The Commentator's Curse with Ian Danter – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Commentator's Curse with Ian Danter

Sports

Frequency: 1 episode/75d. Total Eps: 26

talkSPORT's Ian Danter chats with 2 press box colleagues each episode discussing life behind the mic in the strange old world of football/sports commentary

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Apple

Data updated on 22/10/2026

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇬🇧 Great Britain - Football
24/10/2026
#95
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Football
23/10/2026
#58
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Football
22/10/2026
#41
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Football
20/10/2026
#70
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Football
19/10/2026
#31
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Football
18/10/2026
#27
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Football
17/10/2026
#33
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Football
16/10/2026
#72

Spotify

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RSS feed quality and score

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RSS feed quality

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Score global : 52%

Publication history

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Latest published episodes

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S2 Ep5: Series 2 Episode 5: Kevin Keatings/Mark Drury

Season 2 · Episode 5

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 • Duration 01:22:03

Ian in joined today by legendary freelance commentator Kevin Keatings and BBC Radio Tees' Mark Drury to talk about their respective journeys into broadcasting. Includes

How the "worst" demo showreel landed Kevin his first radio job
Mark going from supporter to broadcaster despite no interest in that career path as a boy
Kev's career as a footballer sadly cut short
Boro's extraordinary spell of European drama at the Riverside
The 'Night Of The Long Knives" at Radio City in Liverpool
Taking over commentary duties from a Teeside icon
Plus much more!

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S2 Ep4: Series 2 Episode 4; Mark Scott/Emily Herbert

Season 2 · Episode 4

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 • Duration 01:12:43

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!

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S2 Ep3: Series 2 Episode 3: Rob Hawthorne/Steve Hermon

Season 2 · Episode 3

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 • Duration 01:23:45

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 broadcasting

Includes:

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

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S2 Ep2: Series 2 Episode 2: Jon Driscoll/Chris Goreham

Season 2 · Episode 2

Wednesday, September 30, 2026 • Duration 01:15:10

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 clubs

And much more...

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S2 Ep1: Series 2, Episode 1: James Fielden/Adam Pope

Season 2 · Episode 1

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 • Duration 01:20:34

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!

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S1 Ep21: Episode 21: Paul Walker/Alistair Bruce-Ball

Season 1 · Episode 21

Monday, March 13, 2023 • Duration 01:17:31

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

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S1 Ep20: Episode 20: Steve Bower/Andy Giddings

Season 1 · Episode 20

Wednesday, March 8, 2023 • Duration 01:21:33

Ian is joined by BBC Match Of The Day regular Steve Bower and BBC Radio Sheffield commentator Andy Giddings. Includes

Early careers advice at school…or the lack of it!
An early disaster ‘driving the desk’
The demise of TeamTalk252 and Setanta Sports
Becoming a sports editor at 23 years old!
The days before press officers and developing relationships with players/bosses!!
Convincing Sir Alex you weren’t a wrong ‘un & the treble season of 98/99!
Experiences on open top buses
Press room grub!
Plus much more...

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S1 Ep19: Episode 19. John Murray/Ian Darke

Season 1 · Episode 19

Tuesday, February 28, 2023 • Duration 01:16:33

John and Ian join Dants today - 2 of the most recognisable voices in Sports commentary. We discuss things like;

Broadcasting to absolutely nobody when you don't realise!
The on-air genius of Des Lynham & we remember John Motson (RIP)
The greatest/bravest job interview possibly ever against the odds...which worked!
Working outside your commentary comfort zone & the '2 commentator' role
Managers listening to your output and taking issue!
Plus much more!

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S1 Ep18: Episode 18: Jonathan Pearce/Derek Rae

Season 1 · Episode 18

Monday, January 16, 2023 • Duration 01:22:38

Series 2 of the Commentator’s Curse kicks off with Ian talking to MOTD’s Jonathan Pearce and ESPN’s Derek Rae discussing their commentary journeys. Includes:

Getting a HUGE game for what was a 2nd ever radio commentary
The amazing growth of the Capital Gold brand in the 90’s
Pre-prepared lines or being spontaneous…
A transatlantic commentary lifestyle
Difference between radio & TV work
Plus much more…

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S1 Ep17: Episode 17: Steve Wilson/Joe Shennan

Season 1 · Episode 17

Wednesday, March 30, 2022 • Duration 01:31:26

The return of the Commentator's Curse (apologies for its absence) sees Ian joined by MOTD & Capital Gold stalwart Steve and one of talkSPORT's young crop of talent in Joe to talk about the weird world of commentary and their respective journeys. Including:

More tales of cassette-based commentary attempts as children!
More degree courses that were of no use whatsoever to a career in the press box
Steve's spell in Capital Gold London's halcyon days
Joe on working at games with a fan rather than an ex-pro
Commentating on other sports...including 'Sweat Racing'????
Plus much more

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The Commentator's Curse with Ian Danter – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

The Commentator's Curse with Ian Danter – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities