Jim Spence (broadcaster)

Jim "Ping" Spence is a Scottish Sports presenter from Dundee who works for BBC Scotland and was rector of Dundee University before stepping down in 2021.[1]

Jim Spence
NationalityScottish
Alma materDundee University
OccupationSport Broadcaster Academic
OrganizationDundee University

Career

Spence presented the nightly football magazine 90 Minutes on BBC Radio Scotland from 2004 until it was axed in 2006 to make way for more comprehensive sports coverage. Spence now hosts the station's weeknight programme Sportsound twice a week.

Spence is a fan of Dundee United F.C. He became an Internet hit in 2009 after a faltering interview with Slovakian goalkeeper Dušan Perniš.[2] Despite Perniš apologising for his poor English, Spence continues the interview with limited success.[2] He is forced to rephrase each question several times, but just receives baffled looks from the goalkeeper.[2]

In 2015 it was announced that Spence had joined the Dundee-based newspaper The Courier as columnist.[3] As of 2016 he is a sports columnist for the newspaper.[4]

Spence has also been impersonated by Jonathan Watson on the BBC Scotland comedy show Only an Excuse? during his time fronting 90 Minutes.

He studied law at the University of Dundee as a mature student. In February 2019 it was announced he had been chosen as the new Rector of the University of Dundee, in succession to Mark Beaumont.[5] In March 2021 it was announced that he was standing down as Rector before completing his three year term. His departure followed a derogatory comment made about students pursuing politics degrees.[6] Spence, however, cited "a change in his commitments" which meant he was unable to devote enough time to supporting students.[7]

On 5 May he joined Dundee United as Club consultant. [8]

References
  1. "Jim Spence installed as new Dundee University rector". BBC News. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  2. "'Lost in translation' interview becomes web hit". BBC News. BBC. 18 December 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  3. Nicolson, Eric (12 August 2015). "'I'll have a lot to say' — introducing Courier Sport's new Saturday columnist Jim Spence". The Courier. DC Thomson & Co, Ltd. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  4. Spence, Jim (16 April 2016). "Spence on Saturday: Hampden Park is a relic from bygone age". The Courier. DC Thomson & Co, Ltd. Archived from the original on 10 September 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  5. "Jim Spence named as new Dundee University rector". BBC News. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  6. "https://twitter.com/JimSpenceDundee/status/1365292991166963712". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 14 September 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  7. Keith, Jake (23 March 2021). "Broadcaster Jim Spence announces he will step down as Dundee University rector". The Courier. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  8. "Türklerin Online Mecrasında Bahisin Yeri".


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