Veteran broadcaster dies

Peter West presented Come Dancing for 15 years

The veteran sports broadcaster Peter West, for many years the face of BBC cricket, has died.

The death of the 83-year-old at his home in Bath on Tuesday followed a long illness, his family said.

Peter West covered everything from Wimbledon to the Olympics during his 40-year BBC career, but it is for cricket that he is best remembered.

He was also well-known to viewers as the presenter of Come Dancing, which he hosted for 15 years.

The former rugby union correspondent at The Times newspaper, had been an outstanding schoolboy performer at both cricket and rugby.

Peter West was a fine commentator mostly on cricket and rugby, but he was also a wonderful companion, a thoroughly nice man Sir Paul Fox

He commentated on a range of sports including golf, hockey, shooting, table tennis, athletics, cycling, lacrosse, wrestling and diving, as well as numerous Olympic games and Wimbledon Championships.

Peter Salmon, Director of BBC Sport said: "Peter West was the original sporting all-rounder.

"Though his passions were cricket and rugby, he turned his hand brilliantly to a range of top-flight sporting events.

"From specialist sports to Come Dancing, Peter graced television and radio for almost 40 years with great style and charm.

"We are all deeply saddened to hear this news today, and our heartfelt condolences go to his family."

Back problem

Sir Paul Fox, a former BBC One controller and founding editor of Grandstand added: "Peter West was a fine commentator mostly on cricket and rugby.

"But he was also a wonderful companion, a thoroughly nice man."

Born in Surrey, Peter West was educated at Cranbrook School before enrolling at Sandhurst in 1939.

He was invalided out of the army five years later because of an heriditary back problem but turned to journalism in 1945, first working on newspapers before joining the BBC.

Peter West is survived by his wife Pauline, one daughter and two sons.