Gabby Logan

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Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox person Gabrielle Nicole Logan Template:Post-nominals (née Yorath; born 24 April 1973) is a Welsh<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> television and radio presenter, and a former rhythmic gymnast who represented Wales and Great Britain.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She hosted Final Score for BBC Sport from 2009 until 2013. She has also presented live sports events for the BBC, including a revived episode of Superstars in December 2012 and the London Marathon since 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since 2013, she has co-hosted Sports Personality of the Year for the BBC and she presented the second series of The Edge in 2015.

In August 2025, Logan became one of three presenters of Match of the Day, alongside Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates.

Early life

Gabrielle Nicole Yorath was born on 24 April 1973 in Leeds in the West Riding of Yorkshire to former Wales international footballer and manager Terry Yorath, who was playing for Leeds United at the time,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and his wife, Christine. The family moved frequently because her father played for a number of British teams as well as in Canada with the Vancouver Whitecaps.<ref name=Raphael>Template:Cite news</ref> She attended Cardinal Heenan High School and Notre Dame Sixth Form College in Leeds. She played netball at school and at university and also competed in the high jump, but the peak of her sporting career was when she placed 11th in rhythmic gymnastics representing Wales at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She became interested in football during her regular attendances at her father's matches. Her mother went out of a "sense of duty".<ref name=Raphael/> Along with her brother and sister, she was in the crowd at Valley Parade on 11 May 1985, the day of the Bradford City stadium fire. She had left the stand only moments before the fire took hold and watched the unfolding disaster.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Her debut TV appearance was when she was chosen as the Leeds Rose for the 1991 Rose of Tralee competition.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="rose">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Early career

After studying law at Durham University,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Logan began presenting on Metro Radio in Newcastle, and on Tyne Tees Television on their Tonight programme, from where she was offered a job as a presenter on Sky Sports in 1996. She worked there until 1998, when she joined the ITV TV network.<ref name=Raphael/>

Television

ITV

Logan's career came to notice when she fronted On the Ball. Logan was one of a small number of female sports presenters to have made the transition to terrestrial television.<ref name=Raphael/> After ITV lost the terrestrial rights to the Premier League, she presented their UEFA Champions League coverage, including the 2005 and 2006 finals, between A.C. Milan and Liverpool, and Arsenal and Barcelona, respectively. Logan left ITV for BBC Sport in December 2006, In 2003, she reported on the Rugby World Cup. Also that year, Logan presented a programme called Britain's Brilliant Prodigies featuring a young Jessie J.

Logan stepped in for Melanie Sykes on 6 July 2004 when she went on maternity leave partway through the third series of game show The Vault.

She co-hosted the celebrity diving show Splash! on ITV, alongside Vernon Kay and Olympic diver Tom Daley from 2013 until 2014.

In 2015, Logan returned to ITV for reality series Flockstars, a show she later said was her "biggest disappointment".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

BBC

Logan started presenting for BBC Sport on 27 January 2007, presenting coverage of the FA Cup fourth round tie between Luton Town and Blackburn Rovers. She continues to regularly present and report on live football for the BBC, including hosting Final Score from 2009 until 2013. She reported from the England Camp for the 2010 World Cup, Euro 2012 and World Cup 2014 while also being a pitchside reporter at England matches.

In 2008 Logan replaced Craig Doyle as host of the BBC's Six Nations Championship coverage. She had previously reported on the 2003 Rugby World Cup for ITV.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Logan became the main host of athletics for BBC Sport. She has hosted live coverage of the World Athletics Championships in 2013,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the European Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games in 2014.<ref name=2014athletics>Template:Cite web</ref> She has also hosted the annual IAAF Diamond League competition.<ref name=2014athletics/>

