Sporting Lunch: Jonathan Agnew
MBE DL — BBC cricket broadcaster
Jonathan Agnew is a renowned cricket broadcaster who has been at the centre of coverage for the BBC for over 28 years. Having enjoyed a successful playing career that saw him become one of five recipients of the Cricketer of the Year award in the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 1988, he would go onto become one of the most-loved sports correspondents in the UK. His “leg over” comment during the Test Match Special in 1991 was voted the “greatest sporting commentary ever” in a BBC poll. He has been described by colleague Michael Henderson as “a master broadcaster”.
Jonathan took an impressive 666 first-class wickets, playing for Leicestershire CCC between 1979 and 1992, and making international appearances for England between 1984 and 1985. 44 seasons in professional cricket, as both a player and commentator has brought Jonathan widespread fanfare.
As an after dinner speaker, Jonathan has featured heavily on the circuit, entertaining crowds at various events including annual cricket club dinners and award ceremonies. He has spoken at the Cricket Board’s annual OSCAs at Lord’s, as well as hosted the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit’s two-day conference. He has also taken his one-man show to the Yeovil Literary Festival, and entertained at events for brands and publications.
Having impressed audiences with his tour, entitled, An Evening with Aggers, as well as events such as An Evening with Boycott & Aggers, Aggers & Bumble and Aggers and Tuffers he has shown his incredible relationships with the game’s top broadcasters. Many of these collaborations have seen Jonathan tour UK theatres from Liverpool to Nottingham, Norwich through to Newcastle. Jonathan is a partner to a number of high-profile companies and charities, including Waitrose, Sport Abroad, The Lord’s Taverners, Grange Hotels, JMM and Veuve Clicquot. He has also penned several books that include, Cricket: A Modern Anthology, Aggers’ Ashes, Over to You, Aggers and 8 Days a Week: Diary of a Professional Cricketer.