More Than A Name

Jamie Lawrence’s journey is unlike anything you’ve heard before. In this raw and emotional episode, Jamie opens up for the first time ever about discovering a life-changing family secret, his upbringing on a tough London estate, and how his path led him into crime and ultimately prison. He shares first-hand insight into life inside — including his time at Parkhurst — and the unlikely role football...

In this episode of More Than A Name, Max Whittle sits down with former US Open champion Dominic Thiem for a deep and honest conversation about life during and after professional tennis. Dominic reflects on the relentless pressure of competing at the top of the sport, what it really felt like winning the 2020 US Open, and the emotional toll of a wrist injury that ultimately led to his retirement in...

On this episode of More Than A Name, we sit down with former England striker Darren Bent for a raw and deeply honest conversation about what it really takes — and costs — to make it at the top, and how life in football evolves after the final whistle. Darren opens up about his obsession with scoring goals, and how that single-minded mentality fuelled his career while also shaping how he was judged...

Monty Panesar is more than his statistics. In this deeply honest and entertaining conversation, the former England spinner reflects on a career that brought 50 Test caps, 167 wickets and a period known as 'Monty Mania' — and the personal battles that ran alongside the success. Monty opens up about his struggles with mental health, the loneliness of touring, and what it meant to grow up and play el...

Becky Adlington is one of Britain’s most successful Olympic swimmers — but this conversation is about the moments away from the podium that shaped her most. In this deeply honest episode of More Than A Name, Rebecca opens up about the sacrifices required to chase elite sport from a young age (04:30), her love for swimming as a teenager (9:18), and the family trauma that followed her sister’s life-...

Former world No. 4 Greg Rusedski joins More Than A Name for an open, honest and wide-ranging conversation about life at the very top of professional tennis. Greg talks about how he first discovered tennis, the extraordinary financial sacrifices his father made to give him a chance of making it professionally, and the fine margins that nearly led him to quit the sport early in his career while play...

Former Premier League and Championship midfielder Shaun Derry joins More Than A Name for a hilarious, honest and emotional conversation about football and life beyond the badge. Shaun explains how he made it to the Premier League by maximising his ability, the outrageous initiation culture at Notts County, and the excessive drinking culture that existed within football — and how meeting his future...

This week on More Than A Name, Max Whittle and former Aston Villa defender Luke Young sit down with ex-Premier League star and top pundit Stephen Warnock for one of the most powerful and open conversations we’ve ever recorded. Stephen takes us through his incredible journey: Growing up a Liverpool fan and living the dream by playing for the club. Breaking his leg three times before 20 and being to...

This week on More Than A Name, hosts Max Whittle and Luke Young are joined by former Premier League referee Graham Scott, whose career includes almost 1,000 professional match appointments, over 100 Premier League games, and more than 100 VAR duties. A former semi-pro goalkeeper and now Telegraph columnist, Graham brings a unique blend of practical refereeing experience and clear, analytical insig...

This week on More Than a Name , we sit down with former Chelsea academy star Charlie Wakefield for an honest and revealing conversation about the realities of chasing a career in elite football. Charlie opens up about how he signed for Chelsea at 12 (2:28), growing up inside the academy “bubble" (4:50), and the pressure of being labelled a top prospect (6:30). He explains how 10 hamstring injuries...

Former England rugby international James Haskell joins Max Whittle and Luke Young on More Than A Name for one of his most honest and wide-ranging conversations to date. Haskell opens up about how therapy has shaped his life (02:30), why he loved playing rugby (9:40), dealing with retirement (11:36), the difference between rugby and football culture (16:12), his struggles with self-confidence (23:1...

Stiliyan Petrov joins Luke and Max for an incredibly honest and insightful conversation about life in Bulgaria, his time with Celtic and Aston Villa and his journey with cancer, which continues today through The Stiliyan Petrov Foundation.    Stiliyan talks throughout about the huge demands his dad placed on him as a footballer and why those expectations will never go away (04:04) before discussin...

The More Than A Name Podcast is here as we begin Series 1! Former Premier League defender Luke Young chats to co-host Max Whittle about his 17-year career with Spurs, Charlton, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, QPR and England. Luke opens up about the drama at his final club QPR (03:43), playing in the infamous match between QPR and Chelsea in 2011 (08:02), the moment his all-Premier League playing reco...

More Than A Name is almost here! Launching on Tuesday 4th November, the show explores untold, unfiltered sporting stories. Hosted by former England and Premier League defender Luke Young and sports presenter Max Whittle, each episode sits down with athletes, coaches, and public figures to talk about the side of success we rarely see — identity, pressure, mental health, and the moments they felt mo...