Logan has hosted BBC Summer Olympic Games coverage since 2008. At Beijing 2008, Logan presented Games Today, a nightly evening highlights show on BBC One from 7pm to 8pm.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At the London 2012 Games, Logan again hosted the highlights programme, this time from 10.35pm to midnight.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For the Rio 2016 Games, Logan was live each day from the Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos leading the athletics coverage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For the Tokyo 2020 Games, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the BBC team could not travel, so Logan instead lead daytime coverage alongside Hazel Irvine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For the Paris 2024 Olympics, Logan was once again trackside at the Stade de France.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Logan has presented coverage of the Commonwealth Games for the BBC since 2014. At the Glasgow 2014 Games, Logan lead the athletics coverage at the event.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For the Gold Coast 2018 Games, Logan presented coverage of events from Salford.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At the Birmingham 2022 Games, Logan anchored coverage of the athletics events once again.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

She has also hosted live coverage of other sporting events such as the 2013 Aquatics World Championships<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Since 2009, Logan has been a frequent stand-in presenter on The One Show on BBC One. Logan stated that she was once criticised by a BBC executive for wearing "too sexy boots".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In August 2013, Logan began hosting the BBC One series I Love My Country, featuring team captains Micky Flanagan and Frank Skinner on Saturday evenings. In October 2013, the programme was axed due to largely negative press reviews and poor viewing figures.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In September 2013, the BBC announced that, as of 2013, Logan would replace Sue Barker as one of the presenters for the annual BBC Sports Personality of the Year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In March 2015, Logan hosted Let's Play Darts for Comic Relief for BBC Two.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The show returned for a second series in February 2016.<ref name="comedy.co.uk">Template:Cite web</ref>

She presented live coverage of the 2015 London Marathon, broadcast on BBC One on 26 April, the 2016 London Marathon on 24 April and the 2017 London Marathon on 23 April. In August 2015, she was the main presenter for BBC's coverage of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics from Beijing.

Logan presented the second series of the BBC game show The Edge in 2015. She replaced Mark Benton who hosted series 1.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2016, Logan was part of the presenting team for The Invictus Games on BBC One. She was also a part of the media team during the BBC's coverage of the 2016 UEFA European Championship in France.

In 2017 she hosted the BBC IAAF coverage in London.

In 2022 Logan hosted coverage of the Women's Six Nations Championship.

Having deputised for Gary Lineker many times on Match of the Day, Logan was announced in January 2025 as one of three new presenters of the show, alongside Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates, following Lineker's decision to quit.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Channel 5

In June 2011, while still presenting the sports results shows for BBC One on Saturdays, Logan joined Channel 5 to present a discussion and magazine show following The Wright Stuff at 11:10 am each weekday initially called The Wright Stuff Extra, and later renamed as Live with Gabby.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 5 April 2012, the show tweeted to confirm that Logan was leaving the programme.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

