Sky’s Jeff Stelling returns to Teesside for candid talk

From tales of working with sporting legends to humble roots in Hartlepool, guests were enthralled by broadcaster Dr Jeff Stelling during a special Audience With event at Teesside University

Demand for free tickets was extremely high, with around 500 guests snapping up entry for the event in which Jeff shared candid memories of his illustrious career.

From his roots as a local sports reporter, Jeff has gone on to become one of the most recognisable faces in football.

Millions of television viewers tune in each weekend to see him present Sky Sport’s Gillette Soccer Saturday, which stretches across six hours of the game’s busiest day with a much celebrated mix of features, reports, informed studio opinion and lively banter.

Jeff, an honorary graduate of Teesside University, said: ‘It’s fantastic to be back here - it’s a great, vibrant University, but the important thing is the quality of education as well as the quality of life. The University has fantastic courses and I would certainly encourage people to come here, that’s for sure.’

His media career began almost 40 years ago as a news reporter at his local newspaper, the Hartlepool Mail. A move to BBC Tees led to the role of reporter on Middlesbrough FC and the beginning of a radio career that took Jeff to two Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984 and Seoul in 1988.

After joining TV AM as a member of the sports team in 1988, Jeff moved to BSB in 1990 and after a brief period at Channel 4 he began a long association with Sky Sports that has included presenting live darts, snooker, greyhound and horse racing.

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