Andy Gray is back working in football broadcasting in the United Kingdom after being handed a new role commentating for talkSPORT.
Scottish pundit Gray, 70, has been absent from UK television and radio for 12 years. He was sacked by Sky Sports in 2011 after being caught making sexist comments about a female assistant referee. He then worked alongside Richard Keys on a talkSPORT radio show and briefly appeared as a commentator on the FA Cup for BT Sport in 2014.
Gray and Keys had moved to Qatar in 2013 to front beIN Sports’ coverage of the Premier League but returned earlier this year amid war in the Middle East and have been publishing their own podcast.
And now Gray has landed a more mainstream role: talkSPORT have hired him to commentate on their coverage of the UEFA Champions League. Gray is partnered with Jim Proudfoot on commentary for Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid this coming Wednesday – an 8pm kick-off at Anfield.
Speaking to Daily Mail Sport in an exclusive interview last month Gray had hinted he had a desire to return to the commentary box. ‘I’d like to think, somewhere, I could do a bit of commentary,’ he said. ‘Not television, maybe, but radio. Just to see what it feels like again. I would like that.’
Keys, his long-time friend and colleague had said: ‘I would be happy for you if that happened. I think you deserve it. To hear him back, analysing a football match, that would be special. He’s the best I’ve ever known.’
Andy Gray, pictured with long-time colleague Richard Keys, is heading back to UK radio
talkSPORT say their hiring of Gray is ‘not just a cameo appearance’ and in the announcement revelled in Gray’s iconic commentary line ‘Oh you beauty! What a hit, son! What a hit’ – recorded at the same venue, Anfield, in 2004.
Gray was sacked by Sky in 2011 after an off-air conversation between him and Keys was leaked to the press in which they questioned whether female assistant referee Sian Massey understood the offside rule. Keys resigned soon after as further off-air footage emerged, including his infamous ‘Did you smash it?’ remark about Jamie Redknapp’s love life.
Today, Gray says: ‘I can’t imagine saying today what I said then, I just can’t. I think we were two of the first people ever cancelled. I had 20 reporters outside my house for weeks.’
