An era is in the grave when Bernt Lagergren, who turns 64 in December, will retire at the turn of the year.

A narrative voice that has made an impression disappears.

But before that he has returned to some of the people and phenomena he has told. "Bernt's Stories" appears three Sundays in a row in the Sports Mirror starting today. In addition, 25 of his most memorable reports have been posted on SVT Play. As the week after becomes even more.

- Among other things, I have returned to a Danish twin couple where one is severely cp-injured and the other a physical monster. They ran a marathon together and that report spread. Now it has grown into a whole movement where 550 similar couples competed in the same race. It was cool to see, says Bernt Lagergren, sitting in a dark editing room at SVT wearing a checkered flannel shirt.

A few meters away, the editor Magnus Eriksson sits at a computer and pills with the last details on "Bernt's stories".

Photo: SVT

"Took five years before I got pretty"

The journalism career began as a writing reporter at Aftonbladet, Expressen and Västerbottens Folkblad, among others.

On November 1, 1987, he made his first day at Sweden's Television.

- I could tell stories in writing, but doing TV reportage was a damn change and it probably took five years before I even got the hang of it, he says and puts in a snuff.

"Bernte" experienced the first time as tough, but remained and grew with the task. Found its niche.

Although he has done eight Olympics, for example, he does not describe himself as "any championship guy".

- I have deliberately chosen to be out in the mill and have been looking for stories. Star meetings are everywhere and will always be there, but I want to find the big ones in the little ones. The little stories that can be hard to find, but are lovely when found, he says.

The door to the editing room opens.

Colleague Diljen Otlu quickly puts in his head. "Bernte I just wanted to say I turned a sniff of you".

Lagergren turns around and tends to. "It is quiet".

So he finds his unique stories

Among the international superstars that Lagergren has interviewed over the years are, for example, athlete Carl Lewis, boxer Floyd Mayweather and the Russian super-five in ice hockey to name a few.

If I ask you to mention a meeting that has stuck out. What are you thinking about then?

- The report that starts my series in the Sports Mirror is about Ulf Johansson, the king of all supporters. I met him 25 years ago and talked about how he was welcomed into Djurgården's hockey team's dressing room. He has a disability and is difficult to cope with everyday life, but Djurgården has really cared about him and even made sure he got a little employment. He never misses a match and rarely a workout. In such a report you can see what sport means and how little is needed to help someone.

- It was one of the first reports I did that was a little outside the box. I remember people laughing at the editorial, like "Do you Bernte and we'll see how it goes". But afterwards, many people liked it.

Despite all the star meetings, do you feel equally interested in the little and unknown stories?

- They have often felt more important. You can find more heat in them. A driving force in me has been to give the viewers something that they themselves did not want.

How do you find your stories?

- An important part has been reading notices in rural newspapers. I have read them over the years and many interesting stories can be hidden there. Then I love to read the results exchange and find a good Swedish bet in any small sport that you have not thought of.

Bernt Lagergren in 2001. Photo: Bildbyrån

"Chose to be invisible"

Over the years, Lagergren's voice has become synonymous with SVT and, above all, the Sports Mirror.

At the same time, he himself has chosen to remain anonymous.

In September, Sportbladets Marcus Leifby wrote a long article that Lagergren would quit, and the response afterwards has been huge.

- Of course, it warms up. It feels like what I have done has meant something. I have chosen to be invisible and tell stories where I am in no way visible and obscure, he says and leans back in the chair.

- You have an incredible responsibility towards the person you are telling. To tell about a person's problems or career or whatever it is, if you do it wrong, you can in the worst case make a person devastated. If you treat the material incorrectly it can have consequences. It is important to keep in mind.

The "invisible" part of Lagergren becomes clear during our interview, but almost even clearer afterwards.

He hears twice twice for the same purpose. First almost whispering inside the editorial staff, then over the phone.

- Feel free to highlight Magnus Eriksson. You do, huh? It's an incredibly skilled professional, one of many I've had the privilege of working with. The fingers have gone like a concert pianist inside the editing room.

His tips for young storytellers

The journalism industry is developing at a rapid pace and much has happened since a young Lagergren first stepped in through SVT's doors in 1987.

What do you think of what the industry looks like today?

- It should be pretty nice to quit. Lol. No, but today any youth can cut a report with their mobile, it is not that strange, but I think there is still room for longer stories and reporting. I really hope so.

What tips do you have for young people who want to become good storytellers?

- My opinion is that it is not possible to become a good reporter. It must come from within. I live in so much hell in my stories that it hurts. It is a lot about being curious and listening.

As an example, Lagergren talks about when he would make a report about the jujutsu World Cup in Malmö last year. In a regular conversation with one of the Swedish medal jumpers, Max Hederström, it was revealed that he unexpectedly worked as a combat pilot and flew JAS Gripen.

After some work, the then 62-year-old Lagergren eventually got to follow him up in the air.

- And even though I'm scared. It was like riding the roller coaster though ten times worse. But I thought that if I crash now, when I fly with the best ones, then that is probably the meaning simply.

Rides motorcycle and plays guitar

Tenders from competing channels have come through the years. But for Bernt Lagergren, the public service mission has always been important and "it would feel weird to tell something else".

What should you do about the days now?

- That vet fan. Maybe pick up some guitar playing. Train. Greetings to my old workmate, editor Dennis Videmyr who lives in Thailand. I might start playing golf like any other senior. And ride a motorcycle! I must not forget that. I have no highs right now, but will probably buy one so that I can go out on the roads.

The colleagues at SVT do not think for a second that the viewers have heard the last from Bernt Lagergren.

- Åsa, who is a sports manager, has said that I can only hear from me if I want to tell a story. So after six months or a year, I probably hit a signal and say "Tjena, Bernte here, I have a story".

See also: Mats Nyström has done an interview with the man behind all the stories.

The browser is not supported

SVT does not support playback in your browser. We therefore recommend that you switch to another browser.

Learn more about browser support

You need JavaScript enabled in your browser to view this video.

Episode 1

Click here to get to Bernt Lagergren's collected reportage in SVT Play.