Gabby Logan is one of three new Match of the Day hosts, but the TV presenter admits she once feared her broadcasting career was over.
New Match of the Day host Gabby Logan has confessed she believed her TV career could be cut short. In January, it was announced that Rogan would replace Gary Lineker in this season’s Match of the Day, along with Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates.
Logan is best known over the years for his work with ITV and the BBC, covering the World Cup, Olympics, Six Nations and many other major sporting events. Despite this, Logan did not plan on a career in broadcasting. She represented Wales in rhythmic gymnastics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games and holds a law degree from Durham University.
Her first foray into the media world was as a presenter on Newcastle Metro Radio. He then moved to Sky Sports before joining ITV in 1998. The 52-year-old became a well-known face hosting ITV’s Champions League broadcasts, but feared her TV career was over after giving birth to twins Ruben and Reus in July 2005.
However, Logan’s concerns were quickly allayed and she remained at ITV until December 2006, when she moved to the BBC. Twenty years after he feared he would have to look for a new job, the new Match of the Day host reflects on how his career has continued to flourish.
“I’ve never actually worked a 9-to-5 job, but I absolutely love what I do and am so grateful to be able to do it at this age and stage in my life,” Logan posted on Instagram. “I really thought my TV career might last 10 years. At 33, with small twins, I thought it was all over when I left ITV.
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“I was thinking about becoming good at increasing my wealth or going back to university and turning my law degree into a real qualification, but the BBC gave me an opportunity and a second wind.
“Here’s a little snapshot of photos from last week. I think the point of this post is, ‘It’s not over until it’s over,’ keep believing, keep moving forward one step at a time, and age brings wisdom and confidence (and smile lines). Have a wonderful day.”
Logan, who has fronted countless major sports telecasts and has often filled in for Lineker in the past, admitted he was surprisingly nervous during the season’s first Match of the Day. She welcomed the idea of replacing presenters after being announced as one of Mr Lineker’s replacements in January.
“What’s interesting is that even though we share roles, we don’t actually work together on Match of the Day,” she told the BBC. “We bring different experiences and different interests to the game, so it’s really great to share that.
“We have introduced a variety of broadcast methods, which means our pundits are always alert and share different types of analysis.”
As the daughter of Welsh football legend Terry Yorath, Logan recalled her first memories of the iconic programme. “When my dad was playing, the only way to watch soccer was on TV because there weren’t many live games,” Logan recalled.
“That music was playing every Saturday night, because he would come home from work and go to the games and watch his games on Match of the Day. When I was little, listening to that music made me feel like I was staying up late on Saturday nights.”
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