He joined BBC Scotland's Sports Department in 1980, presenting programmes such as "Sportscene Live" (which includes events such as the Scottish Cup Final and Scotland internationals), "Grandstand from Scotland", "Afternoon Sportscene", the network's rugby union coverage, and football World Cups in 1990 and 1998. He presented two series of a TV chat show, "Friday Night with Dougie Donnelly" directed by Martin Cairns, and was TV Personality of the Year in Scotland in 1982. He left the BBC after the 2010 Scottish Cup Final, his 30th in a row, and is currently lead commentator on European Tour Productions' worldwide live TV coverage of golf's European Tour, travelling to around 20 tournaments a year around the world.