BBC Radio 5 live presenter Colin Murray has challanged himself to track down all 114 of Britain’s living Olympic gold medallists.
The results will create a sporting documentary series for the station, broadcast leading up to this year’s events.
Two years ago, Colin made a pledge with his friend and producer Nicholas Etherton to create a broadcasting legacy to mark London 2012, and Official Olympic radio broadcaster Radio 5 live will support Colin’s pledge.
Whether or not he completes the challenge, armed only with a hire car and one microphone, remains to be heard, but his story begins on Sunday May 27th and last for nine weeks, just in time for the opening ceremony. Each 60-minute show will broadcast at 11am with a two hour finale to finish the story.
Radio 5 live Controller Adrian Van-Klaveren told RadioToday.co.uk: ”This series is typical of the unique style of presenting and entertainment that Colin brings to Radio 5 live listeners. It’s a real challenge but this is a fascinating insight into how a very different group of athletes became gold medallists. I can’t wait to hear how Colin gets on. As we gear up for London 2012 Gold Run tells the human stories behind the sports headlines. Our Olympic coverage on 5 live and 5 live Olympics Extra will be radio coverage of sport like you have never heard it before.”
Speaking of his journey Colin Murray says: “Regardless of whether or not I complete the challenge – at the time of writing this I still don’t know the answer to that question myself, Gold Run has been an experience I will never forget, and some of the stories I have heard along the way will stay with me forever.
“It’s by far the biggest project of my career and one that very few give me the chance of getting close to completing, but they forget that, with every interview, I am feeding off the Olympic spirit and pushing myself beyond the limit! One thing is for sure, when my Gold Run adventure comes to an end, I plan to sleep for a month.
Van-Klaveren: “Throughout London 2012 5 live and our new digital service 5 live Olympics Extra are looking to bring listeners radio coverage of sport as you’ve never heard it before. This unique series is a great way to launch our special programmes and I can’t wait to hear how Colin gets on.”
Colin Murray will be broadcasting every day throughout the Games for BBC Radio 5 live. In March 2012 the BBC Trust confirmed that 5 live Olympics Extra would provide another platform for listeners to hear live commentary of the Games. This temporary digital station will start broadcasting on July 25 2012.
Posted on Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 at 5:09 pm by RadioToday UK