Matt Dawson

A former rugby player and contributor to England’s victory at the 2003 World Cup, Matt Dawson has become a national TV personality: the longest running Team Captain on BBC1’s much-loved sports quiz ‘A Question of Sport’; a winner of Celebrity Masterchef; and a runner-up on Strictly Come Dancing.

From well-known rugby player to a national TV personality, Matt Dawson was a contributor to England’s victory at the 2003 World Cup and is the longest serving Team Captain on BBC1’s much-loved ‘A Question of Sport’.

Rugby icon and media foody, Matt Dawson has navigated successfully through a career of international sporting success, TV stardom, dancing fame, and an ascending culinary reputation. As an after-dinner speaker  and business speaker he is charismatic, engaging and supremely funny.

During the 1998 tour to Australia and New Zealand - ‘The Tour from Hell’ - Matt was congratulated on his leadership. He also captained the England Rugby team to win the Six Nations Championships in 2000.

Runner-up on Strictly Come Dancing, Matt’s move from rugby to TV was seamless.

2006 Celebrity Masterchef winner, Matt’s love of food led him to make Matt and Allegra’s Big Farm for UKTV’s the Good Food channel and Tesco’s Real Food Family Cook Off for Five. He also previously presented Monster Munchies on Good Food, and Mitch and Matt's Big Fish.

A brand ambassador for Young's Seafood, Matt used his creative thinking by partnering with food brand Tulip to develop a range of fuller flavoured sausages, which subsequently became available in Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

Matt has also created a media persona around his sporting experience and ability. A highly regarded sports journalist, the rugby icon has been A Question of Sport Team Captain since 2004, and as the show continues to average 8+ million viewers per week, Matt’s media profile continues to entertain the UK.

In 2011 he toured the country with A Question of Sport Live, and he frequently hosts, guest presents and commentates on BBC Radio Five Live.

Matt continues to work across BBC Sport’s rugby coverage, contributing to their 6 Nations coverage in 2012 and presenting online content in the form of the popular “Dawson Debates”. In the same year he joined the BBC Olympic presenting team where he covered the cycling from the velodrome for Radio Five Live.

Matt teamed up with Bordeaux Wines to help produce a series of video clips and booklet that features exclusive food and wine pairings that featured in in The Telegraph and the Times in 2012.