Television

Year Title Channel Role Notes
1998–2004 On the Ball ITV Presenter
2002 Loose Women Guest presenter Two episodes
2003 Britain's Brilliant Prodigies Presenter
2004 The Vault Presenter
2007 Strictly Come Dancing BBC One Contestant
2007–2011 Inside Sport Presenter
2008– BBC Six Nations Coverage Presenter <ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2009–2013 Final Score Presenter
2009–2010, 2013– The One Show Stand-in presenter
2010– A League of Their Own Sky 1 Regular Panellist
2011–2012 The Wright Stuff Extra Channel 5 Presenter Later renamed Live with Gabby Logan
2012 Superstars BBC One Presenter One-off episode
New Year Live Presenter Succeeded Jake Humphrey
2012– Match of the Day Presenter Stand-in presenter
2013 I Love My Country Presenter BBC panel game show
2013–2014 Splash! ITV Co-presenter Primetime reality series; with Vernon Kay
2013– BBC Sports Personality of the Year BBC One Co-presenter With Gary Lineker and Clare Balding
BBC Athletics Coverage Presenter
2014 Sport Relief Co-presenter 'Clash of the Titans' segment
2015 Flockstars ITV Presenter Primetime reality series
The Edge BBC One Presenter Daytime game show
2015– London Marathon Presenter 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2024
2015–2016 Let's Play Darts BBC Two Presenter Primetime series
2016 Invictus Games BBC One Co-presenter
UEFA Euro 2016 Co-presenter / Correspondent June 2016
2016– The Premier League Show BBC Two Presenter
2018 Gabby & Gareth's Big 6 Nations Kick-Off BBC Co-presenter
2019 Would I Lie to You? BBC One Guest Series 13 Episode 1
2022 Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof Participant
2022 Commonwealth Games Presenter Alongside Clare Balding and Hazel Irvine<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
UEFA Women's Euro 2022 BBC One & BBC Two Presenter Alongside Reshmin Chowdhury and Eilidh Barbour<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2022 FIFA World Cup Presenter <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2023 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Presenter Alongside Reshmin Chowdhury and Alex Scott<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Great North Run BBC One Presenter Live coverage<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2024 UEFA Euro 2024 Presenter Alternating with Gary Lineker<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2024 Summer Olympics BBC One & BBC Two Presenter Part of the commentary team<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Pointless BBC One Guest presenter
2025– Match of the Day BBC One Presenter Alternating with Mark Chapman & Kelly Cates<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2025 2025 London Marathon: My Reason to Run BBC One Presenter One-off programme<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
UEFA Women's Euro 2025 BBC One Presenter Alongside Alex Scott and Jeanette Kwakye<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 BBC One & BBC Two Presenter Alternating with Ugo Monye<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Guest appearances

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Radio

Logan has worked on BBC Radio 5 Live, where she presented a lunchtime show from January 2010. Her previous Sunday morning was taken over by Kate Silverton.

In light of the move of BBC Radio 5 Live from London to MediaCityUK in Salford, Logan left her weekday show in April 2011 due to other BBC work and family commitments. She was replaced by Shelagh Fogarty.

On 12 April 2009, she presented the BBC Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of St John's Catholic School for the Deaf.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Political views

In August 2014, Logan was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian expressing their hope that Scotland would vote to remain part of the United Kingdom in September's referendum on that issue.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Other work

File:2012 Hours To Go Gabby Logan.jpg
Gabby Logan hosting the London Olympic Stadium opening ceremony in 2012.

In December 2012, Logan was appointed as a non-executive director of Perform Group.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2014, Logan helped launch Tesco's Farm to Fork initiative.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Logan is the voice-over for the MegaRed heart health commercial advertisements.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In April 2022, Logan announced that her memoir, The First Half, would be published in the autumn.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Honours, awards and recognition

Logan won "Sports Presenter of the Year" four times at the Television and Radio Industries Club (TRIC) awards in 2000,<ref name = "tric00">Template:Cite web</ref> 2002,<ref name = "tric02">Template:Cite web</ref> 2004,<ref name = "tric04">Template:Cite web</ref> and in 2014,<ref name = "tric14">Template:Cite web</ref> and once at the inaugural Broadcast Sport Awards in 2022<ref name = "bsa22">Template:Cite web</ref>

Her work with the BBC Athletics team won "Sports Programme" at the 2014 RTS Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In addition, her work with the presenting team for the Commonwealth Games<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Women's Euros<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> saw both shortlisted for RTS "Sports Programme" Award in 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Midpoint with Gabby Logan was nominated at the British Podcast Awards for best Branded (in 2021) and best Wellbeing (in 2024) podcast.Template:Citation needed

Outwith sports, Logan was crowned "Tesco Celebrity Mum of the Year" in March 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Yorkshire Woman of the Year by the Yorkshire Society in 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Upon becoming one of the first female sports anchors to break into terrestrial television in the 1990s, Logan received praise from fellow professionals such as Terry Venables, Ally McCoist and Des Lynam.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Her natural style of broadcasting, combined with her relaxed demeanor and ability to banter with whichever ex-pro she is paired with, has made Logan a popular figure on TV.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Logan was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to sports broadcasting and the promotion of women in sport.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

