EXCLUSIVE: BT Sport’s lead pitchside interviewer Des Kelly LEAVES the channel ahead of their rebrand to become TNT Sport, shocking colleagues, as Laura Woods replaces Jake Humphrey as presenter
- Mail Sport understands Des Kelly has left BT ahead of TNT relaunch next week
- His final game for the broadcaster turned out to be the Champions League final
- Follow Mail Sport on Threads here: https://www.threads.net/@mailsport
BT Sport’s senior pitch-side interviewer Des Kelly has left the channel ahead of their rebrand as TNT Sport next week.
Mail Sport has learned that Kelly’s last engagement for the channel was Manchester City’s Champions League final over Inter Milan last month, when he caused controversy by asking Ilkay Gundogan for his autograph live on air at the Ataturk Stadium.
Kelly is the second high-profile and long-serving broadcaster to leave BT this summer following the departure of presenter Jake Humphrey, who as Mail Sport revealed in May will be replaced by Laura Woods.
Kelly’s move also follows the departure of his opposite number at Sky Sports Geoff Shreeves, who last week confirmed he had left the company after 30 years.
Kelly spent 10 years at BT following a successful career in newspaper journalism, beginning with an evening chat-show before being switched to pitch-side reporting and interviewing duties.
Des Kelly (left) is leaving BT Sport ahead of their major rebrand next week as TNT Sport
Kelly (left) is the second high-profile and long-serving broadcaster to leave BT this summer – with show host Jake Humphrey also leaving to be replaced by Laura Woods
The 58-year-old developed a reputation for asking tough questions and enjoyed some memorable clashes with several managers particularly Jurgen Klopp, whose repeated complaints about television companies moving fixtures he robustly scrutinised.
Kelly was backed by BT bosses following the Gundogan autograph controversy after explaining he planned to auction it for charity.
His departure has shocked many colleagues at BT who enjoyed working with him and considered him an untouchable part of the team.
BT Sport will be consigned to history on 18 July with the official launch of TNT, although most of their existing presenters and pundits are expected to be kept on.
With Woods replacing Humphrey on Champions League nights Lynsey Hipgrave will remain as the channel’s main Premier League presenter, with the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Jermaine Jenas and Joe Cole also to be retained.
A spokesperson for Warner Brothers Discovery, who own TNT Sport, declined to comment.
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BT Sport presenter Kelly asked Ilkay Gundogan (right) for an autograph live on TV in Istanbul, in a match that proves to be his final job working for the broadcaster
He developed a reputation for asking tough questions and enjoyed some memorable clashes
