Ian Wright's sensational footballing career has been followed in more recent years by an equally dazzling media career.

As a footballer, Ian Wright played for Crystal Palace, Arsenal, West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Celtic, Burnley and England. During his celebrated career, he gained 33 England caps, and became Arsenal's highest ever goal scorer.

Born in Woolwich in Southeast London, Ian began his career playing for Crystal Palace. In 1991 he moved to Arsenal in a 2.5 million deal.

By the end of the season he was widely acclaimed as he became the leading goalscorer for the old First Division. Renowned for being a tough player, he had a strong belief in both making and seizing opportunities.

While nearing the end of his footballing career in the late nineties, he began to make the transition towards the media, paving the way for his eventual retirement from the game.

When he made his television debut in January 1998 with his own chat show Friday Night's All Wright, the programme attracted record viewing figures of over four million. Transmitted during Late Prime Time slots after 10.30pm, the show's audience figures were unprecedented.

With an international line-up of guests such as Denzil Washington, Will Smith, Lionel Ritchie, Westlife and many more, the figures sometimes topped the 4.5 million mark.

Following the success of Friday Night's All Wright, Ian was invited to host two series of the US Prime Time show Guinness World Records. The results were even more phenomenal. Hugely popular, the show far exceeded expectations, attracting viewing figures in excess of 7 million.

December 1999 saw Ian back on the British Networks hosting a one-off Christmas Special entitled Hidden Talents of the Rich and Famous.

The show was a spin-off from Friday Night's All Wright, which had featured a section called Hidden Talents in which celebrity guests were called upon to explore new talents. Transmitted on LWT at 9.30pm on Saturday, Ian's show once again proved a huge success. With 8 million viewers, its ratings were so high that LWT promptly commissioned a follow-up for the New Year's Eve period, again generating over 8 million viewers.

When he finally retired from the game at the end of the 2000 season, the stage was set for his transfer to a successful media career.

Just months later in January 2001, he signed his first BBC television and radio contract. The deal included presenting the BBC1 hit show Friends Like These, hosting an Ian Wright Entertainment Show, hosting a number of specials, and presenting the Radio Five Live Saturday Show Wright & Bright.

Ian has since presented three successful specials for Saturday Prime viewing slots. This is My Moment was screened on Granada TV, followed by Sing it Your Way for Carlton and An Audience with Lennox Lewis for LWT.

In 2003, he signed his second BBC Television contract and has since become the face of the BBC's Saturday Night Primetime TV. He has presented THE NATONAL LOTTERY WRIGHT TICKET and a brand new Saturday night entertainment format call 'I'd Do Anything', which was widely regarded as the top programme showcased at the global TV fair, MIPTV, at Cannes 2003.

In 2000 Ian Wright was awarded an MBE in tribute to his sporting career.

Ian followed these successes by presenting two more series of the National Lottery Series with the show Wright around the World. Also for BBC1 he made the Prime time show What Kids Really Think in 2005. Ian is one of the Team Captains for They Think Its All Over.

Ian Appeared on Sky Ones All Star Cup Golf Show as one of the European Stars and has recently rode his bike across America for the show Wright Across America for Men and Motors.

Ian is one of the BBC Sports regular and popular football pundits appearing on live matches for the FA Cup, England Internationals and major Championships including Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006.