Life With Brian: The Brian McClair Podcast

Welcome to a bumper episode in which we're joined by comedian, writer and presenter Kevin Day. Up for discussion are pre-match boozers, the ups and downs of Crystal Palace, cursed kits, going from HR to comedy, writing Gary Lineker's adlibs, modern football rants, the Price of Football podcast, Cantona's kung fu kick, Have I Got News For You, working with Dave Allen, and there's another of our inf...

Brian welcomes actor Packy Lee to the podcast for this one, to talk about his Peaky Blinders character Johnny Dogs, playing controversial Irish politician Gerry Adams, working on an Oscar winning short film, supporting Liverpool, and the highs and lows of the acting world. There's also a quiz full of shaggy dog stories, and Choccy remembers Sir Bobby Charlton. Music by Liam McClair and Crowander L...

Brian and the boys are joined by Jonathan Watson - star of hit BBC sitcom Two Doors Down, and iconic Scottish football sketch show, Only An Excuse. As well as touching on the latest managerial casualty at Johnnie's club Rangers, talk inevitably turns to some of his finest work, including his impressions of Graeme Souness, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Sir Alex Ferguson, and - of course - Frank McAvennie. Th...

Off we go into another season, and Brian and the lads are back, this time with songwriter and musician Robert Hodgens a.k.a. Bobby Bluebell - the man most famous for penning The Bluebells' classic 'Young at Heart'. In this episode we touch on all sorts, including bacon butty smuggling, David May's golf exploits, dressing up as Wham!, the Sunday Sport, facing down the SAS, Celtic & Rangers, hanging...

Game of Thrones and Moonfall star John Bradley joins Choccy, Mark and Matthew for the new episode. He discusses Manchester United goalies, the pressures of acting, David Beckham's right foot, hooking up with J-Lo, and bizarre football injuries amongst other things! Music by Liam McClair and Crowander Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deacon Blue frontman Ricky Ross joins Brian on this episode to discuss Dundee rivalries, Fergie's driving mishaps, Jim McLean's tongue-lashings, tinkling on the Tannadice terraces, musical success, losing out on number 1 to Timmy Mallett, and much more, including our 'Aft or Daft' quiz! Music by Liam McClair and Crowander Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a big Hail Hail to acclaimed actor and massive Celtic fan Tony Curran, who joins Choccy, Matthew and Mark for this episode. We get stuck into plenty of chat about their beloved Bhoys, as well as how to outrun a bully, living the L.A. life, delivering 'sandwiches' for Goodfellas, casting Love Street '86: The Movie, and their chippy tea of choice. We also test their celebrity fan knowledge in o...

They say that politics and sport shouldn't mix. Well, we ignored that and invited the BBC's Nick Robinson - former political editor and host of Radio 4's Today programme - on to the show to talk about Manchester United, surviving the Stretford End surge, Sir Alex Ferguson, Boris Johnson, Gordon Brown, the art of interviewing, impartiality, being unpopular in Scotland, and there's another quiz! Mus...

We've got not one Brian for you on this episode, but two! Joining Choccy is legendary Ireland and Lions rugby captain Brian O'Driscoll who confesses his love for Mark Hughes; discusses Six Nations rivalries; debates players' behaviour and video refereeing in football and rugby; recalls doggy daycare disasters; espouses the merits of Tayto crisps; and there's also a Brian-themed quiz to enjoy! Musi...

New year, new episode! Choccy's back with former WBA Lightweight world champion boxer Anthony Crolla. The discussion turns quickly to football and Manchester United; their admiration for Marcus Rashford; making the switch from pro-sportsman to coach; appearing on game shows; YouTuber boxing, and footballers who you'd want on your side in a fight Music by Liam McClair and Crowander Learn more about...

Keen amateur chef Choccy is joined on this episode by cooking royalty Michel Roux. The Michelin-starred chef tells us how a restaurant tip turned him into a Manchester United fan; what David Ginola's pre-match routine was; whether he tried to poison the French president; and how running a kitchen is like managing a football team. We've also got a new quiz for Brian to try and finally win! Music by...

The founding editor of Loaded magazine James Brown is Choccy's guest for this epic episode. The lads enjoy chat about the titanic Leeds/Manchester United title tussle of 91/92; James' new book 'Animal House'; the success of Loaded magazine; football and music crossovers; stories of Eric Cantona and Vinnie Jones; and James poses the question: is Sir Alex Ferguson a secret Leeds fan? Music by Liam M...

