Garry Richardson
BBC Sports Presenter
Garry Richardson has been a mainstay at the BBC for over 40 years.
Garry is best known for his witty sports reports and interviews on Radio 4's prestigious 'Today' programme. He also presents 'Sportsweek' on Radio 5 Live every Sunday morning and his own comedy show - 'Look Away Now'. He is a regular contributor on BBC Television and has reported on 7 Olympics for the BBC.
In 2007, Garry was awarded radio's equivalent of an Oscar - a Sony Gold Award for his 'Sportsweek' programme.
He has also won Best Sports Magazine Programme from the National Union of Journalists.
Garry's speech is an entertaining mixture of stories and anecdotes from his life in broadcasting, which includes a selection of his most notable interviews such as the time he interiewed President Bill Clinton in Wimbledon's royal box, in front of 18,000 tennis fans sitting under umbrellas and 10 million viewers on BBC 1.
Over the past 27 years, Garry Richardson has performed to an extensive mixture of clients on the after dinner circuit. He believes that his popularity as a speaker is down to his material. As he says "All audiences will contain sports fans and even if you are not a sports fan, my stories are so general it doesn't matter"
Garry is in great demand as an after-dinner speaker at corporate dinners up and down the U.K. He has been booked over 9 times by the Institute of Directors. Garry also works regularly for Coutts Bank entertaining prospective new Clients in the Directors dining room.
Garry will speak sometimes to just a handful of guests while on other occasions audiences are much larger. For example he appeared on consecutive nights at the Grosvenor House Great Room entertaining 1200 guests at each dinner. At the Chemical Industries Dinner he received a standing ovation. Chief Executive Steve Elliott commented. “I have had many favourable comments with a Tory Front Bencher saying it was the most original and entertaining speech he had ever heard.”
The following night at the Grosvenor, Garry addressed the Oil Industries Cub. The Secretary of the club wrote afterwards to say “One of the best and funniest speakers we have ever had the applause at the end showed the appreciation. I hope you leave a few spaces in your diary for a return visit” .
2014 will mark Garry Richardson's 27th year as one of the country's funniest after dinner speakers.
Garry is also available for awards hosting and conference facilitating.