Ribble Valley newsreader Mike West becomes new voice of BBC Final Score (From Chorley Citizen)

Ribble Valley newsreader Mike West becomes new voice of BBC Final Score

3:53pm Tuesday 22nd November 2011 in TV By Sam Chadderton, Reporter

A LANCASHIRE journalist and newsreader becomes the new voice of the classified football results on Saturday.

Mike West, who presents sports bulletins for BBC Radio Lancashire, is taking over from Tim Gudgin, who had been reading the scores out on Final Score since 1995.

Mike, 55, is originally from Liverpool and is an Evertonian, but has lived in the Ribble Valley for the past three decades.

Mr Gudgin did not want to move north as the programme relocated to Salford so the producers asked regional stations for nominations.

Mr West said: “I’d never thought about doing something like this, but when the opportunity came up I thought it’s a great job to do.

“There will definitely be some nerves on Saturday as I’ve got two live readings to a huge audience.

"It’s my first time doing anything like this and I’m following on from a broadcasting legend.

“I have been wandering round reading out mock results to myself trying to get that rise and fall tone right.

"Hopefully I’ll get somewhere close to it.”