Colin Murray will present Match of the Day 2

Colin Murray started his BBC career at Radio1

Colin Murray is to replace Adrian Chiles as the host of Match of the Day 2, it has been confirmed.

He will also present the BBC Two World Cup highlights show at 2200 BST during this summer's tournament.

Murray, who hails from County Down, already presents a number of sports programmes on BBC Radio 5 live, including Fighting Talk.

Chiles announced earlier this week that he was leaving the BBC for ITV, where he will front its football coverage.

Murray has hosted TV football programmes on Five and anchored the BBC's coverage of the BDO World Darts Championship.

He is from Dundonald and began his career as a news reporter, on the News Letter in Belfast.

He started working for BBC Radio 1 in 1999 and has hosted music programmes on TV and radio. He still has a weekly music show on BBC Radio Ulster.

He is a Liverpool supporter and had five stars tattooed on his arm when the club won the European Cup for the fifth time.

Speaking on Thursday he said the job was "an absolute honour."

'Mindblowing'

"I will do my best to bring everything I have to the table and the hallowed sofa," he added.

"I can't imagine how nervous I will be sitting there and hearing that theme tune. People might be greeted by a green presenter.

"I like a laugh but I am serious also about football and the impartiality required to respect all football fans.

"I would like to thank Five TV for allowing me to take this opportunity and I am very proud to have been a part of the great strides forward they have taken."

He said going to the World Cup would be "mind-blowing".

"The BBC have managed to give me what Northern Ireland haven't since 1986," he added in reference to his home country's last appearance in the tournament.