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Steve Ryder, one of the most respected and recognisable voices in British sports broadcasting, has officially retired after an incredible 48-year career.
The 75-year-old veteran signed off for the final time at the British Touring Car Championship from Oulton Park on Sunday, drawing the curtain on a broadcasting journey that spanned the BBC and ITV and helped shape the way Britain watched sport.
Ryder is perhaps best known for his long-running stint as the face of the BBC’s iconic Grandstand, a role that made him a staple in households across the UK. From rugby to golf, F1 to rowing, he covered nearly every major sporting moment of the past five decades.
His career began in 1977 at the BBC, where he quickly became a trusted and admired figure in sports journalism. In addition to Grandstand, he presented Sports Personality of the Year and led coverage of Olympics, World Cups, and more.
In 2005, Ryder made a high-profile move to ITV, where he headed up their Formula 1 broadcasts and took the reins for World Cup coverage and other flagship sporting events.
A true gentleman of sports media, Ryder’s final broadcast was quiet but poignant. Viewers praised his understated goodbye and took to social media to honour his remarkable contribution to British sport.
Colleagues have hailed him as a “class act” and a “legend,” with many calling for a tribute to be aired in his honour.
Though he’s stepping away from regular broadcasting, fans hope he may still make occasional appearances as a guest or pundit, or even pen a memoir chronicling his incredible life behind the mic.
