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Life With Brian: The Brian McClair Podcast

62 Episodes
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Sam Delaney of Top Flight Time Machine is our guest on this episode, in which we talk about men's mental health, Upton park memories, the 'West Ham' way, holding grudges, Roy Keane, shitting yourself, and much more!
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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Comedian, author and broadcaster Paul Tonkinson is Brian's guest on this episode. He joins us to talk about swashbuckling Manchester United teams, working with Michael McIntyre, running through the Sahara desert, performing in Iraq, and the highs and lows of red wine.
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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The great Scottish author Irvine Welsh joins Brian to talk about the return of Renton, Spud, Sick Boy and Begbie in his new book Men in Love. We also find out why he has a soft spot for West Ham, stood David Bowie up twice, got arrested aged 8, and has to think like a Hearts fan. Plus loads more!
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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Brian's guest is pro-golfer and Ryder Cup winner Stephen Gallacher, who joins the lads to talk about Celtic, the magic of the Masters, 'dogging' up the golf course, the consequences of missing a cut, and Alex Ferguson's motivational skills.
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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Brian welcomes his old pal and teammate Gordon Strachan to this month's pod to talk about the time he abandoned Choccy at Manchester United, his prickly relationship with Fergie, the zen influence of Tim Booth, Rod Stewart's bed, getting a mixed reception at Celtic, the humour of Tommy Burns, getting letters from Neil Diamond, and the art of punditry. There's also the quiz where they display their knowledge (or lack) of each other.
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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Scottish actor Simon Weir joins Brian and the lads on this episode. We talk charity game bust-ups, bugging John Aldridge, resurrecting a defunct football club, shopping doon the Barras, stunt dildos, cancelled soap operas, and there's controversy in the quiz!
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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Comedian and actor Lloyd Griffith joins Brian, Matthew and Mark on this episode, where he tells us about freezing his tits off in Grimsby, hair transplants, choir singing, Clayton Blackmore's shooting, Fantasy Football fancies, and Helena Bonham Carter's plastic feet.
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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Our first guest of 2025 is podcaster and writer Andy Dawson who joins us to talk about the terraces at Sunderland, putting football in the sea, working with Bob Mortimer and the success of Athletico Mince, Steve Bruce's malapropisms, and there's the usual quiz!
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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Causing a commotion on this episode is singer/songwriter Lloyd Cole who joins Brian to discuss his music, swerving the Manchester clubs in favour of Chelsea, the meaning of lyrics, having a cuppa with Morrissey, Glasgow Uni, dealing with fame, and looking like Jimmy Carr. There's also another ridiculous quiz to enjoy/endure!
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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Never Mind The Bollocks, here comes Choccy with special guest, punk rocker and music journalist John Robb to talk about Blackpool's ups and downs, manager vultures, prison triallists, his punk ethos, 70s fashions, Kurt Cobain, Liam Gallagher, Fergie's handling of young players, and gig riots. He also takes on our quiz and the 'Focus On' feature.
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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We're back again for another season and our first special guest is comedian Susie McCabe, who joins us to talk Celtic, surviving a heart attack, scary dares, menopause advice, voicing opinions, and she takes Brian on in our Shakespeare quiz
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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Welcome to our 50th episode, and we celebrate our half century with former Sky Sports touchline reporter Geoff Shreeves. Talk turns to Geoff's experiences working with the biggest, and moodiest managers in the Premier League: from the likes of Klopp and Guardiola, to - of course - Sir Alex Ferguson. Choccy tells us how he liked to swerve the media, and we discuss Geoff and Brian's shared musical passions.
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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Irish actor Emmett J. Scanlan is our special guest for this episode and chats with Choccy about the outstanding crime drama Kin, restaurant rebuffs, catching the eye of Fergie and Big Sam, hard men, Manchester United, shadow boxing to Rocky, chocolate binges, and much more!
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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Shed Seven frontman Rick Witter joins us on this episode to talk about the band's recent number 1 album, the Britpop years, rivalry with Oasis, Manchester United's current travails, Brian's weekly budget, the best things in our shed, almost tipping Aerosmith off the wagon, and we've got a very fishy quiz!
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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We're thrilled to be joined by comedian Jo Caulfield for this episode, in which we discuss difficult roommates, Edinburgh, bad comics, stadium criteria for Premier League membership, hitchhiking, Denis Irwin, Mick Lynch, Choccy's political aspirations, and much more!
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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Scottish actor, and star of the hugely successful play 'Singin' I'm No A Billy, He's A Tim', Scott Kyle is our guest for this one as Brian and the boys wade into the thorny topic of the Old Firm and dissecting the relationship between Celtic and Rangers fans on stage. We also discuss acting naked for Ken Loach, wearing ladies' kilts, playing without away fans and in the jail, street scraps, and we find out who knows more about their clubs in another of our quizzes.
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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The first episode of 2024 sees Choccy welcome cricket commentating legend David 'Bumble' Lloyd to the show. We talk Accrington Stanley, homemade cider, favourite pubs, scrapping on the terraces, the changing face of cricket, (not) catching salmon with Ian Botham, the drunken antics of Mark E. Smith and much more!
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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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 infamous quizzes!
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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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
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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. There's also another one of our dodgy quizzes and a packed mailbag to savour.
Music by Liam McClair and Crowander
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