Comedy of the Week - Maisie Adam: Euros Fever

Episode Date: July 7, 2025

Are you excited to watch England and Wales this summer?Comedian and football obsessed Maisie Adam can’t wait for the Euros and wants to capture the magic you only get before a big international tournament. This is her ultimate guide to the Euros and guarantees to get you in the mood for the highs, the lows and the drama of the Women’s Euros 2025.Maisie has encouraged the audience to come in their favourite footie strips, scarves and hats, the sillier the better – just no flares up any arses please. She’s joined by comedians Rhys James and Harriet Kemsley to chat about the glorious summer of footie we have ahead of us. They re-live some of their best/worst Euros moments, play games and give their predictions for the summer – is football coming home again? Plus Maisie gets some very special advice from former Lioness and Euros winner, the one and only Jill Scott MBE.If you can't get enough of the tournament, search ‘Women’s Euros’ on BBC Sounds for more coverage and reaction. Plus you can listen live to the games, including every England and Wales match, on 5 Live and BBC Sounds.Host: Maisie Adam Guests: Rhys James and Harriet Kemsley Producer: Georgia Keating Executive Producer: James Robinson Production Co-ordinator: Jodie Charman Production Assistant: Danita McIntyre Additional material by Matthew Crosby and Eve Delaney Sound Design by Arlie Adlington Recorded by Jerry Peal and Atharva Bankar at Backyard Comedy ClubA BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4.

BBC Sounds music radio podcasts. Hello and welcome to Euros Fever with me, Maisie Adam. This is your ultimate guide to the women's Euros. It's for us diehard football fans, but also for those of you who just like to dip your toe into an international tournament from time to time. Don't worry, it won't be too technical. I only got a C in GCSEPE.

I passed out on the bleep test. I'm going to kick off, if you'll pardon the pun, with where, stop it, no gro off, if you'll pardon the pun, with where... Stop it, no groaning, thank you. With where we're at since that epic Lionesses-Euro's win. So, in 2023, off the back of the Euros victory, the Lionesses faced Brazil, the winners of the South American equivalent of the Euros,

to play in the Finalistima, with England winning on penalties, before then heading out to Australia for the World Cup, where they reached the final, narrowly missing out to Spain. Also that year, and this is crucial, I, Maisie Adam, was called up to play soccer aid for the first time. CHEERING In 2024, the top tier of women's football in England, the Women's Super League,

saw record attendances across the board. Also, I played soccer aid for the second time. And this year in 2025, the Champions League was won by English team Arsenal. And the lionesses are heading to Switzerland to defend their title. Wales also made history by qualifying for the Euros, their first ever major tournament. And I played soccer aid for a third time. Basically what I'm saying is is, ever since I started playing at Soccer Aid, the women's game has gone from strength to strength. Coincidence? I'll let you decide. What's that?

How many minutes have I played collectively at Soccer Aid over the last three years? Twelve. Quality, not quantity, guys. I hope you never experience the humiliation that is being subbed off for Tommy Fury. For the Euros, you just need to enjoy drama, passion, high stakes, and some lovely kits. There's no right or wrong way to enjoy a game.

Another thing that I genuinely do want to demystify is the terminology. If you're a newbie to the sport, it can be a bit awkward to leap up off of your chair, surrounded by diehard fans, and find in that moment that you don't quite know what to say. Honestly though, I really wouldn't worry

about what you come out with because even some of the professional commentators have come out with some pretty obvious observations. Here's a few of my faves that I've seen happen. First up, it's when they go, "'It was a game of two halves.' "'They all are!' That's literally how it works.

At the end of the day, a win's a win. A win's a win all the time, not just at the end of the day. Goals win games, that's the format! So, we've got loads of people in football shirts. Where are the England fans? Give us a cheer. CHEERING Nice, nice, nice. OK. Have we got people supporting other teams?

Have we got...? Yeah, well... Holland! You're in the same group! Get out! Are you from the Netherlands? Are you? And do you live here? Don't worry, I'm not going to check your paperwork. How long do you intend to stay?

