Harry Gration to leave BBC Look North after 40 years

Mr Gration, 69, has spent 42 years with the BBC, and presented Look North since 1982.

His last appearance on Look North will come on Wednesday, October 21, and current co-anchor Amy Garcia will take over as lead presenter.

Born and raised in Bradford, Harry was awarded an MBE for his services to broadcasting in 2013 to recognise his long career, which has seen him become one of Yorkshire's best-loved characters and a "broadcasting legend".

Helen Thomas, director of BBC England, said: "Harry is a true professional, a Yorkshire treasure and it has been a privilege to work alongside him.

“To call Harry a broadcasting legend would be an understatement. Over the past 40 years he has been a constant and reassuring presence on our screens, and it is testament to his skill that he has been as much at home interviewing the people of Yorkshire as he has prime ministers and royalty.

“Despite his extraordinary tenure, Harry never lost his passion for news, particularly regional news, and that shined through every evening.

“His professionalism, journalistic talent, sense of humour and kind nature around the newsroom will be greatly missed, but he will always be a friend of Look North.

“I’d like to pass on my personal sincere thanks to Harry for being the trusted voice and face of Look North for so many years – he is a true professional, a Yorkshire treasure and it has been a privilege to work alongside him.”

Speaking on his decision to leave Look North, cricket-mad Harry said: "For the past four decades, it's been a privilege to meet the people of the county I love.

"Make no mistake, these good folk are the heartbeat of the programme.

“I've worked with the best of the best and leave Look North in the good hands of Amy and the team, although I don't know how Paul Hudson is going to cope without me checking his forecasts! Seriously though, I'll miss my good old mate.

“I'm looking forward to some new broadcasting adventures and some special time with my family and a certain one year old!"

While working as a history teacher at Rodillian School in Leeds in the 1970s, Harry began filing match reports for the BBC before joining BBC Radio Leeds as sports editor in 1978.

He went on to commentate on the Olympics and Paralympics, and presented iconic shows such as Grandstand, Sportsnight and Match of the Day.

He has covered nine Olympic Games for the BBC and won two Royal Television Society awards for his sports documentaries: 'White Rose in Africa' in 1992 and 'Dickie Bird: A Rare Species' in 1997. He has won the prestigious RTS Best Presenter award twice. 

As well as presenting Look North, Harry has undertaken a plethora of charity challenges for Children in Need and Sport Relief, including a 120-mile three-legged trek around Yorkshire in 2016 with weatherman Paul Hudson, which saw him visit his hometown. 

Harry added: “I've interviewed every Prime Minister since Margaret Thatcher, covered every major Look North story even at the expense of my holidays, and I wouldn't have changed a thing.

“I've always lived the story. Horrendous events such as the devastating news of Jo Cox's death, the disastrous floods of recent times, the Bradford Riots, Hillsborough, have always affected me. They were always an assault on my county.

“Stand-out moments include raising over £800,000 on a tandem, pushing a sofa and being tied to Paul: three challenges my body will never forget!

“And then to be awarded an MBE for Services to Broadcasting. I know I served each and every one of you."

Co-presenter Amy Garcia was full of praise for her presenting pal.

She said: “It has been an absolute honour to share the red sofa with Harry for the past seven years:  a Yorkshire legend, a mentor and a dear friend.  

“Look North is a family and Harry has been at the heart of it for so long.  He will be missed by the whole team and our loyal viewers."