The Upshot – Details, episodes & analysis

Dubai, 2006. Sven Goran Eriksson sips Dom Perignon with an Arabian prince on the deck of a 70ft superyacht. But Sven’s white-robed companion is no oil-rich Emir: it’s the Fake Sheikh. For three devious decades, the tabloid hack lived life undercover, exposing everyone from murderous GPs to Mick Jagger. From Jerry Springer’s threesomes to infiltrating the Taliban, this is the story of The Fake Sheikh… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re hiring! Apply for the role as The Upshot’s new video producer: https://www.upshot.email/p/we-re-hiring-a-video-producer-36e9  Plus: England’s Ashes flops are throwing cash at Aussie children and why 70s hit YMCA is NOT a gay song EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/upshot Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 🌐 Get tickets to to the Upshot’s Live shows in April: https://www.livenation.co.uk/the-upshot-live-tickets-adp1637635 Join The Upshot’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/upshottowers  (Sign up in your browser, not the patreon app - it’s cheaper). Links from the pod: Rio Ferdinand’s awful banter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P03LgqfQ4BA  Conor McGregor teaching Mike Tyson to box: https://x.com/HappyPunch/status/1997749158711894184 And looking coked off his nut: https://x.com/GeneralBohs/status/1997793388016636392  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the 1990s, Matt Le Tissier was the ultimate cult hero. A Malibu-swigging everyman with magic feet, he ran a strip club, got headbutted on dancefloors and guzzled KFC buckets every night. But then things got a bit weird. In his second act, Le Tiss warn against communist takeovers, accused Boris Johnson of controlling the weather, and withdrew his consent to be governed. This is his story… Links from the pod: Amazing goal vs Blackburn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Cx59N1wHcs  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Plus: The FA Cup manager keeping crocodiles in his bungalow, Brazil striker Hulk finally marries his niece, and what do Adrian Mutu, Friedrich Nietszche and Hitler have in common? Join Zach and Jack for another edition of Extra Shot, our weekly pod spilling the funniest stories in sport this week. Subscribe to our newsletter and get a five min rundown of the funniest stories in sport in your inbox every Friday: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=pod  Links from the pod: Messi speaking English in the Bad Boys 4 trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY1K5pxcX5k  Southampton fan booed for predicting 5-0 defeat: https://x.com/HugoScheckter/status/1875613672359522817  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you unleash the pure chaos of Diego Maradona in the dugout, it's going to be a wild ride. As a manager, Diego ran over reporters, threatened to kill Liam Gallagher and snorted coke on the touchline. Meet Maradona the manager... With guest JP Lockwood. Links from the pod: Giving two middle fingers to the crowd at Racing Club: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AU1jy8Af1EI  Liam Gallagher recalls meeting Diego: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUNHaq_xOEk  Partying at Rio Carnival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWlLEdgP2EA  Shooting journalists with an air rifle: https://youtu.be/bGDhj26Onq4?si=nYujSHOoDQphgDPs&t=25  Maradona at 19 stone: https://images.app.goo.gl/hw79TiRxmbgSX2ZW9  Doing headers with Pele: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjtA1J9XxpA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Darts was once a humble pub game where tubby punters hustled pensioners for pork scratchings. But in the 1970s, everything changed. As darts went prime time, a rabble of chain-smoking boozehounds were catapulted to a life of mega stardom, from bathtubs of wine to sex-starved American groupies. Laaaaaaaaaaadieeeeeessss and gentlemeeeeeeeeeeen. Let’s. Play. Darts.  With guest Ruth Husko. Links from the pod: Bobby George nipple flap shirt: https://x.com/joshpearson180/status/1692225614252552702   Jocky Wilson popping out false teeth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zau1C6wtcc0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’ve opened your presents, polished off the miserable turkey detritus and your racist aunt has finally gone back to Tarrington St Clement. So treat yaself to a quick hit of sporting scandal. It’s Extra Shot… Get ya pubes in order for grandma and 20% off when you use code UPSHOT at http://www.manscaped.com  Subscribe to our newsletter and get a five min rundown of the funniest stories in sport in your inbox every Friday: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=pod  Links from the pod: Jason Tindall Last Christmas: https://x.com/FtblJoe/status/1871811440937709874 Tindall Wham jumper: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/football/2024/12/27/TELEMMGLPICT000406353430_17353020956200_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqxMck747CUKptGWAGQbw16Ke11_axAzbecJbmqTci52M.jpeg?imwidth=350 Jordan Henderson long read in Athletic: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6012945/2024/12/23/jordan-henderson-ajax-year-of-living-differently/ Spanish Scrabble champion: https://d.latintimes.com/en/full/564771/nigel-richards-scrabble.jpg?w=736&f=bf7d84cbcfd8ab9f3fcc429d50488d74 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The word ballet conjures images of dead-eyed aristocrats peering through tiny binoculars at neurotic gymnasts. But behind the velvet curtain, lies a sinister world of hard drugs, poison attacks and cannibal scientists. From vaginal magic shows to Prince Philip’s mistress, welcome to the dark side of the dance… With guest Erica North. Links from the pod: Clip from The Crown when the Queen discover’s Philip’s mistress: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIcpK34jzcU “You had your own ballerina’s for that”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P9Mz1WqqHQ   Prince Philip’s boys club scene: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10930861/prince-philip-thursday-club-the-crown-real-story-inside-sex-secrets-spies/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Referees in sex tapes. Neymar slashing his teammate’s tyres. And Cole Palmer’s naked surprise. It’s been a vintage year for sporting scandal. And today we celebrate it all, as we look back on the funniest stories in sport this year.  Links from the pod: Billy Vunipola tasered in Majorca: https://x.com/MailOnline/status/1785230252253302802   Jamie O’Hara dating show: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13443863/jamie-ohara-love-undercover-peacock-soccer.html  Neymar slashing Renan Lodi’s tyres: https://x.com/porqueTTarg/status/179586197904892349 Neymar playing poker at his daughter’s birthday: https://x.com/kykyszn/status/1778461735663342062 Geoff Hurst loves a glass of Budweiser: https://x.com/WeahsCousin/status/1805564686147960989 La Liga ref’s interview crashed by his parrot: https://x.com/elchiringuitotv/status/1848150321006342508  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Plus: A top flight ref drugged by an escort, why Wolves can’t trust their new manager and Hamaroaui and Diallo come face to face at last. Join Zach and Jack for another edition of Extra Shot, our weekly pod spilling the funniest stories in sport this week. Get ya pubes in order for grandma and 20% off when you use code UPSHOT at http://www.manscaped.com  Subscribe to our newsletter and get a five min rundown of the funniest stories in sport in your inbox every Friday: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=pod  Links from the pod: Matheus Cunha stealing glasses: https://x.com/WolvesTalk/status/1868233601248047137  Gary Neville hates Christmas dinner: https://x.com/AMonFootball/status/1560409480390664192  Avram Glazer’s strange haircut: ​​https://images.app.goo.gl/JL6quekmMgU7tKM69 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices