Test Match Special - #40from40: Happy Birthday Aggers!

Episode Date: April 4, 2020

In honour of Jonathan Agnew's 60th birthday, we listen back to a special interview from 2016 when Aggers was asked the questions by Sir Michael Parkinson.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. To embrace the impossible requires a vehicle that pushes what's possible. Defender 110 boasts a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms, a weighting depth of 900 millimeters and a roof load up to 300 kilograms. Learn more at landrover.ca. BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. Hello, this is Simon Mann and welcome to a very special test match, special podcast on the occasion of Jonathan Agnew's 60th birthday. Agnes has been the BBC's cricket correspondent for almost 30 years and in that time he's described some of the most significant moments in the sports history from World Cup finals to thrilling Ash's drama.

Agas has just about seen it all. Back in 2016, Jonathan was celebrating 25 years in the job, and we gave him a bit of a surprise at lunch during a test at Lords. He thought he was handing to Kevin Howells to give an update from the county championship, but instead we had a tape ready of some of Agers' greatest moments in the test match special commentary box. I should say, in the light of the summer of 2019, we've added a couple of extra memories into the mix for you to enjoy. He knew, this is the tragic thing about it, he knew exactly what's going to happen.

He tried to step over the stumps and just flipped a bail with his right back. He tried to do the splits over it, and unfortunately the inner part of his thigh must have just removed the bail. He just didn't quite go his leg over. Anyhow, he did very well indeed, batting 131 minutes and hit three-fours, and then we had Lewis playing extremely well before his 47 knot out. Agers do stop it. And he was joined by DeFratus, who was in for 40 minutes, a useful little partnership there.

They put on 35 in 40 minutes, and then he was called... A very welcome guest in our commentary box now. We've got the cousin of the match referee. How you doing, Jonathan? How are you doing, folks? Russell Crow, good afternoon. Great to have you here. Have you been introduced like that before? Say it again. Has you ever had that sort of introduction before?

No, that was an excellent introduction. Thank you very much. I'll be working on that. His hand, getting a single through the offside. He might get two, actually. Bopara rushes up. from deep point and two runs it is 146 for six and here you are first time to lords or not my first time to lords yes something that i've been talking about with martin for probably 20 something years or longer actually since he was the uh what is it the junior cricketer of the year here at my point fantastic so he's just out the back here by the by the training field yeah so it's finally come true yeah and and finally come together to the ground and walk through the long

room together which is something that we've talked about like I said for yeah my on 30 years and here it is today's the day fantastic Anderson runs away from us moves in bowls and now the scenes said whatever he was to say and key has gone out to backward point oh he hasn't finished fiddling Vaughn's coming in and deep midwickets coming in he's gonna play the slog sweep all three are going over or he gets his hundred if don't Dawson pitches middle and off, he's in the frame, but so Steve Waugh, because he's just, you know he's going to play this stroke. Oh, this is...

It's death or glory off the last ball of the third day. He's going to block it. 233 for 5. Here we go. Dawson comes up and bowls to war, who drives... And drives through the offside first hundred. That is extraordinary. And Steve Waugh, a man of little.

emotion can barely restrain himself now. His helmets off. Oh, he's waving his back. Alex Stewart shakes his hand. You could not have scripted anything more remarkable for what we have seen here this afternoon. Possibly you have to have followed this saga very closely to fully appreciate it. But this is a man who has been largely written off to no fault of his own only that a bit of old age is starting to catch up and he has played the most extraordinary innings here this afternoon not simply for himself but for his team and that's the reception as he walks off 102 not out and he's coming back tomorrow for some more so we're at tea 221 for 7 and it's a great pleasure to welcome Hugh Grant to the box

Oh thank you very much. Good to see you, Hugh. We've seen you chewing your fingernails a bit over the last couple of days. Yeah, I'm suffering, I think, more than anyone in the whole crowd. I can barely speak. It's hell. I just say, yeah, you spend all this money on tickets and, in fact, then put yourself through two days of unmitigated misery. Yeah. How do you feel at the moment? Well, one tiny, milly fraction, less frightened than I was 10 minutes ago, but it looks like an awful lot of overs. Apparently you can go on until it's dark. Oh, we can. Oh, yes, we'll keep plugging away.

