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Ray Gravell celebrated on eve of Six Nations
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On the eve of the 2008 RBS Six Nations, 91Èȱ¬ Wales celebrates the life and career of rugby and broadcasting legend Ray Gravell in a special programme Ray Gravell: A Wonderful Life (Friday 1 February, 8.30pm, 91Èȱ¬ One Wales).
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The programme, narrated by iconic Welsh comedian Max Boyce, features tributes from many of the rugby and broadcasting greats who worked with Grav over the years including Sir Clive Woodward, Gareth Edwards, Bill Beaumont, Phil Bennett, JJ Williams, Keith Floyd, Roy Noble and Frank Hennessy.
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"I'm sure that when they made him only one came off the conveyer belt, and then the conveyer belt stopped. He was quite, quite unique," says 91Èȱ¬ Radio Wales' Roy Noble.
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Following his career from the early Seventies playing at his beloved Stradey Park with the Scarlets, the programme takes viewers through the golden age of Welsh rugby in the Seventies and early Eighties where Grav made his name as "one of the greatest centres in Welsh rugby of all time", as JJ Williams says, through to his post-rugby career as a much loved broadcaster and acclaimed actor.
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TV chef Keith Floyd, who got to know Grav after the rugby great appeared on his TV cookery series, says: "What inspired me about Gravell was not just his playing ability, but it was his passion for life in general. And it was uncompromising – as uncompromising as he was on the pitch."
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The proud Welshman's lust for life also made a big impression on Sir Clive Woodward: "Every time I saw Ray Gravell, which was quite a lot, as he'd be doing the TV interviews, he'd try and get me in this big headlock. It was amazing you'd be in your rugby kit, trying not to pop out all over the place, and there's Grav grabbing you in this headlock and patting you on the head and saying 'how are you?'"
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One of Grav's closest friends, popular Welsh folk singer and president of Plaid Cymru, Dafydd Iwan, explains: "He took my cassettes and played them to everyone in the team and they had to listen to Dafydd Iwan songs until they were bored stiff probably. Some of them still hate me to this day!" Ìý
The programme also looks back at Grav's post-rugby playing career, becoming a much loved and respected broadcaster on TV and radio, and his acclaimed acting career in films such as Filipina Dreamgirls and Rebecca's Daughters, starring alongside Peter O'Toole.
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Despite his obvious talents both on and off the field, Grav remained a modest man, as fellow rugby great Gareth Edwards explains:
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"He would underplay it one moment, but then relate the factual aspect of it by telling you he'd played 23 times for Wales, four British Lions tests, played against the All Blacks and spout forth with all these moments of glory. But really deep down he was a very modest man who achieved a great amount in rugby. He was a great player."
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Notes to Editors
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Ray Gravell played centre for Llanelli, Wales and the British Lions. He was an actor and popular broadcaster on 91Èȱ¬ Wales services. He passed away on 31 October 2007.
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91Èȱ¬ One Wales is available to viewers outside Wales who have digital satellite on channel 972.
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