SPORTS presenter Beverley Turner and Olympic gold medallist rower James Cracknell are to marry.

Romantic James proposed to Beverley on her birthday. The couple then drove straight to Manchester - to tell Beverley's parents the good news.

Beverley and record-breaking rower James have been dating for more than a year.

Beverley, who is part of ITV's team covering motorsport and cycling, grew up in Prestwich, where her mum and dad, Joyce and Roger, still live.

Thrilled Joyce said: ''We are absolutely delighted. James is a lovely boy and very romantic.

''They had gone to Devon for Beverley's birthday and she didn't know he was going to propose.

''He didn't know if she would accept, but she did and they then got straight in the car to drive the eight hours up here to tell us.''

Beverley will be the first of the three Turner children to marry and Joyce can't wait to help her daughter plan the big day.

Sporting commitments

But the family's sporting commitments mean finding a day free for the ceremony is proving difficult.

Joyce said: ''At the moment, it is looking like the wedding will be in October next year.

''Beverley is so busy covering Grand Prix and next year she will be working on the Tour de France as well, so it is hard to find a free weekend.

''Our son Adrian is a swimmer and is training for next year's Commonwealth Games. Our other daughter Caroline is a TV producer, so everyone is really busy.''

The venue for the wedding has yet to be decided, although Joyce thinks the couple will marry near their home in Henley-on-Thames, Oxon.

''I don't think that she will come to Manchester for the wedding,'' she said, ''as most of their friends are in the south''.

Former model Beverley boasts a first-class English degree from Manchester University and got her break in television covering NBA basketball after Dwight Yorke's agent suggested she write to ITV about a job.

Olympic gold medallist James was awarded the MBE earlier this year after his rowing heroics at the 2000 Sydney Olympics with Sir Steve Redgrave, Matthew Pinsent and Timothy Foster.

Beverley and her family saw James enter the world record books in Switzerland earlier this year when he and Matthew Pinsent scooped a double gold medal in the world championships.

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