Was there a moment I felt when Peterson got his hundred, that there just seemed to be a little bit of a release of that pressure, almost like just taking a bit of the top of the steam cook and just a little bit. Yeah, I think there was a lot of very frightened and semi-drunk people who needed to let off some steam then. And I know I was one of them, and it was very, it was amazing. It was amazing. I, you know, I worship him now.

In fact, I'm now going to dye my hair. Kevin Peterson. That would be interesting. because the Phil took away my license It doesn't get me down and I feel okay I showed me up I had to be honest The other day I was sitting here

I just I got the lyrics for one of your songs Which I'm not going to talk to go into Except I was I was reading it off the screen Quite loudly I think I was entertaining Malcolm Saying cool

I've got on the programme on Saturday Look at this So I was reading out It was the title to this song If your followers will know Quite loudly Went to my absolute horror I looked just here to my left on three yards away

and there was a lovely woman bearing a cake and she said, Agas, I've brought this for you and she heard me saying the most appalling language. Oh no. And it was quite embarrassing. That is truly awful. Talking of appalling language, I think we should be able to hear more of the sledging. Ah, okay. Don't you think?

I think that's how you're going to get more young people into cricket. We've got to get some more microphones down on those wickets. Here's broad, coming in and bowling to Vodges. Oh, he's Britain, Nicole! Brilliantly called! Brilliantly caught! That is an outrageous catch by Ben Scokes. That was gone, it was past him.

And he flung himself backwards and to his right. You won't see a better catch. I'm sorry that you can have your Andrew Strauss here in 2005. That beats it. That beats that catch. That was quicker. It had gone. He had no time to see that.

Well, what a catch. What a catch. What a delivery, first of all. And look at Stuart Broad's face. He's run up to Ben Stokes with his hands over his mouth, and he can't believe he's caught it. It was a couple of feet past him. It's outrageous? Yeah, that is.

That was an outrageous catch. I don't know how he called that. Thank you, Simon, very much. Indeed, in the chairman's office. What a wonderful view he has. Amazing. It's only work done at all here. The third floor upper of the pavilion used to be about the area of the old visitors' dressing rooms up here.

Here I am, potted it away, with the Prime Minister. David Cameron, lovely to see you. The last time you were on, of course, you've leaded the opposition, and life is easy. Or easier? Well, I remember we had a good chat at Lords. I was in the TMS studio that time, so we got the cake, we got Geoffrey Boycott, we got the full package. I feel sadly robbed this time. But anyway, it's lovely to be here for an afternoon of enjoyable cricket.

You're right. And you're quite happy to come, you're able to come, it's sort of a problem for you to come. Lots of people always say, what is the Prime Minister of England? She would leave in the country rather than watching cricket at the Oval? I hope no one would begrudge her an afternoon's cricket, particularly when England are playing so well. I had a busy day today. Kevin Peterson, he's a new bat rubber on his handle. And as we know, all amateurs will know, it's not easy to do that.

You've got to roll it on, down the stick, and make sure there's all in place. And no floppy stuff on the end of the handle or anything like that. He can't have that. So it's a bit of a procedure. And I thought he did it very well, actually. Michael, Vaughn's beside me. It's not easy putting a rubber on, is it? No, it's not.

I was never good at that. 2.10 for two. In comes Fernando. Bowles, and that's turned away. It's a backward square leg, and they'll come back for two. You know what I meant. Should we move on? You know what I meant.

Hello, Henry. He's played well, Capri, isn't he? He has played well. You really get to feel that you're amongst the atmosphere and amongst the crowd. It's been pretty quiet, walking around. I must say, a lot of people think, are rather given up what's going on. But Roy Hodgson hasn't. You haven't given up, have you, Roy?

I mean, you've seen adversity before. I mean, that's one of what you might be saying. If you were Randy Flower, if you were the England, do you want to switch sports? You want to go in there now and try and gee them up? I think it must be very difficult. I think two days virtually in the field, like they've had to do batting on such a good wickers

as South Africans have been able to do. I feel really sorry for the ballers and the fielders. It's been a thankless task, and I suppose now they're going to have to face quite a difficult period themselves because they've got such a commanding lead to South Africans. It's not going to be easy for the English batsmen, despite the fact the wicket is playing quite nice. It looks as though the officials.

