Nick Mullins
{{short description|British journalist and sports commentator}}
{{for|the American football quarterback|Nick Mullens}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Nick Mullins
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|1|31|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| nationality = British
| alma mater =
| occupation = Journalist, sports commentator
| yearsactive =
| spouse = Eleanor Oldroyd (divorced) Melissa Platt (married 2016)
| children = 2
}}
Nick Mullins (born 31 January 1966) is a British journalist and sports commentator, primarily working on BT Sport's Premiership Rugby coverage{{cite web|url=http://sport.bt.com/watchnow/ourteam/nick-mullins-S11374088133267|title=Behind the mic: Nick Mullins|publisher= BT Sport}} and BBC One's Wimbledon coverage.{{Cite web |last=Thomas-Humphreys |first=Harry |date=2023-07-04 |title=Meet the BBC presenters, commentators and pundits for Wimbledon 2023 |url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/07/04/full-line-up-of-bbcs-wimbledon-2023-presenters-commentators-and-pundits-19062457/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=Metro |language=en}}
Early life
Mullins began his career as a journalist with the Loughborough Trader and Loughborough Echo.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/author.html?author=30|title= Columnist: Nick Nullins|work=Scrum.com|publisher=ESPN}}
Commentary career
Mullins joined the BBC in 1985 and moved to BBC Radio Sport in 1991.
He was part of the Rugby Special team and covered Six Nations Championship, Premiership, Heineken Cup and Anglo-Welsh Cup rugby matches for the BBC. He also commentated at Wimbledon for Radio 5 Live. He has commentated at the Olympic Games since 1996.{{cite news|url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/337172/TV-Review-London-2012-Olympic-Games-BBC|title=TV Review: London 2012 Olympic Games, BBC|date=3 August 2012|work=Express.co.uk|publisher=Northern and Shell Media Publications}}
In 2010 Mullins left the BBC to commentate on ESPN's rugby coverage.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/news/a222114/espn-signs-nick-mullins-for-rugby-comment.html|title=ESPN signs Nick Mullins for rugby comment|publisher= Hearst Magazines UK|work=Digital Spy|date=27 May 2010}} Mullins was also ITV Sport's chief commentator at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and 2015 Rugby World Cup, where he commentated on the final with Ben Kay and Lawrence Dallaglio.{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/rugbyworldcup/2011/news/bayfield-blog-with-phil-vickery-and-nick-mullins/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629140230/http://www.itv.com/rugbyworldcup/2011/news/bayfield-blog-with-phil-vickery-and-nick-mullins/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-06-29|title=Binoculars and boil-in-the-bag rice: Vickery and Mullins on the glamorous world of TV commentary|work=ITV.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.therugbyblog.co.uk/itvs-coverage-leaving-viewers-correctly-disgruntled|title=ITV's coverage leaving viewers feeling rightly disgruntled|date=15 September 2011|work=The Rugby Blog|author=Ben Coles}} In 2013, Mullins moved to BT Sport following their acquisition of the Premiership Rugby rights and their subsequent takeover of ESPN. He has also provided commentary from the French Open Tennis for ITV Sport, and the University Boat Race.
He is part of the BBC Commentary team for Wimbledon.{{Cite web |title=Wimbledon presenters on BBC TV and radio: Meet the pundits and commentators |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sport/tennis/bbc-wimbledon-pundits-presenters/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=Radio Times |language=en}}
Controversy
Mullins was criticized by players and fans alike for a comment he made during the opening match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Commentating for ITV, he referred to Fijian fans "back in Fiji around one TV hoping the generator doesn't fail them."{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/itv-commentator-slated-on-twitter-for-disrespectful-comment-about-fiji/31539760.html | title=ITV commentator slated on Twitter for disrespectful comment about Fiji | date=18 September 2015 }} Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo voiced his displeasure at the remarks following the match on Twitter.{{cite web | url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-world-cup-broadcaster-backing-muppet-commentator/MZXTBCR2UBOXXZB5UUAQO52XTM/ | title=Broadcaster backs 'muppet' commentator | date=22 September 2015 }}
Writing
As well as commentating, Mullins has contributed to blogs from some of the events he has commentated at, including the Olympic Games{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/09/vergeers_poetry_in_motion.html|title=Vergeer's poetry in motion|publisher=BBC Sport|date=15 September 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210154957/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/09/vergeers_poetry_in_motion.html|archivedate=10 December 2008}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/03/about-nick-mullins.html|title=About Nick Mullins|date=1 March 2008|publisher=BBC Sport}} and French Open.{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/frenchopen/features/nick-mullins-blog-rain-cant-dampen-roland-garros-feeling/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629140545/http://www.itv.com/frenchopen/features/nick-mullins-blog-rain-cant-dampen-roland-garros-feeling/|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2013|title=Nick Mullins blog: Rain can't dampen French Open fever|date=22 May 2012|work=ITV.com}} He is also a columnist for ESPN Scrum.com.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/premiership-2011-12/rugby/story/163742.html|title=Depression takes a cruel toll|date=7 May 2012|work=Scrum.com|publisher=ESPN}}
Personal life
Mullins is a supporter of Leicester City.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2001/wimbledon_2001/the_bbc_team/1384826.stm|title=The rest of radio team|work=BBC Sport|date=14 June 2001}} He was previously married to Radio 5 Live presenter Eleanor Oldroyd,{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/2354869/On-The-Airwaves-Good-life-comes-with-a-microphone-for-this-couple.html|title=On The Airwaves: Good life comes with a microphone for this couple|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=5 February 2005}} and they have two children.{{cite web|url=http://www.herefordshirelife.co.uk/people/celebrity-interviews/sports_broadcaster_eleanor_oldroyd_1_1641174|title=Sports broadcaster Eleanor Oldroyd|date=18 October 2010|work=Herefordshire Life|publisher=Archant Life}} In 2016, Mullins married Melissa Platt. Platt was a reporter for Sky Sports and the Head of Communications for the now defunct Wasps Rugby Club she is currently the Head of Media for the Rugby Players' Association (RPA).{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mullins, Nick}}
Category:English rugby union commentators