Veteran broadcaster Gabby Logan has revealed a crushing professional setback that nearly ended her television career, before her remarkable resurgence at the BBC. Logan, now 52, is preparing to front the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025 awards this Thursday, a role that underscores her status as a mainstay of sports broadcasting.
The Devastating ITV Dismissal
Logan's path to becoming a BBC stalwart was almost derailed two decades ago by a senior ITV figure. Speaking on the White Wine Question Time podcast, she recounted being unceremoniously removed from hosting duties during the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. At the time, her twin children were just a year old, and she had made the difficult decision to leave them to cover the tournament.
"I had a boss that wasn't really into me and wanted to slightly demote me," Logan explained. "In the middle of the World Cup, he kind of sidelined me, and I came home with my tail between my legs." The situation reached its nadir when, during a brief break between the group and knockout stages, she was instructed not to return. "He said [not to come back] basically. Go home and don't come back," she revealed.
A New Beginning at the BBC
That rejection, which left Logan fearing her career was over, proved to be a pivotal moment. She subsequently departed ITV and was offered a lifeline by the BBC, where she has remained for nearly twenty years. Her extensive portfolio now includes presenting flagship events like the Olympics, the Six Nations, and the European Championships.
This year marks another significant milestone in her revived career. Logan was appointed as one of three new hosts for the iconic football highlights programme, Match of the Day. She alternates presenting duties with Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates, describing the relief she felt after her debut this Premier League season passed smoothly.
"The weird thing is, of all the programmes I've ever done, that first moment where you say hello to the guests... there is kind of this shoulders down moment," Logan said. "You go, 'Okay, we're up and running and now it's just a TV show.'"
Front and Centre for SPOTY 2025
Logan's career has come full circle. From the despair of the 2006 snub, she will once again be at the helm of one of the BBC's biggest annual events. On Thursday evening, she will co-host the 2025 Sports Personality of the Year ceremony alongside Clare Balding and Alex Scott, a role she has made her own.
Reflecting on the turbulent period in her early thirties, Logan expressed disbelief that it was so long ago. "I thought it was going to be the end of my career," she admitted. Her perseverance, however, led to a defining second act, cementing her place as one of British television's most respected and enduring sports presenters.