I'm getting some news, Jim. Apparently, the umpires are going to come out and take the bales off. right and that is going to be the moment that this game is over and England win the ashes no one in the crowd actually knows what's going on here

there's been no public address announcement about this we've just got inside word up here this is what's going to happen they are inspecting for light they're really just going through the motions here the umpires are going to their respective ends and in the most extraordinary manner

the bales are removed by umpire bowden he throws one in the air and England had won the ashes. Finally, in the most bizarre ending, oh, let the crowd speak for themselves. It's come to this.

Here's the last ball of the World Cup final. Archer Bowles in. It's clipped away into the leg side. They're going to come back for the second. The throw is picked up. They throw to the wicket keeper's end. He's not hard, was he? I think he's run out. England think he's run out.

out. England are convinced he's been run out. They're celebrating. It was thrown to the right end, to Butler's end. We had to work hard to take those bales off. England is sure they've got him. Through a tie in the tie breaker. But it's England's game on more boundaries in the match. New Zealand looked demonstrated, guptials on his haunches. I think he knows. I think he knows, as England do. Here's the replay. Wait for the cheer. We're watching Butler.

Gather the ball. He's got a bit of work to do to take it to the stumps. Wait now, listen. That tells you that England would have won the World Cup. 3.58 for 9. Stokes on strike. England need one to win. And in comes Pat Cummins from the far end.

He bowls to Stokes, who hammers it. four and scans there with a bat raised i can't believe we've seen that that is the most extraordinary innings ever ever been played by an englishman he punches the air his helmet's off he was hit on that helmet this morning bits flew off all over the place and he slumped to his knees For training, batty for 35. 35 minutes. Hit a four over the week. He was.

Baggers, for goodness sake, stop it. Yeah, it's Lauren's. Lerrence played. It's truly well. He hit a four over the week he was head. And he was out for nine. And Tafelke. Badded for 12 minutes.

There was called by Haynes, on Parson for two. And there were 54 extras. And he was all out for 419. I've stopped laughing now. There we go, Agnes. Just a few highlights of your 300 tests and 25 years as a correspondent. Now, you can't interview yourself. You probably like to.

I don't know. So we've managed to find some. someone who might just be able to do the job. And you're a liar as well because you said you weren't going to be around. I did say that. Yes, I had to be very cautious and hold my mouth, actually. But I'm delighted to be here

because, as you know, apart from being a mate of yours, I'm also a great fan of yours. We thought it would be rather nice to sort of do a little quick trawl through your life and your work with T.M. They all have. I just can't believe it. Well, you deserve it.

I mean, you do. Yes, you do. 25 years. This is job with the world. Well, you most of it. enjoyable job in the world, maybe, not the easiest job in the world, that is for sure. The special gift for doing radio, and you have it. That's at least the first question.

I mean, did you always have it from the very beginning? Were you settled here? Did you immediately feel, yeah, I'm at home? Well, I think I did, because I hadn't really listened to the programme when I was playing cricket. I think if I had done, and if I had been a proper broadcaster, I think I would have been very anxious about suddenly coming into Test Match Special. But as it happened, I hadn't really heard it, I had it as a kid when my dad was a farmer and he had the radio on when he was gathering in the grain and so on

but there was in that big 15 year gap really of not hearing Johners very much or John Arlett or anything I can't believe you're sitting here Michael by the way and asking me questions it's ridiculous but so therefore I think you know I was just really lucky to go in from a much more relaxed position than I wouldn't otherwise being very relaxed about it all and a love of rhythm and sense of timing what you do

But let's come back to the days when you were a player. You left playing cricket when you were 30. Does that denote a certain disenchantment with the game? I'd had enough. Yeah, it had enough standing at Long Lake. Because I think, Shavis, Michael, and I'll see people playing now, if you know you're not going to play for England again, and my English career was a disaster, really.

You know, look at my, I mean, the batting average and the bowling average is the wrong way round. I've had a batting average of 90 in test cricket and a bowling average. But anyway, so I think, but once you've played for England, and you know it's not going to happen again, then it's time to go, I think. You know, if you are very competitive and I am very competitive,

then I didn't see more years standing at Grace Road admiring the rose bushes at Fine Lake. So it was time to move on. And I was very lucky that this job came up. The today newspaper, which you'd remember. Yes, you were working on today. Yes, of course. The first colour paper.

That's right. Everything was blue. But they were brilliant because they sent me off, this is when I was still playing, but they sent me off for some winters to do, Oh, I know, skiing, Aussie rules, rugby, surfing, and everything, really, and say, go away and write about it, which is a really good experience. Of learning your trade. Absolutely.

And the first of these 300 tests was working for them, actually, in Australia. So that, without them and the people that work there, I wouldn't be sitting here now talking to you because that cutting edge of a tabloid newspaper was really important. Yeah. But when you came into TMS, I mean, it was full of old proof. I mean, I've been around four in age and more. How did they greet you? What was it like? Was it a sticker to begin with?

No. No, it wasn't. Because my first memory is walking into the old box at Heading in which you would know so well down there in the old football stand. Rickety old place, wasn't it? Awful place. It was just falling apart for years. But anyway, we're not there anymore.

But my first glimpse was opening the door. I'll go back one step. I saw Blowers, who was actually going to work for Sky then. So he was going. I was coming. And Blowers said, well, one piece of advice to you, Aggers, is absolutely be yourself. Don't try and be anybody else, because radio will show you up. Be yourself.

And so I waved Henry off to go and start his career at Sky. And I walked into the comedy box, and there was this old boy stooped over a sort of pile of cake boxes. And it was Johners. And he said, you must be Agers. And that was it. And Peter Baxter very wisely, because I hadn't commentated before on anything, decided that I'd be an expert summariser for that first year which is a joke because the other two expert summarisers were Fred Truman and Trevor Bailey

and then me so anyway but the point being that I would sit beside Johners and watch and learn and he and I did hit it off I mean we're you're like a comedy act actually well it's it's like it was wonderful the Western brothers you think it's rather stylish you know my brother and I don't you think that there is often a good gap In generations, though, with grandparents and grandchildren are often, even closer maybe, than parents and children sometimes. And he was like a granddad to me, really.

I mean, he was, because the age difference, just the way he looked after me. And we just got on incredibly well. And, of course, the leg over that we heard there. Well, I mean, I have to tell you, the only thing that would get me back on to radio, in fact, to do my second, this is your life, or if it's called, Desert Island This, we'll be to actually choose. That was the funniest broadcast I've ever heard in my mind.

Would you have it on? Oh, would I ever have it on? I mean, it is priceless. And no matter how many times you see it, or hear it, rather, it is wonderful. It is so funny. Yeah. It has been seen once. Has it?

And that was the only time I was ever paid for it. I got 50 quid because it turned up on aunties bloomers. Do you remember that Terry Logan used to do? Otherwise, it's been one of the most extraordinary replay things. It's played everywhere. I love the thought of people driving along and crashing into it. I know. And it was really quite cross.

And he stomped off at the Oval. It was my first year. And he stomped off into the night, shaking his head. And I remember he was very upset at home. And the next morning... Well, he's already gone too far. He's already gone too far. He lost it, unprofessional, and it hadn't been very funny.

Absolutely. I mean, he was really worried about it. The next day, we don't get them now. It's all emails, isn't it, and so on. But there was this mountain of letters. And I was reasonably confident because I'd heard it being played on the Today program. So I thought, actually, this is funny, you know. So I waited for the old boy to come in.

and he started picking through these letters. He still wasn't talking to me. And he got to one from Ronnie Corbett's wife. He said he opened up. Yes. And she had been one of these people who was stuck in the dark for tunnel or something laughing, you know. And so immediately he's mood lifted.

And I took him down to the engineers to kill me, Brian. He got to come and have a listen to this. And we sat there and listened to it. Of course, he had tears pouring down his face. He loved it after that. But it was a classic, but of course he then wouldn't work with me anymore. He said, if we look at each other like you and I are now,

It would be hopeless, and he was right, really. We'd just end up corpseing anyway. We had a couple of goes, but we just sort of broke into silly laughter, really. Speaking about relationships, I mean, that was a very sort of, sort of, as a grandfather's son, sort of a grandson relationship. How would you sort of explain your relationship with Jeffrey Boycott? I must explore this because there's something for long. I mean, you're keeping him in work, you know, I mean.

