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BBC Radio 5 Live


Tony Bellew is the world champion boxer who beat David Haye twice in front of an audience of millions. He's known to a generation of film fans as Ricky Conlan, the villain in the Rocky reboot Creed. He's an Everton-supporting dad of four boys who loves stand-up comedy.

But Tony Bellew is also angry. Quite a lot. When you're a boxer that's no bad thing, but now he's not punching people for a living he's wondering what to do when the red mist comes down.

In this podcast, Tony gets together with different guests to talk about times in their lives when they've been really angry. They could be life-changing pivotal moments or the day-to-day stuff that gets us all riled. Tony finds out how they have dealt with it, what they've learnt and see if along the way he can get some tips on dealing with his own anger. Expect tears, laughter, anger (obviously) and some stories from his guests that you won't have heard before!


Tony Bellew Is Angry

Former boxing champion and proud Evertonian Tony Bellew delves into the brutal world of football hooliganism. At its height in the 1970s and 1980s, it was labelled ‘the English Disease,’ a time when violence on the terraces was as much a part of the game as a half-time Bovril. Bellew hears from those who lived for the trouble, the men and women whose Saturdays weren’t complete without a brutal punch-up.

He speaks to the innocent victims caught up in the mayhem, the families of those who lost their lives at the hands of thugs, and the undercover police officers who risked everything to infiltrate some of England’s most notorious firms.

He also explores how government crackdowns, tougher laws, and the introduction of all-seater stadiums helped bring an end to widespread hooliganism.

Presenter: Tony Bellew
Series Producer: Emma Forde
Producer: Patrick Kiteley
Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards
Development Producer: Holly Clemens
Production Co-ordinator: Ellie Dover
Assistant Commissioner: Lorraine Okuefuna & Sarah Green
Commissioning Editor: Louise Kattenhorn
Editor and Executive Producer: Carl Johnston

Introducing Gangster Presents... Hooligans

Tony Bellew is the world champion boxer who beat David Haye twice in front of an audience of millions. He's known to a generation of film fans as Ricky Conlan, the villain in the Rocky reboot Creed. He’s an Everton-supporting dad of four boys who loves stand-up comedy.

But Tony Bellew is also angry. Quite a lot. When you’re a boxer that’s no bad thing. But now he’s not punching people for a living he’s wondering what to do when the red mist comes down.

In this podcast, Tony gets together with different guests to talk about times in their lives when they’ve been really angry. They could be life-changing pivotal moments or the day-to-day stuff that gets us all riled. Tony finds out how they have dealt with it, what they've learnt and see if along the way he can get some tips on dealing with his own anger. Expect tears, laughter, anger (obviously) and some stories from his guests that you won’t have heard before!

Credits: Producer Mike Holt
Guest Booker: Charlie Copsey
Social Media: Lucy Oliva
Executive Producer: Alice Lloyd

An Orion Publishing Group production for BBC 5 Live and BBC Sounds.

Coming soon...

James English is the host of mega podcast Anything Goes, but in a previous life he was a professional footballer, a model and an addict.

In this episode former boxing world champ Tony Bellew sits down for a frank and honest chat with James about how much of his life has been shaped by anger - from a tough childhood to a spell in prison, through drink, drugs and a gambling addiction. He also reveals what his sister and a pair of hair tongs had to do with his angriest moment and how an ex-girlfriend changed his life forever by leaving a certain book on the bed and walking out the door.

If you’ve been affected by the issues discussed in this episode there's help and support available at www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Producer: Mike Holt
Booker: Charlie Copsey
Social Media: Lucy Oliva
Executive Producer: Alice Lloyd

An Orion Publishing Group production for BBC 5 Live and BBC Sounds.

James English

Former world champion boxer Tony Bellew goes toe-to-toe with a guest to find out what really winds them up and how they deal with it. 

Up next is none other than footballing legend and Derby County manager Wayne ‘Wazza’ Rooney. 

Tony used to watch Wazza play for his beloved Everton and has been a fan and a mate for years. Guess what? Like Tony, he’s no stranger to anger. 

They chat about their kids annoying them, press intrusion, kicking holes through doors, former managers Sir Alex Ferguson, Louis van Gaal and David Moyes, and why Rooney wrote his transfer request to Manchester United on the back of a napkin. 

Producer: Chessie Bent
Audio editing: Mike Holt
Booker: Charlie Copsey
Social Media: Lucy Oliva
Executive Producer: Alice Lloyd

An Orion Publishing Group production for BBC 5 Live and BBC Sounds.

Wayne Rooney

Former world champion boxer Tony Bellew meets one of his comedy heroes as he gets to ask Ricky Gervais what makes him angry.

From people eating loudly in restaurants, to waiters sniffing, men yawning loudly on aeroplanes to seeing dogs being yanked on the lead, Ricky admits small things make him angry every day.

He reveals what happened 30 years ago that made him the angriest he’s ever been and why an incident with his mum and brother helped turn him into an animal activist. To Tony’s surprise Ricky also turns out to be a fan of his and describes a charity boxing match as the hardest thing he’s ever done. Packed with laughs and surprises, you don’t want to miss this episode.

