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The best of the worst of Adrian Chiles

'When does a heavy rain become an actual downpour?'

Kiran Moodley
Friday 23 January 2015 18:47 GMT
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TV presenter Adrian Chiles.
TV presenter Adrian Chiles. (Michael Regan | Getty Images)

With much of Twitter reacting to the departure of Adrian Chiles from his role as ITV’s lead football host with much mirth, it's worth noting that it's not always easy trying to fill gaps in live television, especially when a football match is unexpectedly postponed.

While most of the presenter's time at ITV Sport was relatively uneventful, there were a few moments along the years that weakened Chiles' previously impeccable reputation.

Notably, Chiles had to apologise after implying Polish football supporters were all builders, and he was derided by many for his faltering coverage of the World Cup warm-up between England and Honduras last summer when the game was postponed due to an electrical storm. He described the English fans in the stands as "just sitting there, just sitting there and sitting there".

He also interviewed a game official who he thought was a stadium manager.

Last year, the West Brom fan had two ill-advised quips in a list of the top 10 most embarrassing football pundit gaffes of the season, as chosen by a poll conducted by fantasy football firm Oulala.com.

At least Chiles could laugh at himself and the difficult sell ITV had with some of the more lacklustre games: "If you’re still watching, write in and we’ll send you a fiver each”, he said during a FA Cup replay between Fulham and Sheffield United.

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