I know, I know. People always wonder, don't they? I mean, I suspect because on the radio, Yeah, it is a bit bickery, isn't it? I mean, it can be a bit edgy, I suppose. But I've, I'm with you, I think. I mean, I do have a sort of a genuine affection for Geoffrey. It's not easy, is it?

It's not, no, I've tried for since I'm 16. I know, and you've known him considerably longer than I have. No, I mean, we are really good mates. And like you are, I mean, you can't help but admire him for a start. He reads the game well. Yes, he does. Yeah. I think of all the summarizers, the experts I've worked with,

he is the most piffy. He will put, particularly batsmen. I mean, Bowler's obviously not quite his thing, but particularly, he will highlight a weakness, particularly because that's his strength, isn't it? Technical weakness. He will highlight that within just a few minutes. And I really admire that.

He's never late. He's always got something to say. So I love Geoffrey. When he was ill, I mean, you'd go and see him. I'd go and see him, and he wasn't, he was in a bad state. I was in the most awful, I don't see him. Yeah, it was, and for him to, well, it's kind of typical of him, really, that he's, that he's, that he's forced it off. You know, you get people in, and when I feel Geoffrey sit down beside me, you know you're going to have, you know, you're going to have some fun.

It's interesting, isn't it? Because when you started, as an ex-pro, the problem always is, if you're going to be honest in your commentary, that you have to actually criticize at times, some kind of pros. And some are very good at that, and get into it straight away. Others back off. And there's nothing worse than listening at home, I'm feeling he's backing off this. And you can't accuse you. were doing that, Noel Jeffrey doing that. I mean, you've always been very honest in your opinion. And sometimes, I suppose, it might have cost you a friendship. I mean, there was a famous incident with your commentary about Michael Atherton or the Dustin and Parky thing. You didn't hold back there at all, you said he thought he should be sad.

When you did that, did you understand the consequences might be losing a friend? It's funny that, because Mike and I have still never talked about that. Really? No. What was that? That was, what, 94, 95? Yeah. It's a long time. And we have perfectly good mates and we chat and we talk. but we've never talked about that. Really? Yeah.

And it was here. And it was, I think that, obviously, and then with the KP business, lastly, has been the most difficult times doing this job, because you do have to be honest. You might be wrong. Yes. But you've got to be honest.

Yes. And the mic one was really hard, because we'd had the year before a lot of ball tampering issues with Pakistan and so on. I mean, it seemed to be, well, it's all right for us to pile into the Pakistani fast bowlers and talk about. talk about it, but actually, you know, when one of our own appears to be bull tampering, for some reason we shouldn't talk about it.

And I thought that was wrong. It was interesting how actually the broadsheets sided entirely with him, whereas the tabloid newspaper was rather sided with my argument. But it was really unpleasant, really unpleasant. And I remember you came up and you came up to interview me, didn't you? I did. For the Telegraph. That's right. And that was, in a way, a bit of a turning of the tie because I think you were, whether I thought I was right or not, I don't think it matters.

But I think you felt that I was right to say it. Whereas others ran a very stiff campaign. Some of these papers was actually to get me out of the job because they argued that BBC commentator, correspondents shouldn't make comment like that. You know, would the political correspondent of the time demand for the Prime Minister to be sacked?

They sort of likened it like that, which made it all a bit complicated. But I think, yeah, well, you're popping up to see me there. Just turn the tide a little bit, actually. Oh, it's good. Good news. But it's funny how we've never... Never talked about it to Mike. That sounds interesting.

It looks there like a shadowing across here. relationship in a sense. Yeah, it does. I do wonder what he would have written now, by the way, if he'd been sitting there. Well, again, he's a very honest He is, absolutely. So I think he might have actually decided with.

I take the view, Michael, and you know this, you've covered sport for years, that whatever happens on the field is not actually your it's not your doing, it's not your folks, like Stuart Broad not walking at Heddingley, at Trent Bridge, who again is really, you know, their family's very close friends of mine. I want my dog with Stuart, and for people sometimes to write stuff about, oh, journalists are too close to players,

Well, hang on a minute. Maybe do get close to the players, but you're still going to do your job. I want my dog's a steward, but I said, I'm sorry, you can't behave like that. That's cheating. You shouldn't do that. Yes. So you do have to do your job as well as maintain relationships in the game. Sometimes they do sustain. What about television? You never be seduced by it, have you, been offered? Michael, I've got a great face for radio, and the man who says that is Ian Botham next door.

No, I couldn't do television, I don't think. Why would that be? because it's just a completely different I mean I think blowers would accept that television wasn't him either and I think radio you you've got you're looking out here through our magnificent window and beyond the stands

and out and almost as far as Heathrow or the city or whatever whereas on telly you've got that little monitor and you've got the man in your ear which I also find very difficult to whereas this you this you can just bring people with you I think you communicate so much more on radio than you can on television

You can have fun with people. You can tease people a bit. I love it when we were abroad, and it's in the middle of the night, and you just think of the people lying in bed. They've got their headphones on. And you're in there. You're almost sort of part. You're part of their, you're right in their brains.

You know, and that's, yeah, it's a real privilege to do that, of course. But it's great fun to do it as well. And I love, you know, I love teasing people. And you can tease the listeners as well as you tease the people that you're working with, can't you? That's all part of it. I just don't think TV's, it's not as relaxed as that. No, well, I mean, I see a point, absolutely, though. But I think that there's always that seduction of becoming that TV face, isn't it?

Oh, yeah, but it's so nice not to have that, isn't it? I was talking to these two young eyes as actors yesterday, who, because they made up differently when they were filming, they can almost wander around incognito. I'd hate to be someone like Ian both of them, he's scurrying in through the gates here. You know, people descending on him and so on, whereas a radio man can just wander through unnoticed.

Which is great. Okay, no, just think of the great moments. I know that you're in the preamble to this. There was a sort of litany of stuff there. Just to bring back the memories when you hear things like that. That's what I want to ask you. I mean, when you sort of think back, and usually do, you lie there and night of trying to get to sleep, or do you think back over your career.

Who have been the truly great players that you've seen? The guys that really moved you, that you thought that is exceptional. Oh, Shane Warren, movie number one, I think. Yeah. I love seeing him around. because, I mean, apart from physically, he hasn't changed at all, is he? He's still the same bloke. He's got more hair.

He has. But I love seeing Shane, but I love, I mean, to watch, to commentate on him bowling, this, a, amazing bowler, brilliant bowler, but also this sort of pantomime dame figure. Yes. To bring the colour to, as a commentator, you want something like that. You don't just want somebody running in and doing, or just batting mechanically.

For a radio commentator, you want, the rest of it. Yes. And I thought Shane would just give you that in spades. Oh, he was a great player. I'd say, Dirk, I love watching bat, of course, but then he just sort of batting, you know, beautifully, but I never got necessarily very excited about watching Tendulgar. I'd rather watch Adam Gilchrist, who kind of changed wicket-keeping and batting when he was going.

And I know that sort of England supporters go, oh, Steve War. But funny enough, that commentary that they played was not on BBC. That was on the ABC. We got it. Carey O'Keefe, who also is a wonderful person to listen to. But for an Englishman to broadcast on such a significant moment as that, I thought was just wonderful, because you know, you do go onto these radio stations as a guest, really. And sometimes there's a bit, okay, I feel part of the setup now, I've done it for so long,

but you do have to sort of, people I think Australian listeners might listen to this palm on for a while and wonder if you cut them on the mustard. You've got to win them over, haven't you? Absolutely. But that, to be able to do that because everything was against Steve at the time really and they were trying to get him out and that was such a brave innings

and I just felt that almost anybody else would just have just patted the ball away and they would have come back for the next day about 93, not out and then got their hundred. Not him. Not him. The last ball of the day I mean it was

that I think was the most excited I've ever been and it was a woman Australian and bass were scoring 100 against Australia but I think it was because the ashes in 2005 was amazing and the scene had the oval was one that

could never forget anybody that was there and never forget it especially if you had a bit of height and you could see beyond the oval and look at the people in the windows and on the roofs and the balconies and chimney pots and so on and Leslie Garrett singing and Hugh Grant in the box but it was a bit of an anti-climax the way that it happened the bus was great

though that was the next day to be on that was a, again, a ridiculous privilege. It was, I mean, there's only me and a guy from Sky with any journos on it. And dear old Andrew Flintoff giving his indecipherable interview at the front. I mean, things like that. I mean, the more you think about it, Mike, I mean, these things are lovely to be ambushed.