Producer: Mike Holt
Booker: Charlie Copsey
Social Media: Lucy Oliva
Executive Producer: Alice Lloyd

An Orion Publishing Group production for BBC 5 Live and BBC Sounds.

Ricky Gervais

Breakthrough music star and singer-songwriter Joy Crookes opens up about all things anger in this revealing chat. Going toe-to-toe with former world champion boxer Tony Bellew, it becomes clear Joy can give Tony a run for his money in the anger stakes.

From racism at the Euros Final 2021 to the way her outfit at the Brits was described as a ‘costume’, Joy is happy to tell all about the things that make her angry.

She talks about the time she dealt with a confrontation in the street without losing her head and what happened when she was the angriest she’s ever been which made her ‘look at knives differently’.

Tony quickly discovers Joy is a worthy sparring partner with lots in common including a love of James Brown and Muhammad Ali. Inspiring chat, great episode, get involved.

Joy Crookes

Former X Factor winner and multi-million selling singer-songwriter James Arthur reveals all about violent outbursts, Twitter storms and regrets in this frank chat with Tony Bellew.

As well as being fans of each other, it’s clear Tony and James have loads in common. From a mutual love of boxing and music to tough upbringings as James talks about being sent to foster care as a teenager.

They’re also both quick to react with anger, with James telling Tony about the time he smashed his arm through a window trying to ‘protect’ his sister. He opens up about angry social media fails as he tried to prove he wasn’t one of those ‘shiny popstars’. And he reveals his regret over using homophobic language in a rap battle, why it still affects his career today and why he’s thought about leaving the music industry for good.

Full of revelations and deep chat. Not to be missed.

Producer: Alice Lloyd
Audio editing: Mike Holt
Booker: Charlie Copsey
Social Media: Lucy Oliva

An Orion Publishing Group production for BBC 5 Live and BBC Sounds

James Arthur

Everton fan Tony swallows his pride to let Liverpool legend, pundit and good mate Jamie Carragher on the show.

As they sit down to chat all things anger, Carra reveals some of his earliest frustrations as a kid came from being way better at football than the rest of the kids at school. He wanted to win so badly he would get sent off for speaking too harshly to the ref or his team mates. That drive and determination to win took him right through his long career at Liverpool FC. However, he admits that playing for the team where he grew up added untold pressures, his competitiveness was too much for his fellow players and it eventually led him to consult a sports psychologist.

As well as offering incredible insight into his career, Jamie reveals some of the locker room punch-ups he witnessed over the years, tells Tony which manager wound him up the most and how he feels footballers have gone soft. He even tells all about what winds him up as a pundit.

P.S. Don't mention Gary Neville!

Producer: Mike Holt
Booker: Charlie Copsey
Social Media: Lucy Oliva
Executive Producer: Alice Lloyd

An Orion Publishing Group production for BBC 5 Live and BBC Sounds.

Jamie Carragher

One of the greatest female fighters of all time, the US's Claressa Shields, laces up the gloves and gets Tony on the ropes.

The only boxer in history, male or female, to hold all four major titles in boxing simultaneously, in two weight classes, as well as two Olympic gold medals, Claressa is a force to be reckoned with. In 2020 she switched from boxing to Mixed Martial Arts and promptly won her debut with a TKO. Growing up with her grandmother in Flint, Michigan, she admits to always being super competitive at everything she did. From bowling to playing pool, to guys challenging her to boxing matches. If someone told her she couldn't do something it only made her try harder. And, as Tony discovers, you have to be careful which company you put her in when talking about her fellow boxers!

Producer: Mike Holt
Booker: Charlie Copsey
Social Media: Lucy Oliva
Executive Producer: Alice Lloyd

An Orion Publishing Group production for BBC 5 Live and BBC Sounds

Claressa Shields

Worlds apart but quickly finding common ground Tony Bellew and Jamie Laing might just be the best double-act you’ve never heard.

Blowing Tony away from the start by revealing he’s yet ANOTHER huge Bellew fan, Jamie frequently turns the tables and becomes the interviewer. He delves deep into the boxer's psyche, as well as stumping Tony with a question he's never been asked before.

What seems an unlikely duo becomes one of the most hilarious, heart-warming and revealing episodes yet.

Tony challenges Jamie to test out his Scouse accent (no surprise, it’s awful), delves deep into his upbringing and they share stories of childhood betrayal.
We hear why both think men turn to anger so quickly, how Jamie’s dream of playing rugby for England was shattered and the VERY unexpected reason behind his Strictly injury. With some Willy Wonka, Hugh Hefner and Russell Crowe quotes thrown in for good measure you have to trust us when we say this is one hell of a punchy episode.

Producer: Mike Holt
Booker: Charlie Copsey
Social Media: Lucy Oliva
Executive Producer: Alice Lloyd

An Orion Publishing Group production for BBC 5 Live and BBC Sounds.

Jamie Laing

Steve Bunce and Lennox Lewis on one of the most recognisable and enduring figures in sport, Boxing promoter Don King, with contributions from rivals, law enforcers and fighters

Introducing... Powerplay: The House of Don King

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