Media personality and former England International, Ian Wright needs virtually no introduction. His sensational footballing career has been followed in more recent years by an equally dazzling media career.
As a footballer at Crystal Palace, Arsenal, West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Celtic, Burnley and England, Ian gained 33 England caps, and became Arsenal's highest ever goal scorer.
Born in Woolwich in southeast London Ian started out as a labourer and plasterer whilst playing for amateur football clubs before being spotted by a scout for Crystal Palace where his career began. In 1991 he moved to Arsenal in a £2.5 million deal.
While nearing the end of his footballing career in the late nineties, he began to make the transition towards the media, paving the way for his eventual retirement from the game. Ian made his television debut in January 1998 with his own chat show Friday Night's All Wright, the programme attracted record viewing figures of over four million. Transmitted during late Prime Time slots after 10.30pm, the show's audience figures were unprecedented. With an international line-up of guest such as Denzil Washington, Will Smith, Lionel Ritchie, Westlife and many more
Following the success of Friday Night's All Wright, Ian was invited to host two series of the US Prime time show Guinness World Records. The results were even more phenomenal. Hugely popular, the show far exceeded expectations, attracting viewing figures in excess of 7 million.
December 1999 saw Ian back on the British Networks; hosting a one-off Christmas Special entitled hidden Talents of the Rich and Famous.
Just months later in January 2001, he signed his first BBC television and radio contract. The deal included presenting the BBC1 hit show Friends Like These, hosting an Ian Wright Entertainment Show, a number of specials and presenting the Radio five Live Saturday Show, Wright & Bright.
Ian has since presented three successful specials for Saturday prime viewing slots. This is My Moment was screened on Granada TV, followed Sing it Your Way for Carlton and An Audience with Lennox Lewis for LWT.
In 2003, he signed his second BBC Television contract and has since become the face of the BBC's Saturday night Primetime TV. He has presented The National Lottery Wright Ticket and a brand new Saturday night entertainment format called I'd Do Anything, which was widely regarded as the top programme showcased at the global TV fair, MIPTV, at Cannes 2003.
In 2000 he was awarded an MBE in tribute to his sporting career.
Ian followed these successes by presenting two more series of the National Lottery Series with the show Wright Around the World. Also for BBC1 he made the prime time show What Kids Really Think in 2005. Ian is one of the team captains for They Think It's All Over.
Ian appeared on Sky One's All Star Cup Gold Show as one of the European Stars and has recently ridden his bike across America for the show Wright Across America for Men and Motors.
Ian is one of the BBC Sports regular and popular football pundits appearing on live matches for the FA cup, England Internationals and major Championships including Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006.
Summer 2007 saw Ian as a guest presenter on Big Brother's Big Mouth for the final week of the show. He was a big hit with the studio audience as well as celebrity panellist and housemates alike. He returned to the Big Brother house in January's Celebrity Big Brother Hijacked as the voice and face of Big Brother for the day.
Last year Ian presented Premier League All-stars with Helen Chamberlain for Sky One in which fans got to play alongside their teams greatest heroes and other celebrity fans. Filmed at the Premier League All-Stars Arena with a crowed of 2000 the adrenalin ran for the two weeks of filming.
This spring saw Ian present the return of The Gladiators alongside Kirsty Gallacher.
Ian continues to present a 4 day a week radio show on TalkSport at Evening Drive Time and has helped to substantially boost the channels circulation figures over the time he has been there.
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