague”.
Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling paid tribute to “the wonderful Dickie Davies”, calling him “a sports broadcasting legend”.
Former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys added his tribute, writing on Twitter: “Dickie Davies. A legend.
“It’s the end of that era. “A kind man and brilliant broadcaster. “RIP Dickie.”
Davies was born Richard Davies in Wallasey in 1928 but changed his name to Dickie in 1968 at the behest of his friend, footballer and pundit Jimmy Hill.
Before he was on TV screens, he did national service with the RAF and worked as head purser on the ocean liner Queen Mary.
In 1961, he became an announcer for Southern Television and then understudy to Eamonn Andrews in 1965 when ITV launched its rival to Grandstand, originally known as Wide World Of Sport.
When Andrews departed three years later, Davies took over the main presenting role.
After ITV pulled the plug on the programme in 1985, Davies fronted a number of other sporting events for the channel – including the 1988 Seoul Olympics and some early Mike Tyson fights – before leaving in 1989 to present snooker on the then Sky-owned Eurosport.
He spent some time as sports editor on Classic FM but had a stroke in 1995 which temporarily left him unable to speak.
After a near-full recovery he returned to the screen for a number of specials, including ITV’s 50-year World Of Sport anniversary in 2005.
