The Commentator's Curse with Ian Danter

Ian chats with Match Of The Day regular Mark Scott and rising star of BBC London & Sky Emily Herbert about their commentary journeys to where they are today. Including: Commentating at primary school! How a broken ankle led to opportunity Student life and the dreaded student loan Emily & Mark compete for the "best first ever match commentary" title - you decide! Diversity & inclusivity in the broadcasting industry Plus much more!

Sky Sports' Rob Hawthorne and BBC WM's Steve Hermon join Ian for their stories of how they got to be where they are today in broadcastingIncludes: Rob taking the phrase "International Break" rather too literally THE Michael Jackson being driven around Brum in a Ford Cortina! Winning radio competitions Player identification panic Becoming Mr "Monday Night Football" Tony "Bomber" Brown and his excellent soup Sweets on the gantry

I'm joined by Jon Driscoll who's worked for 5 Live and talkSPORT as well as being a regular voice on Sky's Spanish football coverage amongst many other roles he's had and Chris Goreham, who has not long celebrated 25 years as commentator for Norwich City with BBC Norfolk. Topics discussed include;- The difference between news journalists and sports journalists- Working with the legendary manager Malcolm Allison on Teeside- Dealing with and apologising for foul language in live matches- The pressure of taking over from a commentator after they've done many years in a role- The launch of talkSPORT- The latest on rumoured changes to how BBC Local Radio operates in terms of covering their clubsAnd much more...

We finally start Series 2 of my non-award winning show where I chat with fellow commentators about their career paths and stories of how they got their big breaks and their hard knocks.BBC Leeds commentator Adam Pope and Match Of The Day regular James Fielden join me to talk to me about their individual journeys to where they are today. Including;- Accent issues that needed resolving in early days- The battle for the soul of football in West Yorkshire- Commentating next to 4 other folk calling the same game in wildly different languages- And much much more!

Ian is joined by Paul Walker from ITV’s EFL Highlights show (formerly of Quest, C5 & BBC too!) and 5 Live’s football/golf regular Alistair Bruce-Ball for a natter about their respective careers and the ‘sliding doors’ moments that shaped their journeys! Includes: Fantasy Football and the dedication required for it Working for Club TV channels Yet more tales of first commentary gigs coming out of nowhere! Another young man thrust into a Sports Editor role in his early 20’s Being shushed by a sporting legend  And much more besides