So you're going to be rooting for, do you watch women's football outside of the tournament? Yeah, yeah. Who's your favorite player? Got you now, haven't I? Viv Meadermark. Viv Meadermark. Viv Meadermark. Oh yeah, is that the Arsenal? Yeah. But she's had injuries, right? She has recovered. You're so Dutch. You're so blunt. I'm like, but she might be injured. She has recovered Next question, please Good good for more injury updates. We know where to go to Any other countries in Spain? Oh, you can get in the bin

You're brave are you are you Spanish? Oh hello. Hola Are you Spanish? Yes. Oh, hello. Hola. I'm embarrassed at how smug I was that I knew Spanish for hello. So you're a bit... Who's your team in Spain? Ramapid. Oh, I've heard of them.

And how are you feeling about the Euros? It's okay. You have arguably like the best squad. You're like this squad to be, you're off the back of winning the world cup. And I go, how are you feeling about the Euros? It's okay. It's okay. It's okay.

It's the taking part that counts. Any other countries? Lovely. Where are you from? Apart from Daycare? Hi, hi. What's your name? Romain. Romain? Is it Romain? Yes. Romain, are you français?

Oui. Oh! Chatting amongst yourselves. I'm about to do my GCSA French. Who's your team in France? Yeah, you don't know him. Do you say you don't know him? Yeah, my team is in France Yeah, you don't know him. Do you say you don't know him? Yeah, my team is in France, but you don't know him. Just give him real. He goes to another school.

You wouldn't know him. He does exist. He does. He's really hot, actually. What? Who's your team? Ren. Ren. I know Ren! My men's team is Leeds United and we bought Raffina from Ren, so...

Thank you so much for coming. Right, without further ado, I think this is the perfect time... I think this is the perfect time to bring on my teammates, if you'll pardon the pun. Right, really get on board with that, OK? LAUGHTER It's Rhys James! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE And Harry and Kempley!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Thank you so much for joining you two. I'm so excited. What a format. Someone said, they're from Spain, everyone booed, and then we were just fine with it. Let's start with like, what are your experiences of being a fan?

Like Reese, you're quite a diehard fan. Spurs, I believe. Don't tell her that. I'm all up against it as the only male on the panel. The last thing I need is that. Mike, this must be what it feels like to be on Mock the Weakest Woman in 2007. But you've been a fan for a while.

Big football fan. Yes. But it is Tottenham Hotspur, your team. Rhys, when did you get into or become aware of the women's game? And, you know, that's a totally safe, it's a safe space you can answer honestly. I wouldn't lie though, Reese, I wouldn't lie. There's no wrong answers, but don't lie. Don't say that it was earlier than the 2022 Euros,

because I will ask you to name the entire squad of the 2015 Canadian World Cup. Yeah, this does feel like a trap, doesn't it for me? But no, I've been into the women's game for ages. I'd say like about five minutes after they asked me to do this. Got straight on the Wikipedia, lionesses, they're female lions. Bit of fun. Why not have a bit of fun for once? No, it was. Yeah, it was.

It was like everyone else. It was the 2022 Euros. It was such a pivotal point. It was such a turning point for the game. Yeah, and it's not the England football experience at all. Well, it's such a pivotal point. It was such a turning point for the game. Yeah, and it's not the England football experience at all. And so it was quite jarring. What joy?

Yeah, winning, like victory. Yeah. It was like, the thing that always annoyed me about international tournaments was that people, the thing you're talking about, welcoming, I'm sort of not like you, was when people would get involved late in them. Oh, yeah.

Like the men's team would get to a semi-final and people would get involved. And I think, no, you haven't paid the pain tax. Yes,'t paid the pain tax. You haven't been through what we've been through. We used to be happy with the round of 16 and we may do with Darius Vassel. Harriet, what's your sort of relationship to the beautiful game? I don't know much about football, so I feel a bit like I've got lost and ended up in here. I'm really happy about it, it's worked out really well. She's meant to be on Least Women. She took a wrong turn.

