Fighting Talk
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| Other names | FT |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sports panel game |
| Running time | 50 minutes (approx) |
| Country of origin | UK |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | BBC Radio 5 Live |
| Hosted by |
Georgie Thompson (2014–2016) Josh Widdicombe (2014–2016) Jonathan Pearce (2013–2014) Matt Johnson (2013–2014) Colin Murray (2006–2013 & 2016-present) Christian O'Connell (2004–2005 & 2013–2014) Johnny Vaughan (2003–2004) |
| Written by | Giles Boden |
| Produced by | Simon Crosse Charley Copsey Mike Holt |
| Recording studio | MediaCityUK (Salford Quays), Salford, Greater Manchester |
| Original release | 4 October 2003 – present |
| No. of series | 13 (List of episodes) |
| Opening theme | Sabotage by Beastie Boys |
| Website | Official website |
| Podcast | Fighting Talk Podcast |
Fighting Talk is a topical sports show broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live during the English football season.
Its first series was broadcast in October 2003, presented by Johnny Vaughan. The second series was presented by Christian O'Connell. The longest-serving presenter has been Colin Murray, who took charge between 2006 and 2013 and returned to the show for the 2016/17 season after his departure from talkSPORT. Before Murray returned the show had two presenters (Josh Widdicombe and Georgie Thompson) who each take charge of proceedings when available. The show is broadcast on Saturday mornings for an hour between 1100 and 1200. The programme's twelfth series began on 16 August 2014. It is based on the ESPN Show Around The Horn.
The show won a second Gold Sony Radio Academy Award in the sports programme category in 2011. Judges paid tribute to the old-fashioned music hall style of the show and Martin Kelner's many anecdotes.
Colin Murray chairs the show where four guest pundits are invited to expound in turn, preferably with wit and knowledge, their views and opinions on a series of topical sporting events. Most sports are thrown into the fray but there is a strong emphasis on English top-flight football and other sports covered by the British news media. It is also encouraged by Colin that any female panelist can flirt and touch him for extra points.
The penultimate discussion topic on the show is known as 'Any Other Business' (AOB) where the guests are given the opportunity to talk about anything they wish, and encouraged to comment on topics or issues that have irked, annoyed or incensed them in past week, regardless of relevance to sport. There have been several notable AOBs; a particularly good example of wit and rant was Steve Bunce's recollections of an interrupted stay at a London hotel.
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