George Riley (broadcaster)

George Riley is a British sports broadcaster from Leeds. He was the co-presenter of Channel 5's Football On 5 between 2015 and 2017 alongside Kelly Cates and then Lynsey Hipgrave.

George Riley
NationalityBritish
OccupationSports broadcaster

Career

Riley joined BBC Radio 5 Live in 2004, having previously been at the short-lived TEAMtalk 252 in 2002, and has been the voice of sport on 5 Live Breakfast since 2011. He also presented 5 live Sport[1] for the station, and commentated on rugby league, snooker and darts for BBC TV and radio, until being suspended in 2017 following several allegations of sexual harassment.[2] In 2019 it was reported that staff were assured he would never work for the BBC again owing to the multiple allegations of sexual assault made against him during his time working for 5 live.[3]

Riley has reported at major events including the London Olympics and Paralympic Games, Euro 2012 in Ukraine and 2014 World Cup in Rio, the 2013 Ashes, the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, as well as Wimbledon, the Cheltenham Festival, Super League[4] and Challenge Cup finals each year.

He presented the BBC's Late Kick Off Football League show in 2013, in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. He was a regular face and voice on the BBC's rugby league coverage, presenting the Super League Show on BBC2, and commentating on all major games for BBC Radio 5 Live.

In July 2015, he was confirmed as one of the presenters of Channel 5's Football League highlights show,[5] Football League Tonight, alongside Kelly Cates. Riley then co-hosted alongside Lynsey Hipgrave during the 2016-17 season before both co-hosts were replaced by Colin Murray ahead of the 2017-18 EFL season.

Riley appeared as himself in Armando Iannucci's award-winning political satire The Thick Of It[6] in 2009.

George Riley was suspended by the BBC in 2017. According to both The Times and The Guardian (April 21st, 2019), George Riley resigned from BBC Radio 5 Live before an investigation was completed into allegations of sexual assault against him were made by at least eight women. The Times quotes then BBC Radio 5 Live Controller, Jonathan Wall, as saying that he will never work for the BBC again.

Personal life

Riley is a charity ambassador for Joseph's Goal[7] and the Steve Prescott Foundation (SPF),[8] for whom he runs regular marathons. His fundraising efforts saw him run 100 miles in 2014[9][10] and four marathons in eight weeks in 2015.

He is player-manager for Sunday league team The Quays FC[11] in Manchester, having gained promotion into Manchester and Cheshire Division One.

References
  1. "Episodes". 5 live Sport. BBC. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  2. Fleming, Molly (29 October 2017). "BBC 5 Live sports presenter George Riley 'suspended' amid allegations of sexual harassment". The Independent.
  3. Waterson, Jim (21 April 2019). "Former 5 Live presenter will never work at BBC again, staff told". the Guardian.
  4. Riley, George. "George Riley's Super League preview". The RFL. The Rugby Football League Limited. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  5. "Football League Tonight presenters announced". Channel 5. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  6. "The Thick of It". IMDb. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  7. "Our Ambassadors". Joseph's Goal. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  8. "Ambassadors". Steve Prescott Foundation. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  9. "Ambassadors Take on 2014 Virgin London Marathon". Steve Prescott Foundation. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  10. Riley, George. "George's The Steve Prescott 200: 4 Marathons & A Mountain". JustGiving. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  11. "Quays FC Podcast Episode 3 – Masterclass with George Riley". SoundCloud. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
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