Founder of BBC TV's "Grandstand" and inventor of a new phrase in the English language – "action replay" – Mr Bryan Cowgill was 81.

A former Clitheroe Advertiser & Times editor, his career included a long list of achievements and landmarks in television history, including three BAFTA awards for his broadcast on the 1966 World Cup and two Olympic games.

The father-of-two joined the BBC in 1955 as a production assistant. By the age of 35 he was Head of Sport, responsible for "Match of the Day" and "Sportsnight". He reached the peak of his career in the mid '70s when he became controller of BBC1.

In 1977 Mr Cowgill was promoted to the new job of director of news and current affairs, with a seat on the BBC's board of management to add analytical depth to news coverage. But before he could take up the post, Thames Television offered him the job of managing director.

In 1984 he was made a fellow of the Royal Television Society for his outstanding contribution to television.

Throughout his career, he worked with TV stars, dined with the Queen and produced popular drama series.

On retirement, he and his wife, Jenny, initially lived in Bolton-By-Bowland before moving back to the south.

See next week's Clitheroe Advertiser and Times for a full obituary.