Like a lot of newbies though, the entry point is an international tournament. Do you still get whipped up in the frenzy of a Euros or a World Cup? Yeah, I love a frenzy. I feel like we all just witnessed Harriet saying the word frenzy for the first time. Yeah, I love a frenzy. I went to see the... What was the one last year? That was the World Cup for the boys.

Yep. Sure, we'll start with that. I went to see the boys play for their little cup. Yeah. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep.

Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep.

Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep.

Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. It was the final and it was in the final and then I found a stool and I was like this is great You know, but then I was just sat with everyone like standing around me and like no one actually wanted the stool But I was like quite protective over the stool because it was like quite nice To have a little sit down, you know And then at one point I went away to leave my stool But I was like really worried about my stool and so I looked over to go and check if it was okay And then a man got really cross and he was like, I'm not gonna steal your handbag and it was like no worried about my stool and so I looked over to go and check if it was okay And then a man got really cross and he was like I'm not gonna steal your handbag and it was like no

It's the stool I was worried about the stool Anyway, he got really angry because he thought I thought he was gonna steal my handbag We got into a bit of a back-and-forth and then he was like he became quite intense Um anyway long story short I got everybody chucked out of the pub 10 minutes before the end of the final. So, as I say, there's no wrong way to watch a game. And that's why women shouldn't be allowed to watch football. Is this not the forum for that?

Wrong room, wrong room. Now we all know I'm a big Lionesses fan, so sue me, but there's going to be some bias here. But as I say, it is still incredible. I don't wish to sound like Wales's mum here, but it is incredible and an achievement in itself to be there. It is massive for Wales. They've made it to their first international tournament.

So I think, you know, there's going to be quite a bit of rooting for them as well. If we both... The ideal scenario, apologies to Roman and... What was your name from Holland? Arthur. Arthur. I'd really like it to be England and Wales that make it out the group game. We can sort of then be like, woo, go on Wales. But not if we have to carry on playing you. Sure. Are they going to play each other? group game and we can sort of then be like, woo, go on Wales, but not if we have to carry on playing you. Sure. Are they going to play each other?

Yes. So do you know how the group games work? So it's massive for Wales to be there. They've got some real talent in their squad in terms of progressing. They are in what has been referred to as the group of death. So in our group, Harriet, so each group has four teams in. So in England's group, there is England, Wales, the Netherlands and France, right? Yeah, it's a really scary group. So it won't be easy for Wales, but they have become a very difficult site to beat under head coach Rhianne Wilkinson.

So let's have a look very quickly at that group of death. First of all, we've got France. Romane, give us a cheer. Woop woop! Merci. Now, France is very interesting because they, for ages, have been like quite a scary big team to come up against. However, the squad selection for this year, they have basically kicked out a lot of, not kicked out, but they have not selected for this squad a lot of players that have been sort of big legends

of the game there. For example, there is a woman called Wendy Renard. Am I saying that right, Roman? Oh, perfect. LAUGHTER You never really leave French Oral, do you? LAUGHTER Wendy Renard is, she's been the captain You never really leave French Orals, do you? Wendy Renard is, she's been the captain for years.

She is not only not captain in this year's Euros, she's not even made the squad. They've basically gone out with the old, in with the new. They're putting in all the new, fresh, exciting young talent, which could pay off. It could be a massive gamble. It's very French Revolution. It is, isn't it? Yes. Yeah. young talent which could pay off it could be a massive gamble very French revolution it is isn't it yeah yeah at the start at the end of their game they'll just sing Les Miserables

it's very very exciting um shall we have a look at the lionesses squad for this year Rose it's been yeah I think um it's so exciting but I think it's fair to say it's been a bit of a dramatic year. We've had more line-up changes than the Sugar Babes. It's a very different squad to the team that won back in 2022. I think a lot of us forget that sometimes. But it's an inspiring mix of big names and newbies. Some are just breaking through and some have been around for years.

