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Frank Bough [file photo]. S&G

Former TV presenter and Grandstand host Frank Bough dies aged 87

The broadcaster was part of the BBC’s commentary team for England’s World Cup win in 1966.

Former TV presenter and Grandstand host Frank Bough has died at the age of 87, the BBC has reported.

He was part of the BBC’s commentary team for England’s World Cup win in 1966 and went on to front the flagship sports programme for 15 years – preceded by David Coleman and handing over to Des Lynam in 1983.

A family friend told the broadcaster that the presenter died on Wednesday in a care home.

Bough was one of the best-known TV hosts in the 1970s and 1980s, and was part of the launch of the BBC’s Breakfast TV show in 1983.

His career with the corporation ended in 1988 when he was sacked over a scandal.

Bough later spoke of his regret over the incident and said his behaviour had been “exceedingly stupid”.

A spokesperson for the BBC said: “Frank excelled as a live presenter with the BBC for many years and we are very sorry to hear of his passing.

“We send our condolences to his family and friends.”

Tributes to Bough were posted online by fellow BBC journalists and other broadcasters.

Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan said: “RIP Frank Bough, Star of Grandstand, Nationwide and Breakfast Time.

“His career was ruined by scandal, but he was one of the great live TV presenters. Sad news.”

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    Mute Conor Paddington
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    May 14th 2018, 2:31 PM

    That’s a shame. Obviously a smart move for him, though. His stock is pretty high on the international market as a Leinster coach, and as long as Lancaster and Leo stay on he’ll br behind them in yhe pecking order. He’s also been with Leinster since 1996, so getting some experience abroad makes a lot of sense.

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    Mute Gary Cosgrave
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    May 14th 2018, 3:00 PM

    I wonder will Isa be offered Dempsey’s role, he’d be an invaluable addition to the coaching ticket!

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    Mute Conor Paddington
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    May 14th 2018, 3:07 PM

    @Gary Cosgrave: I think that’d be a bit too good to be true. My understanding is that Isa wants to return home. It’s a huge distance to be away frim your family for so long, that’s why he retired in the first place.

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    Mute EK
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    May 14th 2018, 3:16 PM

    @Gary Cosgrave: I’d say Noel McNamara is the next in line for the role, if it is even filled again at all. With Lancaster having such a big influence over both attacking and defensive structures, they may look for a skills coach in the mould of Richie Murphy instead of looking for another backs coach.

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    Mute Gary Cosgrave
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    May 14th 2018, 3:51 PM

    @EK: valid point.

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    Mute Trevor Reilly
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    May 14th 2018, 4:00 PM

    @Conor Paddington: I’d imagine he’ll pick up his previous role at the blues as skills coach

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    Mute Trevor Reilly
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    May 14th 2018, 4:01 PM

    @EK: if isa stays he’ll be backs/skills coach as he’s previously been skills coach at the blues

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    May 14th 2018, 3:18 PM

    Another guy who probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves for the work he’s done over the last few years. Always lots of articles about Flannery, Jones, O’Gara, Lancaster etc. Much like his career he’s just quietly gone about his job but his hands have been all over the rise of this Leinster side. No doubt he’ll be missed but I’m sure a change of scenery will serve him will in the long run.

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    Mute Christiaan Theron
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    May 14th 2018, 2:44 PM

    It’s how it should be. He gets more experience under a different regime and then gets a shot at a Head Coach position. Another indigenous coach will hopefully replace him at Leinster. Allen Clarke at Ospreys will hopefully develop into a head coach. The more successful Irish head coaches abroad the more choice there is when choosing a new head coach at a province or the Ireland squad. Choosing this pathway if he was successful elsewhere any Irish province would head hunt him as in Dan McFarland.

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    Mute EK
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    May 14th 2018, 3:09 PM

    Something that may get overlooked is Dempsey’s work as Leinster ‘A’ coach and with the Academy. It’s no coincidence that so many young players were promoted to the senior squad when Dempsey moved to coach the first team. His ability to develop Leinster’s young players and prepare them for professional rugby has been invaluable to the province and left the Academy in better shape than ever.

    It’s a shame to see a coach who is homegrown and understands the culture of the club leave but fair play to him for taking the brave move to go abroad and continue his education as a coach. Hopefully we see him back in Ireland at a higher level in the future.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 14th 2018, 2:29 PM

    That’s an odd move. At first glance it looks to be a big step down. I’ve always rated him, as a player and as a coach and I’d understand if he was leaving to take up a head coach role. Any Leinster fan have an inside track on this?

