JONATHAN McEVOY: Dickie Davies was a trailblazer who ITV on the sporting map
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Dickie Davies, with that famous white razor running through his mane like Shergar, was the face of ITV sport in a time before the industry diversified into the landscape we know today.
He died on Sunday, aged 94. His death was announced by another now ITV veteran of those years, the highly respected Jim Rosenthal, then a junior front-of-house star.
Speaking on behalf of the Davies family, Rosenthal reported: “It is with great sadness that we announce that Dickie Davies passed away this morning.
“Very proud of his 20 years in World Of Sport, three Olympic Games and a brilliant career in television. He is survived by a loving wife, two adoring children, four grandchildren and two beloved dogs.’
For many of us it takes us back to those days when World Of Sport was a staple of our sports education, albeit in an era when the BBC owned and treasured most of the crown jewels. In memory, ITV’s production concentrated heavily on Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks, but that was part of its enduring charm and not the limit of its scope.
Dickie Davies passed away on Sunday aged 94 and was a pioneer in ITV sports coverage
Davies was best known for his time hosting the hit ITV sports show for 17 years.
Davies with fellow ITV sports presenter and commentator Brian Moore (left)
Later in his career, he worked for Eurosport, Sky Sports Gold and Classic FM. He is pictured above in 2006.
Davies was born in 1928 and started broadcasting late, even after a stint on the RMS Queen Mary, the most opulent ocean liner of its day, as a purser. Dying to get home, he met an executive from the US NBC network by chance. After an audition, he was invited in 1960 to audition with Southern Television.
These were the pioneering days of the small screen, the days of Whicker and Coleman, the kind of men who, with Davies, wrote the grammar of broadcasting.
It was in his new television calling that he met a vision mixer named Liz, who became his wife, as she took on the role of broadcaster for £19 a week. Of his career, he told the Telegraph: ‘I loved it. I’m a lucky boy.
It was Jimmy Hill who instilled in him the shrewd idea of calling himself ‘Dickie’, a more distinctive nickname than the Richard his wife preferred. Jimmy got it right.
He interviewed Muhammad Ali, naturally. He covered many of the big fights, unfazed, with his trademark well-groomed mustache coiffed. His hairstyle was natural, he insisted, no matter what anyone else thought. His fame led to appearances on The Morecambe & Wise Show, the great days of terrestrial television, and This is Your Life.
Davies, with former athlete Alan Pascoe (left) and pioneering swimmer David Wilkie
He covered the great days of Coe and Ovett, was somewhat dismissive of wrestling shows during the life of World Of Sport between 1968 and 1985, a rival to Grandstand on the third channel.
He notably covered the 1966 World Cup and the 1972 Munich Olympics, of Black September fame. He also plays snooker, golf, darts, bowls, tennis and racing.
Of Sir Alf Ramsey, he said: “Impossible to interview him, he hated the media.”
He then went on to work for Eurosport, Sky Sports Gold with Sir Bobby Charlton and Classic FM.
When asked the secret to his success, he replied, “Homework,” adding, “I had a great time.”