But you kind of wish you'd had ten minutes to think of these wonderful things. What about the other aspect of your job here, which is the interviews that you do with the famous personalities or whatever? I did a few of them, and I know that it exists. It sounds a wonderful job, but it cannot actually be disastrous at times. What's the biggest disaster you have?

Far they're laughing. You know I can't answer that. Well, give us a hint. Male or female? It's male. The only hint I'll give you. Part of a famous acting family. That's as far as it's going to go.

Because I feel embarrassed as in case he's listening. I do say it to my guest now, if I ever ask you what do you think of the Euro? it means we're struggling because that was the last question that I said to this acting yes great dynasty individual and I remember the door burst open

the producer came rushing because he knew I must have asked him 300 questions nothing came back at all nothing and that was literally the last question that was the last thing I could think of asking him I know it's terrible and it dented my confidence for a while and I didn't do the next couple and Peter Baxter got hold on me he said

this is ridiculous you've got to get back on the horse. Yeah. Choose who you want. And so I went for Stephen Frye. Asked him about three questions in 40 minutes. The good. But you've helped me.

You're hiding. You're like under Bush. You've helped me with that. I've come to you for help on these interviews, and you've been kind enough to do it. Because I suppose there is a sort of a technique to doing it, but you are alone. I mean, you are alone in this box with nowhere to go.

You can't go to the traffic news or a weather forecast. And you are totally in the hands of that person who comes here. But most people are there's a thrill to be here. I think you should have an ejector seat, actually. It's why I was sort of a bit. I was just pressed about, and off they went, you know. Thank you and goodbye. But it's a challenge.

I mean, it's great to talk to people. Yeah, absolutely. But when the other person, it's a two-way, especially an interview, the other person can't be bothered. You've had it. You know, I sat there many times. I'm, geez, what am I doing?

But often, don't you find, when your mind has gone blank, it's happened a few times, you think, what was I going to ask? Thank goodness, the person that you're interviewing, goes, just giving you an extra sentence or two. So it's come back. again, I've been in that situation in times

where there's just nothing there and you think if they stop now, I don't know what I'm going to... But they've just given another couple of sentences and something comes back. By the way, have you taken my name off your top of your phone? Oh gosh, I know, it's terrible. I'm sort of bang the phone in my pocket. And it always rings on his number. Always rings me. You must have about 75

calls from me. You don't think I'm stalking you or something like that. I thought you've seen now. Well, I mean, that's a fair bet. Let me tell you. Now, the other thing, of course, the opposite to what we've been talking about is that are the ones that you It would really look forward to it. Stephen Frye apart, who's just a fascinating man,

a wonderful talker about any subject you catch to mention, and a few who didn't mention it too? But, I mean, from that point of view, who have been the ones that you most enjoyed then? Well, the one that I want to do more than is Alex Ferguson. Ah, yes, a very good one. I'd love to do. Have you done Alex Ferguson?

No, never. I'd love to do that, only because, I suppose, of the reputation that comes with him, but also, I mean, the extraordinary career that he's managed. I mean, he has managed somehow to keep a sports. team evolving, which has never really happened in cricket, has it? You look at the Great Western Indies team and good Australian team and so on. They've only had a shelf

life of 10 years. So anyway, I'd like to him. I'd say anyone I really enjoyed and in a way it really brought home a lesson to me as well. We've only recorded a very few of these as in, you know, on tape beforehand. One was Elton John. And for a start, I

knew he knew a bit about cricket and that's all you ever ask from these people, isn't it? They come a bit of cricket and off you go and it's an excuse to get them on. So first of all, it turned up when we were at Battersea and his sort of advisor said, John to interview Elton in his sort of lorry or on his piano stool. So I went to him and I thought, I better look at his lorry. It was like a hilton. It was an massive bed, a huge screen and everything else.