It was a real treat to have broadcasting legend 'Whispering' Bob Harris as our guest on this episode to talk everything from his love of all things Manchester United; the Old Grey Whistle Test; the truth about country music; hanging out with Led Zeppelin, Marc Bolan and President Jimmy Carter; fighting with the Sex Pistols; and much more besides! Music by Liam McClair and Crowander Learn more abou...

With the UK in political and economic turmoil, it seemed perfect timing to have comedian Matt Forde - host of the brilliant podcast The Political Party - join Brian on the show. We discuss Tory Party madness; the prospects of Sir Keir Starmer and his opposition Labour Party; Tony Blair; Nottingham Forest returning to the Premier League; Brian Clough's man-management skills; favourite gigs; and the...

After a summer break Choccy is back and welcomes BBC, ITV, and BT Sport presenter Mark Pougatch to the show to discuss a shared love of cricket; Sir Alex Ferguson's demands; what Roy Keane is really like; working with your heroes; the World Cup in Qatar and much more. Music by Liam McClair and Crowander Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GamesMaster legend Dominik Diamond joins Brian, Mark and Matthew to waggle his golden joystick on this fully-laden episode. We touch on why he became a Celtic fan and how it's led to plenty of rucks with the Rangers; why he's exiled in Canada; fronting iconic TV and radio shows; going off the rails; becoming a farmer; almost being crucified; learning how not to die by comedy legends; and being bai...

For this special live episode Brian, Matthew and Mark made the short trip across the Irish Sea to Drogheda to take part in a special fundraising event called Talkin' Balls in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (https://kevinbellrepatriationtrust.com/). A great time was had by all, especially as they were joined on stage by legendary Tyrone Gaelic footballer Sean Cavanagh. A self-confessed Ma...

Comedian, author and broadcaster Mark Steel joins Brian, Matthew and Mark to discuss all manner of subjects, including Crystal Palace and other sporting obsessions; taking the piss out of provincial towns; socialism in sport; pool-playing dogs, legging it from irate audiences; Monty Python's cheese shop and loads more! Music by Liam McClair and Crowander Learn more about your ad choices. Visit pod...

BT Sport's chief reporter Des Kelly is Choccy's guest for this one as we revisit his famous post-match interviews with Jurgen Klopp and Steven Gerrard; discover which managers give him the most trouble; discuss dicing with death AND Piers Morgan (not simultaneously); the Cantona illusion; and Brian's Masterchef ambitions. Music by Liam McClair and Crowander Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Film director and Skids frontman Richard Jobson joins Brian to discuss the band's influence on terrace culture; epilepsy and swerving rock n' roll excess; his passion for Celtic and St. Pauli; Pat Nevin's hair transplant; Bowie and the aliens; 40+ years of touring; and being Alan McGee's dad. Music by Liam McClair and Crowander Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's no shortage of chat from Choccy's guest on this episode as we are joined by radio and TV presenter Terry Christian who tells us about his life and career including; growing up watching Manchester United AND Manchester City; the best and worst moments of fronting 'The Word'; winding up opposing fans; tales from the confessional box; love trysts involving Lee Sharpe, Ryan Giggs and Dani Behr...

Goalkeeping legend Neville Southall is our guest this week. He and Choccy discuss his infamous 'sit-in' at Goodison Park; humble football beginnings; being hunted by Sir Alex Ferguson; thoughts on modern coaching and players' mental health; his new podcast and Twitter campaigning; and a few dressing room stories about Martin Keown. Music by Liam McClair and Crowander Learn more about your ad choic...

Choccy welcomes another member of Manchester music royalty to the podcast. This time it's the Happy Mondays' Rowetta who talks - at length - about her time with the band, some of the scrapes they've got into, and her relationship with bandmates Shaun Ryder and Bez. Being a huge Manchester United fan, we couldn't let Rowetta go without getting her thoughts on the club's current turmoils, David Moye...

We're back after our Christmas/New Year break to be joined by podcast royalty in the form of The Guardian Football Weekly and Talksport host Max Rushden. Cambridge fan Max discusses gloryhunting their recent FA Cup giantkilling and watching them during the John Beck years before moving on to the trials and tribulations of fronting Soccer AM; the vagaries of 'Culverhouse'; volcano boarding in Nicar...

Welcome to our 'Best of 2021' compilation in which Mark and Matthew select some of their favourite clips from episodes 1-19 of Life With Brian. Featuring Choccy and his array of special guests from the worlds of sport, music, TV and film. Music by Liam McClair and Crowander Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices