Garry Richardson: Broadcaster to leave BBC Radio 4’s Today programme after 43 years

Broadcaster Garry Richardson will step down from presenting the sports news on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme in the autumn, after 43 years in the role.

It will mark 50 years to the day since Richardson joined the BBC in 1974.

“I have had the most wonderful time working for the BBC alongside my heroes from sport and showbusiness,” he said.

“I’ll still be broadcasting from time to time, the only difference will be I won’t be setting my alarm for 2.45am and that’s a lovely thought.”

Richardson began his career with the BBC as a junior researcher at the BBC Written Archives Centre at Caversham.

He moved into BBC local radio in 1977 before switching to the BBC Radio Sport department at Broadcasting House in 1980.

Richardson has interviewed a variety of personalities across sport, showbusiness and politics during his career.

That list includes former US president Bill Clinton, singers Dionne Warwick and Gladys Knight, anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, boxer Muhammad Ali, and actors Ben Stiller, Samuel L Jackson and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

BBC director general Tim Davie said: “Garry is a legendary presenter. So many of us have woken up to him bringing the latest sporting news for over four decades.

“He has brought wisdom, insight and a smile to every broadcast. Fifty years at the BBC is an incredible milestone.”