This Sporting Life

By BBC Radio Scotland

Personal Journals Society & Culture

What's This Sporting Life about?

BBC Sport's Tom English interviews key figures in sport.

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

This Sporting Life episodes:

05.30.2024
Chick Young (Part 2)
Tom talks to journalist and broadcaster Chick Young about the tragic death of his young son, his broadcasting career, and only an excuse. Contains some strong language.
05.23.2024
Chick Young (Part 1)
Tom talks to journalist and broadcaster Chick Young about his early life, the stories which made him famous and his relationship with managers of both Rangers and Celtic. Contains some strong language.
05.16.2024
Ross Murdoch
Tom chats to Olympian and Commonwealth games gold medallist Ross Murdoch about his career
05.09.2024
Paul di Resta
Tom English speaks to former Formula 1 driver Paul di Resta about his career
05.02.2024
Lynsey Sharp
Lynsey Sharp talks to Tom English about retirement and her career as a whole
04.25.2024
Steve Clarke
Scotland men's national team manager Steve Clarke talks to Tom English about his road to the job.
04.18.2024
Alan McManus
Tom English talks to Scottish snooker player Alan McManus about swapping the cue for the microphone. "I wanted to rip his lungs out" Alan talks about his attitude to anybody he came up against on the green baize. Ronnie Sullivan...
05.10.2023
Willie Miller
In 1983, Aberdeen won the European Cup Winners' Cup. On the 40th anniversary, Tom English talks to Willie Miller about the team's journey to glory in Gothenburg
04.02.2023
Ken Buchanan 1945-2023
Tom English in conversation with Ken Buchanan, one of Scotland's greatest sportsmen, who died on 1 April 2023
12.11.2022
Archie Macpherson: Olympic Games, Scottish Football and Trainspotting
Archie Macpherson, one Scotland's most distinguished sports broadcasters, discusses some of the key moments from his career including the Olympic Games, riots and Trainspotting.
12.04.2022
Archie Macpherson: World Cup Memories (1982-1998)
Archie Macpherson, one of the best known Scottish sports broadcasters, tells Tom English about his travels to the FIFA World Cups from 1982 to 1998.
11.27.2022
Archie Macpherson: World Cup Memories (1974-1978)
Archie Macpherson, one of the best known Scottish sports broadcasters, tells Tom English about his experiences at the FIFA World Cups of 1974 and 1978.
07.04.2022
Tommy Gilmour
Tommy Gilmour, a legend of the Scottish Boxing scene, talks Benny Lynch, meeting Muhammad Ali in Paisley plus holding the spit bucket at Ken Buchanan v Jim Watt.
06.27.2022
Hannah Miley
Hannah Miley, three-time Olympic swimmer, double Commonwealth gold medallist, in conversation with Tom English.
06.20.2022
Charlie Adam
Charlie Adam, one of Scotland's most talented midfielders of his generation, discusses his life in football, from leaving Rangers to his Liverpool debut, and his personal life.
06.06.2022
Hazel Irvine
Hazel Irvine, one of Britain's leading and respected broadcasters, talks to Tom English.
05.30.2022
Archie MacPherson
Legendary commentator Archie MacPherson discusses his broadcasting life including key footballing figures Jock Stein, Sir Alex Ferguson, Jim McLean and Ally MacLeod.
08.27.2021
Scott Brown
Scott Brown, one of the most decorated players in Scottish football history, talks about winning ten Premiership titles, ending his 14 year stay at Celtic and joining Aberdeen.
08.13.2021
Paul Lambert
Former Scotland captain Paul Lambert discusses his early life at St Mirren, winning the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund and returning home to Celtic.
06.18.2021
Stephen Gallacher
Ryder Cup golfer and European Tour star Stephen Gallacher discusses his sporting life including his big wins in Dubai and India, his Foundation and having his son Jack as caddie.
06.04.2021
Eilidh Doyle
Eilidh Doyle is Scotland's most decorated track and field athlete of all time. Recently retired, Eilidh had great success in Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth competition.
05.21.2021
Shaun Maloney
Belgium coach and former Celtic and Scotland midfielder Shaun Maloney discusses his football career, FA Cup final win and the upcoming UEFA European Championship with Tom English.
05.07.2021
Graeme Dott
Snooker Champion Graeme Dott discusses his life in snooker culminating in his 2006 victory at the Crucible. Dott opens up about his mental health and narcolepsy plus his future.
02.19.2021
Sandy Lyle
One from the archive as Sandy Lyle reflects on his 1985 Open golf Championship win at Royal St George. This was his first major title in a successful career..
02.05.2021
Eddie Jordan
Former racing driver, team owner and entrepreneur Eddie Jordan discusses his life in motorsport from discovering Ayrton Senna to giving Michael Schumacher his debut.
01.22.2021
Hannah Rankin
Scotland's first female world champion boxer Hannah Rankin discusses her love of classical music, being an accomplished bassoonist, and winning the super-welterweight title.
01.08.2021
Brian Laudrup
Brian Laudrup discusses his playing career including life at Bayern Munich, Milan and Rangers plus winning the European Championship in 1992 with unfancied Denmark.
12.25.2020
Ryan Mania
The 2013 Grand National winning jockey Ryan Mania discusses the day he won at Aintree on 66/1 shot Auroras Encore in his first ever ride in the race.
12.11.2020
Nigel Owens
Rugby referee Nigel Owens discusses his life growing up in Wales, his mental health struggles, refereeing World Cup finals and becoming the first ref to take charge of 100 tests.
11.27.2020
David Wilkie
World and Olympic swimming champion David Wilkie, arguably Britain's greatest ever swimmer, discusses his upbringing in Sri Lanka, winning gold in Montreal, and life after sport.
11.13.2020
Dennis Taylor
1985 snooker world champion Dennis Taylor discusses his life growing up in Northern Ireland, his dispute with Alex Higgins, and the night 18.5m people watched him pot the black.
10.30.2020
Sir Jackie Stewart
One from the archive as the 3-time World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart discusses his life growing up with dyslexia, his pursuit to make F1 safer, and his retirement from the sport
10.16.2020
Michael Jamieson
Swimmer Michael Jamieson discusses his strive for excellence in the pool which led to an Olympic silver medal in London but also resulted in mental health problems and depression.
10.02.2020
Callum Skinner
Olympic champion Callum Skinner discusses his pursuit of success in the sport which led to depression and early retirement from cycling.
09.18.2020
Jamie Murray
Jamie Murray, the seven-time Grand Slam doubles winner and Davis Cup champion, discusses his life in tennis from growing up in Dunblane to reaching world number one!
09.04.2020
Susie Wolff
Susie Wolff became the first female in 22 years to take part in a Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend in 2014. She discusses her life in motor sport & racing against Lewis Hamilton
08.21.2020
Drew McIntyre
Scottish wrestler Drew McIntyre discusses his journey from growing up in Ayr, being fired by the WWE, to fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming the WWE champion at Wrestlemania!
08.07.2020
Paul McGinley
An in-depth interview with Paul McGinley, who famously holed the winning putt in the 2002 Ryder Cup for Europe. McGinley captained the 2014 Ryder Cup team to victory at Gleneagles
07.24.2020
Paul Lawrie
The 1999 Open golf champion Paul Lawrie reflects on his Carnoustie triumph. Lawrie discusses his Ryder Cup appearances in 1999 and 2012 as well as his compatriot Colin Montgomerie
07.10.2020
Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry discusses his incredible life in snooker, from being the youngest ever winner at the Crucible in 1990 to his retirement in 2012.
06.26.2020
George Foreman
Two-time world heavyweight champion & Olympic gold medallist George Foreman discusses his life in and out of the boxing ring.
06.12.2020
Ricky Burns
Tom English in conversation with Ricky Burns, one of only three British boxers to have won world titles in three weight divisions and the first ever from Scotland.
06.08.2020
Welcome to This Sporting Life
BBC Sport’s Tom English interviews key figures in sporting history. From world superstars like George Foreman to Scottish legends such as Stephen Hendry and Ricky Burns.