Frank Bough

Frank Bough became known as one of the BBCs most accomplished presenters equally able to cover sport entertainment and politics He was educated at Oswestry Boys School and Merton College Oxford He undertook national service in the Royal Tank Regiment He was encouraged to become a broadcaster by Gerald Sinstadt Bough joined the BBCs regional news in Newcastle and within a couple of years had moved down to London first making his name on national television as a BBC sports commentator He became a stalwart presenter on BBC television from the 1960s until the 1980s hosting many of the corporations most popular shows including Grandstand 1958 Nationwide 1969 and Breakfast Time 1983 In 1988 he was exposed by a UK tabloid newspaper as a cocaine user who enjoyed crossdressing sadomasochism and brothels He expressed regrets about his lifestyle in subsequent interviews and his wife Nesta remained supportive but these revelations caused considerable embarrassment and ended his long career at the BBC