Â鶹Éç

Tributes are being paid to former Â鶹Éç TV presenter David Vine who has died at the age of 73.

Roger Mosey, Director of Â鶹Éç Sport, said: "David Vine was a wonderfully versatile presenter for Â鶹Éç Sport – and it's a tribute to his abilities that he was associated with so many events.

"He was the face and voice of Ski Sunday, of course, but also brought among others snooker, show-jumping, A Question Of Sport, Superstars and Olympic sports to millions of viewers. They and we will remember him with great affection."

Graham Fry, Managing Director, TWI Production, and David's former Ski Sunday producer and Snooker Executive Producer, said: "David was simply the greatest professional I have had the privilege of working with in my career in sports broadcasting.

"Whether it be in a snowstorm in Wengen or in his studio at the Crucible, you knew that whatever the circumstances, the pressure of the moment, and the complexities of the broadcast, David would deliver with a knowledge, authority and presence that left the viewer in no doubt that he was in total control of his environment and his sport."

Sue Barker, current presenter of A Question Of Sport, said: "David was a great friend and our paths crossed many, many times over the years, starting back in the Seventies when he was the presenter and interviewer of Wimbledon.

"He was also the first presenter of A Question Of Sport where his sense of humour and love of sport very much set the tone for such a successful programme.

"I'd just like to say he was one of the great broadcasters, a true professional but above all he was a lovely, lovely man and I'll miss him very, very much."

Biography

David Vine (3 January 1936 - 11 January 2009) was a British television sports presenter, most well known for his work with the Â鶹Éç.

He presented a wide variety of shows from the Seventies onwards including Sportscene, It's A Knockout, Quiz Ball, Rugby Special, Wimbledon, Match Of The Day, A Question Of Sport (for its first nine years), Grandstand, Superstars, Ski Sunday (of which he was a presenter for 25 years from its inception) and the Â鶹Éç's Winter and Summer Olympic Games coverage.

He was also well known for fronting Â鶹Éç TV's show-jumping and snooker coverage.

He was the anchorman at the World Snooker Championships at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, from 1978 – the first year the Â鶹Éç covered the championships daily – until his retirement in 2000 as well as the Grand Prix, UK Championship and the Masters.

David Vine was the first presenter to present Wimbledon (1967) in colour and he continued to present Wimbledon highlights until 1982.

His final work for the Â鶹Éç was as a weightlifting commentator at the 2000 Sydney Olympics which he had done since the Seventies, after which he retired.

He also provided the Â鶹Éç TV commentary for Miss UK, Miss World and The Eurovision Song Contest.

David Vine was born in Newton Abbott, Devon and attended Barnstable Grammar School. Prior to joining the Â鶹Éç full time, he worked at various newspapers and as a sports producer for ITV.

Â鶹Éç Press Office