Biography

Frank Bough became known as one of the BBC's most accomplished presenters, equally able to cover sport, entertainment and politics. He was educated at Oswestry Boys' School and Merton College, Oxford. He undertook national service in the Royal Tank Regiment. He was encouraged to become a broadcaster by Gerald Sinstadt, Bough joined the BBC's regional news in Newcastle and within a couple of years had moved down to London, first making his name on national television as a BBC sports commentator.

He became a stalwart presenter on BBC television from the 1960s until the 1980s, hosting many of the corporation's most popular shows, including Grandstand (1958), Nationwide (1969) and Breakfast Time (1983).

In 1988 he was exposed by a UK tabloid newspaper as a cocaine user who enjoyed cross-dressing, sadomasochism and brothels. He expressed regrets about his lifestyle in subsequent interviews and his wife Nesta remained supportive, but these revelations caused considerable embarrassment and ended his long career at the BBC.
- IMDb mini biography by: Anonymous

In 1988, he was exposed by a UK tabloid as a user of cocaine and S&M dungeons. This revelation ended his career as a BBC presenter.

He is a fan of Sunderland Association Football Club, despite being born in Stoke-on-Trent.

Before becoming a household name across the country, he presented a North-east BBC regional news show.

His surname was pronounced "Boff".

I caused a lot of pain to my wife and my family and I bitterly regret all these things - but I have to say that I believe that everybody, when they have difficulties with their marriage or sexuality, surely has the right to sort these things out in the privacy of their own home.

[on "Africa" by Toto on Desert Island Discs] When we launched Breakfast Time it was a time of particularly acidic pleasure, and it just so happens that this was a silly pop record, it was very popular at the time, but it would bring back to me all the things about the great flush of a brand new programme, a clean sheet of paper, a great success, some fantastic comradeship.

It was a brief but appalling period in my life. Don't condemn my entire career for a brief episode I regret.

I am feeling exceedingly stupid. I bitterly regret many of the things in my life, and if only I could undo them I would.