It's like a Glastonbury line-up, Harriet. You've got your legend slot, there's big names and newbies. Some are just breaking through and some have been around for years. It's like a Glastonbury line up, Harriet. You've got your legend slot. There's big names like, big legend names like Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Beth Meade, Russo. But then you've also got your rising stars. So people like Michelle Ajumang and Aggy Beaver-Jones. Yeah, they're your Charlie XCXs. In quite, I don't know if anybody knows this,

but in quite Gen Z style, both Michelle Adjimang and Aggie Beaver-Jones have got side hustles. Michelle Adjimang is doing a business management degree at King's College London. And Aggie Beaver-Jones is having to deal with the fact that her name is Aggie Beaver-Jones. No, this isn't, this isn't, I'm not taking the mic here,

but do you, if anything, it's admirable. Do you realize the resilience that you must have to not only pursue football as a young girl inevitably surrounded by boys insisting that you can't play, but all the while with the name Aggie Beaver Jones? Yeah, I mean, you've just got to admire somebody that is happy to commit to a lifetime of wearing that name on the back of their t-shirt in the workplace.

I think it's amazing. That's the sort of, Aggie Beaver is the sort of thing that a sort of male bigot would say about the women's game. Yes. It's like something Joey Barton would say on his podcast. I'm fairly sure Aggie Beaver is a drag queen. And also, her and her agent, if they're listening, if you don't get a sponsor with Canniston Duo, you are missing a trick.

You are missing a trick. It's there for the taking. Finally, let's chat Lauren James. Now, she hasn't played much, but she's so good that they couldn't leave her out. I mean I'd love to be so good at my job that even if I hadn't been to work in months they still want to give me a promotion. Do you know what I mean? She's so so good. Are you across Lauren James?

I harbour some resentment for the James family. I share a name with her brother. That is very frustrating for my career. Apologies to everyone in this room who thought that that's... who was coming out. My next question was you must be so proud. Yeah, I'm Maurice James in Radio 4's budget, okay? That guy makes 350 grand a week, he's not doing this, no offence. I only make £90,000 a week, I need it, I need this. Listen, somewhere Rhys James the footballer is really struggling on the news quiz.

No, no, that was me as well. And then the Welsh squad, there is a star player to look out for, a player who goes by the name of Jess Fishlock, who is widely regarded, yeah, as their star player and is a Welsh football legend. She holds the record for the most caps for Wales, male or female. Wow. Right. How many people do you think, when they hear, like, oh, most caps for Wales, will immediately go Gareth Bale? It's Jess Fishlock! Yeah.

It is. Put some respect on her name. She's the country's all-time leading goal scorer as well. How do you think you'd cope being, like, the nation's star player? I don't know why I'm looking at you, Harriet. I'd like to hear from Harriet as well, actually. Amazing. But it's a lot of pressure, right? Yeah, a lot of medals, though.

Erm... That'd be nice. Yep, probably get your own stool. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Have my own stool wherever. The Welsh manager, Rhianna Wilkinson, does anybody know how she announced her squad? Does anybody know this? On the mountain?

Yes, yes, she climbed Mount Snowdon. She climbed Mount Snowdon to do the squad announcement. She climbed it in 90 minutes. Apparently it normally takes well over three hours. Does she think you have to do everything in 90 minutes? Right, we have spoken about the beautiful game, but it doesn't come without its icks, I think, football. So I want to unpack some of our favourite footballing icks, because we're into the second half now,

if you'll pardon the pun. Okay, they're really losing their patience on that one. Much like my husband and his insistence on quoting Borat in 2025, something that you can love can still give you the ick. I'll start off, the little remote control car. Hate it, hate it, don't get it, it's not necessary. It's another example of technology stealing our jobs. I love that car, that car's fantastic. Do you? You like it?

Absolutely love it. What's it for? Well, that car was there because that tournament was sponsored by Volkswagen. So it was like a little mini car with a ball in it. This tournament is sponsored by Just Eat. So you could bring it out in a little box. A little delivery. A man on a bicycle arrives, unzips his square box, hands it to you, asks for the code.

