Dougie Vipond is a host and TV presenter. He is also a founding member and drummer of the 80’s and 90’s pop rock band Deacon Blue but these days he is better known as the host of BBC’s Scottish countryside programme Landward. He hosts BBC’s the Adventure show and has been both anchor and reporter for BBC Scotland’s Sportscene and Reporting Scotland. Dougie has also worked as a reporter on Radio Scotland’s nightly football magazine and Grandstand.
In 2022 the Royal Scottish Geographical Society presented Dougie with an Honorary Fellowship for his TV presenting work.
Dougie hosting and TV presenting all started with his love of sport and getting his hands dirty. This resulted in BBC Scotland commissioning an adventure sports series called Backcountry. In this programme, Dougie presents and takes part in a variety of outdoor sports and competitions.
In addition to his work at the BBC, Dougie Vipond hosts live coverage of Landward. The World Bowls Championship for Eurosport is another programme he covers. He currently works freelance as a host for BBC Sport and Premier Sports TV.
During the last ten years, Dougie has worked across many broadcast genres. These include six years reporting for BBC’s Holiday, Summer Holiday and Holidays Out programmes. He co-presented The Kirsty Wark Show and The Big Country, BBC Scotland’s guide to leisure activities north of the border. He also spent two weeks as guest presenter on ITV’s This Morning.
Dougie Vipond host, spends much of his time with Sports programmes but Dougie still finds time to branch out into other areas. He finished a second series of Take It From The Top, a features series for Radio Scotland.
In a past life, Dougie is a founder member and drummer with the band Deacon Blue with whom he recorded and toured for eight years. He still plays with the band when commitments allow and they have started touring again in the UK and abroad. His expertise in music has helped when presenting The Score for Channel 4, Och Around The Clock, a history of Jock n Roll and T in the Park for BBC Scotland plus The Blues and Soul Show, a weekly celebration of black music on Radio Scotland.