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Mr Action Replay Bryan Cowgill dies |
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Thursday, 17 July 2008 |
Bryan 'Ginger' Cowgill, the BBC's first head of sport, who subsequently became arguably BBC1’s most successful controller before joining Thames TV as MD, has died at the age of 81.
Mr Action Replay was the title of his autobiography published in 2005. The title of the tome referred to the widespread credit paid to him as the ‘inventor of the action replay’.
Cowgill was born in Lancashire and educated at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School. He left school at 15 to join the Lancashire Evening Post - where his father was a printer – as a copy boy.
He duly became a reporter at the paper before moving on to the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times where he spent five years as editor.
He joined the BBC as a production assistant in 1955 and by 1962 he had risen to the position of head of sport. It was the 1966 World Cup and the introduction of slow-motion repeats that first gave us the term ‘action replays’.
Later, as BBC1 controller, the Beeb enjoyed a record period of 18 consecutive months with a ratings lead over ITV.
He returned the favour for ITV when he subsequently enticed big name established BBC contractual stars such as Kenny Everett, Morecambe and Wise and Mike Yarwood to join him at Thames. Something to add? Then leave a comment below or email us now.
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