And I said, I think I'll do it on the piano stool. So he got his piano stool. And sure enough, Elton John turned up. And first of all he started talking to me about that amazing one day international yesterday between West Indies and Zimbabwe. Did you see it? I said, no. And no, I didn't. and he was talking about these fast bowlers he'd seen and so on

and talked about playing here at Lords and so on so when first his cricket knowledge really really gripped me actually the fact that he was but what the lesson that I learned was he was about to do a concert and how many times I mean do you know the words to your song by Elton John I mean we've all had a bit of a drunken go you don't know you don't know the words no I know I know I know the song you kick it off right well I think I'd know most of the words

to your song I've got most famous he had three three screens up from his view of his from his piano stool of the lyrics to your song he's going to obviously sing that first and I thought do you know how professional is that with there are times when you're feeling a bit that you you know

you can't really be bothered to do a bit of preparation something yeah there's him and he's gone to that length mean Crosby had the cue board up for white Christmas no you thought he might have known that but that's it we have to go now because the players are

You are an old rogue. I've been completely stitched by everybody. I really much enjoyed that. The nice thing about you, I think, one professional to another is you've never lost your sense of wonder about this game. And you report the game and they play wonderfully well. Best in the world, isn't it? 25 years, keep on going.

Michael, you've done me there, and you've all done me yet. But I really enjoyed it. Thank you, Mike. Top man. Bring us some lunch or what? Time for lunch? Good love. Well, what a great treat it was to have some Michael Parkinson surprising Agers four years ago.

Jonathan had been expecting to be travelling home from Sri Lanka for this special birthday, but of course England's tour, like so much else, was postponed. Rest assured, though, once the cricket returns, Agers will be charging in with the same enthusiasm as when he started with Test Match Special all those years ago. From everybody at the programme at Test Match Special, a very happy birthday, Agers. Hello, Agas. Tuffers here. I hear it's a very special birthday for you on Saturday. It might even be your high score. First class, of course. Have a great time. Love to all. 60? No, he's 65. He's got, he can't be 60. He's got, he can't be 60. I'm sure I had a vina with him inside Africa and it was 60. Hey Agas, it's Ebbs, wanted to send a big message to say, happy birthday, heard it was your 40th. Hold on, wait, let me just check that.

Oh, no, 50th, 60th, 60th, you old dog. All right, well done. Proud of you, keep it up. But on a serious note, honestly, sending so much love, so please, big milestone, hope you celebrate well and give a big kiss to Emma. I miss you guys so much and cannot wait to see you as soon as we can. Um, any of, oh hello, oh, sorry, sorry, uh, Agas, yeah, happy birthday, yeah, I believe there's a very special day, 60th on Saturday, um, many happy returns. I hope you celebrating in fine Vino fashion. I'm sure you are. Um, have a great day. You and Emma, happy birthday. So, all right. In the 20s, look at that. A little bit of a curl on the top of the head. Gorgeous, wasn't it? Oh, fresh face youngster. And into your 40s. A little bit of a receipts. A little bit of a receipt. are going on but still quite smart but like any fine wine getting better with age into your

60s so happy birthday aggers have a brilliant day hey aggers happy birthday to you happy 60th now I was looking up of course what 60th anniversary is and it is of course the anniversary of your birth and so it should be diamonds have a lovely day and lots of love to both you and Emma so 69 aggers more than you managed in 235 of your 200 the 37 first-class innings from square leg. Hope you're coping with the isolation in Leicestershire. Mind, you're used to it in the wilds of the beaver. So happy birthday.

Hello, Agers. Happy birthday from me. Hope you're having a wonderful day. There's a special birthday treat I've hacked into the Crick Inf database and given you a 10-for from the 1984 oval test against West Indies. You even got Viv out this time. Now, there you go. 10-4-46 from a marathon 35 overspell.

Well-bold and happy. Have a wonderful day, really missing you hugely, massive love to Emma, have a super time and let's hope we can get a drink as soon as possible. The all-new match-of-the-day top-10 podcast, answering a huge football question every week. This has not been easy, hasn't it? Like the top-10 Premier League strikers. Personally, I think it's really hard to have Shearer anywhere near the top 10. The Match of the Day Top 10 podcast.

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