Channel 4 drop Deley after false start
Deley who made his name as a children’s TV presenter has struggled through the live coverage this week by stumbling over his lines and often forgetting names of prominent athletes and fellow presenters. At one stage in proceedings this week Deley was heard to ask legendary Olympic sprint champion, Michael Johnson, whether he had ever competed in the pole vault. As well as signing off one segment with this: “…and we talk to the hottest athlete of the moment , the honourable Leo [pause] Usain [pause] Bolt. It’s Leo, St Leo, Usain Bolt. We’ll be talking to him.”
A video showing the best (or worst) of Deley’s cringe inducing quotes was posted on YouTube. A spokeswoman for Channel 4 said: “Channel 4 is committed to developing new presenting talent. Ortis Deley’s role in Korea covering the world athletics has been scaled back but he will continue to be on air for the duration of the competition”.