HE is the anchorman on the BBC’s regional news programme and on Thursday he will be making a dash from Manchester to Bolton to host the Bolton and Bury Business awards for the second year running.

Gordon, an award-winning journalist in his own right, has been the popular presenter on BBC North West Tonight for the past 12 years. He has picked up several accolades over the years including the prestigious Ruby award for Best UK regional Presenter and also the Royal Television Society’s North-west award for Regional Broadcaster on five occasions.

But on Thursday, he will be handing out the awards instead of receiving one.

With his smooth delivery and distinctive voice, Gordon will be best remembered for being the man behind the TV quiz the Krypton Factor, which he wrote and presented and which has recently been revived on television after a 14 year gap, with presenter Ben Shephard.

Belfast-born Gordon has an impressive journalistic career behind him. He started as a reporter in his home city before moving to BBC radio in London working for Sports Report and Sports Parade.

He moved back to Belfast to work for Ulster Television as a sports editor and then on to present the nightly news. He covered the Northern Ireland conflict including Bloody Sunday and the fall of the Stormont parliament.

He moved back to England and worked for Granada Reports covering the major political party conferences. He had a spell with Channel Four covering Irish politics before moving over to the BBC.

Gordon has lived in Manchester for 30 years.