Asks the referee for the code. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, also, it's sponsored by Amazon, so you could leave it at Nextdoor Stadium for no reason. Um... LAUGHTER so you could leave it at next door stadium for no reason. LAUGHTER I just think it would be fun with both of those if we're like, everyone's looking around for the... We want to start the match, everyone's looking around for the ball

and then over the tannoy, it's just a big doorbell sound. The ring doorbell. And then the ref runs off and comes back with it, it would be great. OK, I could get on board with that. What are some of your ricks? When they're holding a dead fish. What? I hate that. I hate that.

When did that happen? Oh, in the profiles. When you're dating on the profiles. Oh no, Harriet. Then it's my dead fish. Yeah. I did mean footballing icks, Harriet. Right, okay, yeah, yeah.

It's when they have a little ball. I was genuinely trying to think back. When did they hold a dead fish? Just singing the national anthem with a dead haddock in their hands. There was that year it was sponsored by Bird's Eye, to be fair. Reece, you got any footballing aches? I got loads. I think male pundits clothes are unacceptable generally.

Yeah, there's some questionable... I think lots of male football pundits, they either dress like they're going to a mob boss's wedding and they just sew over, just like a three-piece suit with like chains and stuff. It's mental, you're just watching a football match. Or they have just absolutely sprinted through M&S autograph range. And they've got a bunch of- The crew neck knitwear. Yeah, they've got the sort of merino wool polo shirt,

long sleeve polo shirts that they're way too hench for. And they're wearing those shoes that are trainers, but are also shoes that are just gross. And their coats are too long, okay? Yes. Gary Neville's coat is so long, I genuinely am certain he's standing on Phil Neville's shoulders. I'm going to chuck out, this might be controversial,

mascots that are beyond the age of like puberty. Do you know what I mean? Like when you see like a full-on 16 year old walking out there, like especially when you consider like Jess Park consistently looks 12 years old. walking out there. Like especially when you consider like Jess Park consistently looks 12 years old. The last thing she needs is walking out with a 17 year old. It's just it's meant to be a cute like heartwarming thing and sometimes when it's very embarrassing when they're taller than them and they're holding hands.

My brother had to do this on his stag do at St. Albans football match. What? They made him walk out? He had to walk out, he had to be the mascot. Did he have to hold his hand? He had to hold his hand. He's six foot four and he was sort of 10 years older than the players. That's yeah, that's pretty devastating. Just the image is so harrowing. It was pathetic, it was absolutely.

Anybody got any X they want to share? Slutting on the players. It's pretty devastating. Just the image is so harrowing. It was pathetic, it was absolutely. Anybody got any X they want to share? Slotting on the floor. Oh yeah, horrible. Yeah, but what's the solution? Are we asking them to have a pack of tissues? Like, ref tissue please. Really bringing it back to school playground.

Ref, can I have a tissue? I've got a blocked nose. Thank you. They need to get some mums on the sideline. Oh, yeah. Yeah, get their mum. Yeah, yeah. And maybe like a little tupperware of tangerines. Yeah.

Yeah, that would be nice. Any others did we have? Kit kawas. I think if your home kit kawa is really good, your away kit kawa should have to be as good. Oh, OK. It should have to be as good. So what okay. It should have to be as good. So what are some examples of away ones?

Like, I've got Man City. Yep. Home kit cooler. Oh God, there's gonna be a fight. Home kit cooler gorgeous. Way kit cooler gross. Yeah. Kit coolers, who's designing them?

Who's put 50p in you? And another thing, who's designing these kits? I don't know why you've become Johnny Vegas, I'm so sorry. What department do we have over there? Socks over the knees. Socks over the knees. Oh, you're not a fan of pulling them right up? Socks and holes in as well.

Oh, where they start snipping the backs of their legs. Yeah. Why is that? That's for like, they they start snipping the backs of their legs. Yeah. Why is that? That's for like, they claim it. Have you seen this, Harriet? So people pull their big socks. No, I actually have. I have seen it.

