MUMBAI: Alexander Gordon is quitting BBC radio after 40 years because his voice is no longer strong enough. The 77-year-old has had his larynx removed as he battles throat cancer.
He has broadcast the scores since 1974 on Radio 2, 5 Live and the World Service, with fans knowing their team’s fortunes just from his tone. Yet Edinburgh-born James once said he had little idea about football.
Richard Burgess, head of BBC Radio Sport, said it was sad news for millions of listeners. He added: “Saturdays at 5pm will never be the same again without the warm, melodious sound of James’s voice just after the Sports Report theme on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“A voice which is, of course, recognised around the globe through the BBC World Service and a voice which embodies authority, clarity and charm.“For so many of us, James has been a mainstay in our lives — a reassuring and reliable presence every week. He is a broadcasting legend.”
The presenter — popularly known by his initials as JAG — joined the BBC in 1972 and went on to become one of the most recognisable voices on radio.Mark Pougatch, presenter of 5 Live Sport, said: “Even people who don’t really even like football knew who James was, even if they didn’t realise it.
“Such was James’s unique style of reading the classifieds, his wonderful inflections and stresses, that even non-believers of the sport knew the result after the home team’s score.“Nobody else will be able to say ‘Wolverhampton Wanderers’ with quite such mellifluous tones.
“But enough of this ‘James’. To those of us lucky enough to work at BBC Radio Sport, he is JAG. And JAG is an institution, a legend and a gentleman all rolled into one.”
Gordon, who contracted polio as a child and had to wear leg supports until his late teens, officially retired from the BBC many years ago but has continued as a freelancer.
He joined the BBC as an announcer and newsreader post his career in music publishing.
Just last year he said he had no plans ever to step down from his role, saying: “keep telling the BBC they will have to carry me out on a stretcher. I’ll die with the microphone in my hand.”
But the BBC said that although his surgery was successful, “sadly his voice is now not strong enough.