Famous faces return to celebrate Sportscene at 50

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Take a look back at the Sportscene titles through the years

  • Published

Legendary figures will return to Sportscene on Saturday to celebrate 50 years of BBC Scotland's iconic Scottish football highlights show.

Dougie Donnelly makes a comeback as presenter, with renowned commentary trio Archie Macpherson, Rob MacLean and Jock Brown covering the day's three Scottish Premiership matches.

Macpherson, who appeared on the inaugural Sportscene in 1975, will be behind the microphone for Motherwell's trip to St Mirren.

MacLean, who has had two spells with the programme over a 25-year period, will cover Rangers' meeting with Dundee at Ibrox, while Brown, who featured on the show in the 1990s, will commentate on Livingston against Falkirk.

Donnelly, a Sportscene veteran of 32 years, will be joined in the studio by current presenter Steven Thompson and former pundit Gordon Smith, both of whom will provide analysis of the day's action.

Rob MacLean, Jock Brown, Dougie Donelly and Archie Macpherson will be leading the Sportscene coverage on Saturday
Image caption,

Rob MacLean, Jock Brown, Dougie Donelly and Archie Macpherson will be leading the Sportscene coverage on Saturday

"It was a great time for Scottish football and the Saturday night sports programme was absolutely required viewing," he said.

"I did 33 consecutive Scottish Cup finals – what a privilege to have been in the hot seat for so many of the big occasions, including all the World Cups and everything else. I was hugely lucky and very much appreciate that."

The special edition, which will air exactly 50 years on from the programme's debut show, will also feature archive footage stretching back five decades.

"The big standout game for me was the first cup final, because it was probably one of the best cup finals there had ever been," said Brown.

"Motherwell 4-3 Dundee United after extra time and the teams were managed by the McLean brothers - both of whom I knew very well! The game was an absolute cracker.

"I've done a lot of broadcasting since leaving Sportscene and I'm really looking forward to going back on the show. It'll be good fun. It's an iconic programme that has a big place in the story of sports broadcasting in Scotland."

It all kicks off on the BBC Scotland channel and iPlayer at 20:15 BST on Saturday, with a repeat being shown on BBC One Scotland after midnight at 00:20.