Sports presenter and footballer Brian Marjoribanks dies at 82

Former presenter, actor and footballer Brian Marjoribanks has died at the age of 82.

The Hibs and Hearts centre quit football in 1964 to pursue an acting career, where he landed a role in BBC medical drama Dr Finlay’s Casebook.

Born in Falkirk, Marjoribanks was best known for 17 years as a sports presenter on BBC radio and television until 1983.

He died on Friday after a short illness at his home in Palma, Mallorca. He is survived by his wife and four children.

His family paid tribute to him, saying in a statement: “Brian had an incredibly rich, varied and successful career – whether it was taking centre stage on the football field, the theatre or the small screen as a sports presenter.

“But the role he cherished most in his life was as a devoted husband and an adoring father and grandpa.

“We grieve the loss of an incredible man whom we are privileged and proud to have known and loved.”

Marjoribanks made his footballing name in 1961 by scoring on his Hibs debut, aged 19, in a derby against Hearts at Tynecastle.

But his passion had always been acting and while training with Hibs he studied at Edinburgh College of Speech and Drama.

When he quit the game aged 21 his first acting role came in Dr Finlay’s Casebook as Roddy Munro – a star footballer for fictional local team Tannochbrae United.

He later moved into presenting on BBC Sportscene and BBC Radio Sportsound.

In 1983, Marjoribanks was appointed UK regions controller UK Regions with the Independent Television Commission – now known as Ofcom.

After retiring in 2000 he joined the board of Scottish Television and spent five years as chairman.

His passion for acting continued after retirement, and he toured the UK and Ireland as a festival adjudicator for the Scottish Community Drama Association (SCDA), where he encouraged the next generation of actors.

His wife Kathleen and children Jenny, Brian Jnr, Graham and Katie were at his bedside in Son Espases Hospital in Mallorca when he died.