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    Mute Conor Paddington
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    May 14th 2018, 2:51 PM

    @Jim Demps: Bath are a good club with a strong player base and some excellent elite players. Attack coach seems like it’s probably a promotion on backs coach, at least it’s definitely not a demotion in terms of title. He’ll get new experience playing in a new league with new personnel, and he’s still close to home. I’d say he was offered an enhanced pay packet, too. The move explains itself really…though I’d welcome an inside track.

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    Mute Limón Madrugada
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    May 14th 2018, 2:53 PM

    @Jim Demps: it’s not a step down , Lancaster has pretty much taken over the main attacking role .. and Girv will have learnt loads from him surely . And if Blackadder wants him then that’s another deal of approval .. good luck to him and one day we’ll see him back at Leinster ..

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    Mute Kendo90
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    May 14th 2018, 2:55 PM

    @Jim Demps: think he was contemplating a move to castres(?) last year before signing on for one more year, so I guess it’s no surprise he is moving on. It’s the right time.
    I’d imagine Lancaster does a lot of the backs coaching as well so finding a new club where he has more responsibility is important for his development.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    May 14th 2018, 3:04 PM

    @Conor Paddington: backs coach and attack coach are probably much the same in terms of they are both assistants to the head coach. A lot of teams won’t have both. Where I was coming from is that bath are a mediocre premiership side and people were shouting for blackadder to get the chop this season. Compared to Leinster I would have said it was a step down and I would have thought he’d be ready for a head coach role. Best of luck to him. His surname is nearly the same as mine.

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    Mute Tim Gleeson
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    May 14th 2018, 4:32 PM

    @Jim Demps: thought it a bit odd also Jim. European champions with plenty of potential for more silverware doesn’t quite add up.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    May 14th 2018, 5:00 PM

    @Tim Gleeson: It’s not all about winning silverwear. Maybe Dempsey felt a move now was the best way for him to develop as a coach and further his career. Maybe after 26 years at Leinster he just needed a change of scenery.

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    May 14th 2018, 3:04 PM

    He’ll be missed. Hopefully a straight swap for Isa

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    Mute EK
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    May 14th 2018, 3:12 PM

    @Chris Mc: O’Driscoll suggested recently that Nacewa’s retirement was as much a case of wanting to go home to New Zealand as a case of age. While Nacewa already has coaching experience and is very much Mr. Leinster, I’d be surprised to see him stay on. Noel McNamara looks the next in line if past form with appointments to the role is anything to go by.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    May 14th 2018, 3:22 PM

    @EK: I’d like to see McNamara focus on the Ireland U20′s and Leinster A team for the time being rather than replacing Dempsey

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    Mute EK
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    May 14th 2018, 4:57 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: So would I. It was more a comment on the fact that the past person to hold the role had been the former Leinster A coach in Dempsey. McNamara is still quite new to professional rugby and has a few more years to go with his apprenticeship for me before he is looking at promotion to the first team.

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    Mute Scott Crossfield
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    May 14th 2018, 2:58 PM

    That’s a pity his input in warmups reflect the input back of house day to day. Him and Fogerty are excellent in what they do and kind of get overlooked for also joining Leo as players who won champions cup now coaches who won it. Best of luck to him as he hopefully improves his CV

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    Mute amusing_musings
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    May 14th 2018, 9:49 PM

    I think O’Driscoll should take up a coaching role for Leinster before the game gets away from him. That’s who I’d like to see replacing Dempsey. He seems a bit wasted in punditry.

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    Mute Limón Madrugada
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    May 15th 2018, 7:05 AM

    @amusing_musings: i don’t think he wants to deal with the day in day out stuff , he’s said as much himself . He is into to the one on one coaching like he did with Henshaw in the past . Just can’t see him in the coaches seat myself . He would be better perhaps in the future when his co-players are no longer around , there are less now than before but still plenty such as the Kearneys and it’s very tough to coach your pals .

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    Mute amusing_musings
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    May 15th 2018, 10:17 AM

    @Limón Madrugada: Yeah, fair point. It just seems such a shame that he’s not inspiring the next generation and passing on his knowledge, although to be fair they seem to be doing okay without him. Hopefully you’re right and he gets into the coaching at a later date.

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    Mute Limón Madrugada
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    May 15th 2018, 1:22 PM

    @amusing_musings: he has a lot going on anyway with commentary gigs , ambassadorships , the Ultimate Rugby app. I think his personality is more suited to the management side of things or even an IRFU /World Rugby type role ..

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