Bjørge Lillelien

Bjørge Lillelien (29 March 1927 – 26 October 1987) was a Norwegian sports journalist and commentator for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. He was considered to be a popular and engaging personality who commentated on many sports, particularly winter sports and football. It was not unusual for Norwegians to turn off the sound on the TV and listen to him on the radio instead.

In September 1981 he came to international prominence when he said “Your boys took a hell of a beating” in commentary following Norway's 2–1 victory against England in a World Cup qualifier.

Lillelien went to Northwestern University to study journalism in 1948. After going back to Norway for his military service, he got a job in the newspaper Fremtiden. But it didn't take long before he was working for the Norwegian broadcasting network.

In 1963 he began a long-term working relationship with Håkon Brusveen at a cross country ski race at Holmenkollen. The olympic champion from the 1960 Olympics would be standing somewhere by the ski track and give his view on the competitors' performance as they passed. This collaboration would last for the rest of Lillelien's working days. Brusveen continued to work for NRK after Lillelien's death.

Although privately Lillelien was quite reserved and reflective, he developed a gregarious on-screen persona. He always believed "We shouldn't necessarily make a boring radio programme even if it is a boring football match. We should make a sports show that excites people".

He continued to work in broadcasting until just before his death from cancer in 1987.

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