With live sport only now returning after months of lockdown, fans are in for a treat over the next six weeks as comedian Jack Whitehall presents a celebration of the greatest stories, personalities and moments in the history of British sport.
His new show, Jack Whitehall’s Sporting Nation, delves into the archives to take a light-hearted look back at our sporting track record, and examines what our love of sport tells us about ourselves as a nation.
Here, Whitehall, who turns 32 on 7 July, reveals just what’s in store…
Why did you want to make this series?
The British public has lost over 100 hours of sport this summer, with the Olympics, Euro 2020 and Wimbledon being wiped off the schedule. So we came up with the idea of Sporting Nation, a look at some of the greatest moments in our sporting story. The whole show will be pure, unadulterated nostalgia.
How would you describe the series?
It’s not just one of those ‘100 greatest sporting moments’ shows with a load of old clips. We collate these famous achievements and memories to see what they say about us as a country, and what our love affair with sport means.
What sports are you looking at?
We wanted to make sure we took in lots of different sports – not just football – so we have people in there like ski jumper Eddie the Eagle, ice skaters Torvill and Dean and snooker player Dennis Taylor.
Do you watch a lot of sport?
I can watch any sport and get involved. I could sit down in front of the Winter Olympics and find myself obsessed with curling for a week. Or watch a documentary about Torvill and Dean and find myself genuinely enthralled.
This story is from the July 04, 2020 edition of TV & Satellite Week.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 04, 2020 edition of TV & Satellite Week.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
IN THE LAND OF Saints & Sinners
Liam Neeson leads a superb cast as a repentent hitman in this strong Irish drama
Documentaries
With a life full of creative highs, drug excess and a sudden disappearance from public life, few rock stars have captured the imagination like original Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett.
Breakfast club
Jerry Seinfeld stars in a comedy about the invention of Pop-Tarts
Road to ruin
Move over, Logan Roy! If you enjoyed the cut-throat business dealings and larger-than-life characters in hit series Succession, you won't want to miss this adaptation of Tom Wolfe's 1998 novel A Man in Full.
High command
Can Lesley Sharp's MI5 chief come to the aid of Flight 357?
Port in a storm
The Aberdeen cops investigate a death on a cargo ship
Keys to success
Claudia Winkleman, Lang Lang and Mika are on the hunt for more amateur pianists as the talent show returns
Hearts of courage
A powerful drama explores a true-life romance set against a backdrop of unspeakable horror
CLOAK & DAGGER
A dogged lawyer investigates murder at a monastery in a gripping Tudor mystery
Reef encounters
Liz Bonnin an and Steve Backshall on the race to save the planet's precious Coral reefs
