Football

Kelly Cates is ready to replace a broadcasting titan by doing it her way—in a busy season ahead on both Sky and BBC

- Paul MacInnes

Kelly Cates is about to begin the busiest year of her career. That, to be fair, is an estimate, because the football presenter and broadcaster has always been a grafter. From Setanta Sports to Channel 5 there are few places where she has not applied her deep knowledge and emotional warmth, and as of this weekend she will be the face of the BBC's and Sky's coverage of the Premier League.

The action gets under way at a second home, Anfield, from where Cates will host Sky's Friday Night Football coverage of Liverpool v Bournemouth. This follows two preview shows for the BBC, and precedes her first shift on Match of the Day. Asked whether her schedule might be daunting, Cates appears almost bemused. "I've just got busy weekends, but I work in sports so I expect busy weekends," she says. "It's not as complicated as you think—there's a very fast train to Manchester."

Cates, speaking at Sky's HQ, says she doesn't want to sound clichéd but "it's good to keep doing new things". Her new roles are a chance to "keep things fresh". Having worked in the industry for 27 years, starting with a presenting role on the opening morning of Sky Sports News, "to get a chance to do something new and still have the live football and have so many live games, it's just really lovely to have that balance".