Fighting Talk
- Radio panel show
- BBC Radio 5 Live
- 2003 - 2023
- 764 episodes (21 series)
Long-running panel show on Radio 5 Live focusing on the volatile world of sport. Four guests join the host to chat about the week's stories. Stars Colin Murray, Christian O'Connell, Josh Widdicombe, Georgie Ainslie, Jonathan Pearce and more.
- Continues on Saturday on Five Live at 11am with Series 21, Episode 13
- Catch-up on Series 21, Episode 12
Key details
- Genre
- Panel Show
- Broadcast
- 2003 - 2023
- Channel
- BBC Radio 5 Live
- Episodes
- 764 (1 pilot + 21 series), plus 3 highlights specials
- Stars
- Colin Murray, Christian O'Connell, Josh Widdicombe, Georgie Ainslie, Jonathan Pearce, Matt Johnson, Johnny Vaughan and Rick Edwards
- Company
Fighting Talk is a sports-based panel game in which guests debate the biggest sporting issues of the week.
Each show features a range of guests from different sports being asked to debate a range of topical issues. Points are awarded for informed comment, wit and passion but taken away for ridiculous comments and answers lacking in conviction.
The top two scoring panellists go head to head in the final round of 'defend the indefensible' where they must defend an unpalatable comment for twenty seconds, however outrageous or distasteful.
The show was originally hosted by Johnny Vaughan, then Christian O'Connell, and then - for many years - Colin Murray.
For the 2013-2014 series Christian O'Connell was back in the host's seat, with Matt Johnson and Jonathan Pearce also regularly hosting. From August 2014 until August 2016, Josh Widdicombe and Georgie Ainslie (nee Thompson) took turns to host the show.
With Josh Widdicombe and Georgie Ainslie busy on other projects in the autumn of 2016, Colin Murray - who had just quit his TalkSport radio show - returned as host in September 2016, a position he continues to still hold now.
Catch-up
Additional details
- Also known as
-
- FT (Acronym)
- Johnny Vaughan's Fighting Talk (Series 1 title)
- Production
- Studio
- Soundtrack
- The theme tune is Sabotage by Beastie Boys, which has evolved over the years.
Website links
- Official Website
The official homepage for the Five Live sporting panel game. Features pictures from many of the episodes. - Fighting Talk Podcast
Download the Fighting Talk podcast here. - @BBCfightingtalk
- Wikipedia
Broadcast details
- First broadcast
- Saturday 11th October 2003 at 11am on BBC Radio 5 Live
- Most recent repeats
-
- Saturday 26th December 2015 at 10:00am on Five Live - Series 13, Christmas Special
- Sunday 28th June 2015 at 6:30pm on Five Live - Episode 1
- Saturday 27th December 2014 at 11:00am on Five Live - Series 12, Christmas Special
Recording details
- Dock 10 (MediaCityUK) - Main studio
- Cardiff Motorpoint Arena - 2016 Special
- Mountford Hall (Liverpool Guild of Students)
- University of Lincoln
- BBC Radio Theatre
- Tyne Theatre & Opera House
- Hull City Hall
- Kings Place (London) - 2023 live episode