Gabby Logan has revealed she nearly walked away from television presenting in 2006 following a devastating career setback.
The popular sports presenter, now 51, considered quitting the industry after being “sidelined” by her boss at ITV during the World Cup in Germany.
Speaking on Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time podcast, Logan admitted: “I think I had a rough ride in my early thirties in my career, and I can’t believe that’s nearly 20 years ago.”
“At the time, I thought it was going to be the end of my career.”
Gabby Logan has revealed she nearly walked away from television presenting in 2006 following a devastating career setback
PA
Logan had been scheduled to present coverage of England games and major knockout matches during the 2006 World Cup for ITV.
However, her boss unexpectedly changed these plans mid-tournament.
“In the middle of the World Cup, he kind of sidelined me, and I came home with my tail between my legs,” Logan revealed.
The presenter, whose twins were just one year old at the time, had planned to return home briefly between the group stages and knockout rounds.
Gabby Logan nearly quit TV presenting in 2006
PA
“He said, ‘oh, just don’t come back’ basically. Go home and don’t come back,” Logan recalled of the devastating conversation.
“I remember walking around the garden thinking ‘oh gosh, I love doing up houses, I’m just going to shift and go into property because that’s what my mum does’.”
She even contemplated returning to her legal studies.
“I was maybe 33 at the time and I thought maybe my law degree wasn’t out of date and I could upgrade and go to bar school. I was really contemplating what to do next,” Logan admitted.
The presenter was renting a house in Barnes at the time while renovating another property.
Logan’s career took a positive turn when she joined the BBC later in 2006.
“When I was leaving ITV and given another chance by the BBC because even in my early 30s, I felt I’d already had this really long career,” she explained.
“Once I got that second chance, as I saw it at the time – somewhere that I’d always hoped I might work because of the BBC having the long history with doing the Olympics and various other things that I really wanted to work on I felt really grateful.
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“And also that I was going to not let this opportunity go.”
Since joining the BBC, Logan has established herself as one of Britain’s premier sports presenters.
Earlier this year, she was confirmed as one of three new Match of the Day hosts, alongside Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman.
Gabby Logan is set to replace Gary Lineker as one of three Match of the Day hosts from later this year
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Her career continues to flourish across multiple platforms and sports.
She currently presents Six Nations coverage for the BBC and Champions League football on Amazon Prime Video.
Logan’s impressive portfolio includes presenting at the 2024 Paris Olympics, several major football tournaments, the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the London Marathon.