Frank Bough was one of the best known personalities on television for more than thirty years.

He was born in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent in 1933 and studied at Merton College, Oxford.

His first job, in 1957, was as a management trainee with ICI, but after five years he joined the BBC in Newcastle on the "Look North" news magazine programme.

Two Years later he was in London presenting first Sportsview and then Grandstand.

In 1964 he began presenting the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, guiding the show for a record 18 years before being joined by Harry Carpenter as co-presenter during the 1970s and 80s.

After eight years on sport programmes he moved to current affairs with Nationwide, where his calm, friendly and efficient handling of a complex programme earned him admirers.

When the BBC lauched Breakfast Television in 1983, he was the natural choice to host the programme, and, with Selina Scott, he introduced Britain to its first taste of regular early morning viewing.

After presenting the Holiday programme, Frank Bough left the BBC in 1988.