Career
He was brought up in Poole and educated at Poole Grammar School. He was one of the commentators for Sky Sports" coverage of the Professional Darts Corporation tournaments. He covered the first Personal Digital Cellular World Darts Championship with John Gwynne in 1994 and was ever present with the company for over 16 years, commentating on all their televised tournaments on Sky.
Prior to the 2011 World Championship, Lanning announced that he had retired from commentating.
As part of Independent Television"s World of Sport"s original roster of commentators, he commentated on the first ever televised nine dart finish hit by John Lowe against Keith Deller on 13 October 1984. He commentated on all darts tournaments and World of Sport darts action broadcast on Independent Television from 1972 to 1988.
He also commentated on speedway, a sport he knew well having been installed as the promoter of the West Ham team in 1966. He provided the commentary for The Indoor League and occasionally covered football for Southern Television in the mid-to-late 1970s.
Lanning is to come out of retirement on New Year"s Day 2013 when he commentates on Sky"s 3D coverage of the Personal Digital Cellular World Championship final.
In An American Werewolf in London, Lanning is the commentator of the match on the television between Rab Smith and Cliff Lazarenko.