I actually have seen it. I have seen it. Yeah. It's for storage. It's odd, isn't it? It's for storage. It's odd, isn't it? It's for storage.

I know. No, it's for speed, isn't it? Nope. It's smell. I'd like Harriet to keep guessing, if that's all right. It's smell. It's smell. It's air it, air it out.

I just don't think anybody's game has been dramatically changed by, oh, thank God they snipped, no commentary has ever been had. Is none of this right? Oh, you can tell bronze has snipped her socks. Like it's never actually I think Harriet might be onto something. Thank you

Please don't edit out to any other part of this show We're gonna we're gonna finish now with a little game of word association, I think Harriet you've come in with some very valuable contributions today. I think you've learnt a lot about the Euros. So we're going to play a Euros version of word association. Very simple. The idea is that me, Rhys and Harriet have to take it in turns to say a word to do with the Euros until one of us can't think of any more. Place your bets now.

I'm joking. It needs to be fast paced though, OK? If there's any hesitation and you guys can be the ref on this, then we will buzz in. Okay, are we ready? Are we feeling good? Yeah? Alright, I'll start. Ready? One, two, three. Trophy. Football. Socks.

Manager. Goal. Beaver. Pfft. Oh yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Go on, argue with it. Pfft. Can't you? I don't know. If you do it, it'll get very aggy. Pfft. Yeah. Yeah.

Come on, England. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think you might have won that one, Harriet. I hope it'll get very Aggie. CHEERING Come on, England! I think you might have won that one, Harriet, in a shocking turn of events. If we go to VAR, if we go to you guys, are we having Beaver? CHEERING An overwhelming result. Harriet Kensley's One Word Association.

CHEERING I lost, didn't I? I lost, really. Now, despite our input tonight, we did think that we should also speak to at least one professional for this Women's Euros special. So I asked former Lioness, Euros winner, and my good pal, no biggie, Jill Scott, MBE, I asked her what advice she would give to this year's England and Wales squad before a game. She's been there herself. She knows what it takes. She's captured the heart of a nation. So come on, Jill, take it away.

I suppose it's going to be a game of two hearts. And you take it one game at a time. You want to win this one, but it could be either or. I'm not sure. Meze, now if I have to tell you again, will you just get out of your dresser and move? Never meet your heroes. So, that's almost full time everyone, if you'll pardon the pun. But before we go, I've got to ask everyone here, do we think it's coming home again?

Give us a cheer if you think England are going to win again! And give us a cheer if you think it isn't. Oh, thank you. Get out. In all seriousness though, good luck to England and to Wales. Go do us proud and to everyone at home, please do go and watch the games. They're all free to enjoy without any nasty pay walls and you can listen to them live, including every England and Wales match on 5Live and BBC Sounds. Also for more coverage and reactions all you have to do is search women's euros on BBC Sounds. So I'm gonna wrap things up now because we can't go into extra time if you'll pardon the pun.

Thank you. I hope this has piqued your euros fever. Just remember, enjoy yourself. But please for goodness sake and I must insist on this no flares up any arses That's it from us, goodbye! Maisie Adam euros fever was hosted by me Maisie Adam the guests were Reese James and Harriet Kemsley the producer was Georgia Keating with additional material from Eve Delaney and Matthew Crosby. This was a BBC Studios audio production for BBC Radio 4.

Strong message here from BBC Radio 4. I'm Armando Iannucci. And I'm Helen Lewis. A comedy writer and a journalist teaming up like a pair of unkempt and unlikely superheroes. Our mission is to decipher political language. Stress testing to destruction those used and abused buzzwords and phrases. Finding out what they really mean. And looking at whether they're meant to deceive us.

Or to distract us. Or to disturb us. And our pledge is to help you spot the tricks of the verbal trait. But be warned this series does feature strong political language that some listeners may find an inverted pyramid of p verbal trait. But be warned, this series does feature strong political language that some listeners may find an inverted pyramid of piffle. Strong message here from BBC Radio 4. Listen now on BBC Sounds.