Sports TV presenter Gary Newbon launches his book in Birmingham - with the help of Jasper Carrott
Brummie comedian Jasper Carrott brought the house down at the launch of legendary TV football presenter Gary Newbon's new book about his long life in sports journalism.
Newbon has enjoyed a career spanning more than 50 years with ATV, Central, ITV and Sky. He has interviewed everyone from Pele to Billie Jean King and Sebastian Coe, and even once earned a kiss on the cheek from Forest boss Brian Clough.
Throw in other stars like Muhammad Ali and F1 World Champion Nigel Mansell, plus being in Munich during the 1972 Olympics terror attack on Israeli athletes, and you might think that nothing could faze father-of-three Newbon.
But standing in front of an audience while comedian Carrott told a few anecdotes, there was a delicious sense of self-confessed big-head Newbon turning into putty in a window fitters’ hands – as you can see in this video.
Newbon has enjoyed a career spanning more than 50 years with ATV, Central, ITV and Sky. He has interviewed everyone from Pele to Billie Jean King and Sebastian Coe, and even once earned a kiss on the cheek from Forest boss Brian Clough.
Throw in other stars like Muhammad Ali and F1 World Champion Nigel Mansell, plus being in Munich during the 1972 Olympics terror attack on Israeli athletes, and you might think that nothing could faze father-of-three Newbon.
But standing in front of an audience while comedian Carrott told a few anecdotes, there was a delicious sense of self-confessed big-head Newbon turning into putty in a window fitters’ hands – as you can see in this video.
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00:00 This gentleman I'm going to introduce, well he doesn't need an introduction, is one day older than me, so I do respect him for that.
00:07 He's a great friend for many many years and I can't think of anybody else I could have asked just to launch the book tonight.
00:14 So would you please welcome the best ambassador Birmingham's ever had, Mr Jasper Carroll.
00:19 [Applause]
00:22 Thank you. Typical Gary organisation, no bloody microphone. And the Hotel Du Vin, what a wonderful place to have a book launch.
00:32 So many parking spaces. Acre, Coventry, what the... Hotel Du Vin means Hotel of Wine, which is very appropriate for Gary.
00:42 He's been selected by the British Olympic Committee to represent Great Britain in the 10,000 litres.
00:48 Wayne Rooney sends his apology. He was due here but he's in the Queen Elizabeth with a very bad side.
00:56 [Laughter]
01:01 He was a bit upset as well. They interviewed 100 grandmas saying, "Would you sleep with Wayne Rooney?"
01:08 And 75% said, "Never again."
01:11 [Laughter]
01:16 Actually it's pronounced Gary Newburn. Seriously, Newburn. Because it's a Celtic name from way up north.
01:26 And Newburn means handsome, witty, virile, sexy. And Gary means not very.
01:35 [Laughter]
01:41 I don't read a lot. I will read yours eventually. The last book I read, Fifty Shades of Grey, which turned out to be a travel guide for Redditch.
01:52 [Laughter]