Colin Murray
Colin Murray

Colin Murray

  • Director, producer and presenter

Press clippings

Radio review: Colin Murray calls time on his Fighting Talk show

After 250 episodes - 529, if you also include his first stint between 2006 and 2013 - 4,878 questions, and 304 panellists, Colin Murray finally drew a close to his time presenting 5 Live's sporting banterama Fighting Talk last Saturday morning.

Teddy Jamieson, The Herald, 3rd June 2023

Fighting Talk not broadcast in support of Gary Lineker

BBC Radio 5 Live's sports-based panel game Fighting Talk was not aired today, seemingly in support of Gary Lineker following his suspension from Match Of The Day.

British Comedy Guide, 11th March 2023

Colin Murray: 'I never, ever wanted to be on the radio'

He was a hyperactive underage raver with a Bros haircut, then a trip overseas blew Colin Murray's teenage world wide open.

Jane Graham, The Big Issue, 20th August 2022

Fighting Talk among shows moved from 5 Live due to Ukraine coverage

Fighting Talk is among some of the non-news/sport programmes being dropped from the radio this weekend at BBC Radio 5 Live to allow the station to continue its news coverage of the situation in Europe. Several shows are being made podcast-only instead.

Radio Today, 25th February 2022

Film review: Benjamin

It's not often that a film leaves you desperately wanting more. Most modern movies outstay their welcome by at least half an hour, but it's one of the many achievements of Simon Amstell's debut feature film that when the end comes it feels surprisingly early.

Nick Myles, The LGBTQ Arts Review, 14th March 2019

Review: Colin Murray's welcome return to Fighting Talk

The presenter is back doing what he does best.

David Hepworth, The Guardian, 8th October 2016

Colin Murray returns to Fighting Talk

Colin Murray has been named as the new host of Fighting Talk. He returns to the radio panel show after three years away.

British Comedy Guide, 13th September 2016

FRINGEBLOG3

At 1050am, I was on the phone to Colin Murray at Talksport, for a quick two minute preview of the 4th Test. I mentioned how important it was for England to get early wickets. Then I went to bed and thought "I shall catch this cricket in about half an hour"

Paul Sinha, , 7th August 2015

It's never wise to announce that the new presenter of a programme is "comedian so-and-so". You're more likely to decide for yourself when someone is funny rather than take somebody else's word for it. Being told somebody is a stand-up usually makes you determined not to find them funny. Nonetheless, in line with the Corporation's present policy of ensuring that most radio shows are fronted by either television actors or comedians, the new presenter of Fighting Talk is Josh Widdicombe, who'll share his position with former Sky Sports anchor Georgie Thompson.

There's nothing on British radio quite as divisive as this comedy chat format, which solicits opinions on the sporting stories of the week, handing out "points for punditry". In a good week, they'll have guests such as Bob Mills, Martin Kelner and Eleanor Oldroyd, people who know how to tiptoe up to the precipice of scandal and then retreat before they end up in trouble. This has resulted in some fairly hair-raising moments in the past, even when the presenters were experienced self-op radio hands such as Colin Murray or Johnny Vaughan. There's a world of difference between a presenter who can be funny and a funny person who can present. It should be interesting to see how Widdicombe handles the job.

David Hepworth, The Guardian, 16th August 2014

Colin Murray regrets Clare Balding comments

'The second I said it I knew it was too much'. Colin Murray speaks for the first time about his regrets over the comments he made about Clare Balding on 5Live's Fighting Talk.

John Plunkett, The Guardian, 25th August 2013

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