Gabby Logan Recounts Hearing of Father's Death Live on Air
The television presenter shared the difficult experience of receiving news of her father Terry Yorath's passing during a live broadcast.
Gabby Logan, 53, has revealed the emotional toll of learning about her father Terry Yorath's death while she was presenting Match of the Day live on air. Yorath, a former footballer for Leeds and Wales, died in January at the age of 75 following a brief illness.
During the broadcast, Logan received a call that led to her being replaced mid-show by Mark Chapman, who informed viewers of a "family emergency." Logan described the experience as incredibly difficult, stating in an interview with The Times that she is "still processing" her father's death months later.
"I keep my phone on during broadcasting, as we're fed stats during games via a WhatsApp group," Logan explained. "It rang the evening my dad passed away while I was presenting Match of the Day."
She also reflected on how her brother Daniel's death in 1992, at age 15 from an undiagnosed heart condition, has profoundly influenced her approach to life and seizing opportunities.
Terry Yorath, born in Cardiff, had a significant career playing for Leeds under Don Revie, contributing to their First Division title win. He also had stints with Coventry, Tottenham, and Bradford, scoring 11 goals in 199 appearances for Leeds over nine years. He earned 59 caps for Wales and served as assistant coach for Bradford on the day of the Valley Parade fire in 1985, which claimed 56 lives.
Yorath also managed several clubs, including Swansea, Bradford, Cardiff, and Sheffield Wednesday, as well as the national team of Lebanon and Wales. Under his management, Wales narrowly missed qualification for the 1994 World Cup.
Following his passing, Logan shared on social media her gratitude for the messages of support, describing her father as a "warrior on the football pitch" and a "kind hearted and generous man off it." She noted the comfort derived from shared stories from strangers, highlighting how many lives he had touched.
Logan, who is married to Kenny, a former Scotland rugby player, and has two 20-year-old twins, Reuben and Lois, also spoke about adjusting to an empty nest. Her son Reuben plays rugby for Sale Sharks, while her daughter Lois is attending university. Logan admitted to still occasionally having the instinct to handle her children's schedules, missing the days of a detailed family timetable.