List of awards and nominations

Year Category Nominated for Result Template:Abbr
2000 TRIC Awards Sports Presenter / Reporter Template:Won <ref name = "tric00"/>
2002 TRIC Awards Sports Presenter / Reporter Template:Won <ref name = "tric02"/>
2004 TRIC Awards Sports Presenter / Reporter Template:Won <ref name = "tric04"/>
2007 TRIC Awards Sports Presenter Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2008 TRIC Awards Sports Presenter Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2010 TRIC Awards Sports Presenter Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2013 Yorkshire Women in Achievements Yorkshire Rose Template:Won <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2014 TRIC Awards Sports Presenter Template:Won <ref name = "tric14"/>
National TV Awards Most Popular Entertainment Presenter Template:Longlisted <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
RTS Awards Sports Presenter, Commentator or Pundit Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2016 WFTV Awards Presenter Award Template:Won <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2019 BSJ Awards Sports Presenter Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2021 RTS Awards Sports Presenter, Commentator or Pundit Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2022 Broadcast Sport Awards Sports Presenter of the Year Template:Won <ref name = "bsa22"/>
RTS Awards Sports Presenter, Commentator or Pundit Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
BSJ Awards Sports Presenter Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
2023 Broadcast Sport Awards Sports Presenter of the Year Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
RTS Awards Sports Presenter, Commentator or Pundit Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
BSJ Awards Sports Presenter Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2024 RTS Awards Sports Presenter, Commentator or Pundit Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
British Podcast Awards Best Host Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Broadcast Sport Awards Sports Presenter of the Year Template:Win <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2025 National Reality TV Awards Best TV Presenter Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
BSJ Awards Sports Presenter Template:Nom <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

In 1992, Logan's 15-year-old brother Daniel (born 1976) collapsed and died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy after playing football with his dad in their back garden.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=Michelle/> Logan has actively appealed for the Daniel Yorath Appeal, which raises funds for the treatment and detection of the condition.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Her brother Jordan Yorath (born 1985) played football for England Universities in 2008, and for Sheffield Wednesday, Halifax Town and Wakefield F.C. Logan's sister, Louise (born 1975), was a performer in Cirque Du Soleil's Zumanity show.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Logan married former Scotland international rugby union player Kenny Logan on 19 July 2001 at Logie Kirk in Blairlogie, Stirling.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She has said that meeting her husband was a motivation to exercise regularly again.<ref name=Michelle>Template:Cite news</ref> The couple live in Penn, Buckinghamshire,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> having moved there from Kew, south-west London in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 28 July 2005, after undergoing IVF treatment, Logan gave birth to twins, a son named Reuben and a daughter named Lois.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In June 2012, Logan was named by The Times newspaper as one of several people to have put money into a film and tax avoidance scheme.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In January 2013, Logan was named the first Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In November 2017 it was announced that Logan would step down from this role in January 2018 after five years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Logan runs and plays golf. She is a supporter of Newcastle United,<ref name="Newcastle Evening Chronicle">Template:Cite news</ref> dating back to her time at Durham University, when her boyfriend was a fan. She remembers her first match as Newcastle's 1–0 Premier League victory over Everton on 25 August 1993<ref name="Joe">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> and made visits by air or rail to St James' Park throughout the 1990s and early 2000s,<ref name="Newcastle Evening Chronicle"/> including Newcastle's 5–0 win over Manchester United on 20 October 1996.<ref name="Joe"/>

Charity

Logan is currently a patron of Brainkind,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Prince's Trust, St John's Catholic School for the Deaf, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Newcastle United Foundation. She was named the President of Muscular Dystrophy UK in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She and her husband Kenny Logan are past presidents of the children's charity Sparks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

References

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