THE CATFLAP CHINWAG WITH...

Manish Bhasin

 

Did he genuinely know his stuff?

Either he's up on his stuff or his researchers did their job perfectly. Because he came up with four or five players that weekend who he thought were underrated and literally those four or five guys were key figures in those games they were playing in, they were either man of the match or they've scored the winning goal. So I think he was quietly chuffed to bits with that! But I don't think Focus has ever had a Prime Minister live on the show so that in itself was a coup.

 

Any uncomfortable moments?

There was a couple of sticky patches during the programme when we played back that interview when his credentials as a Newcastle fan were in question, when he said something about watching Jackie Milburn play. Looking at his face when I saw the programme again recently, I think he almost forgot what he'd said at the time. We proved that he was misquoted, so we did him a favour but it was slightly uncomfortable for him at the beginning.

 

Any other awkward interviewees?

We had Sven on the Saturday after England lost to Northern Ireland, so we had Sven and Lawrie Sanchez on set, the two managers from that game, so that was quite a big one, because it was literally an autopsy live on television when everyone was calling for his head. He was trying to manfully defend his decision to bring on Owen Hargreaves as his attacking midfielder when everyone knows that's not his game.

 

Biggest perk about working for the BBC?

I suppose it's using football as an excuse for earning a living. And I've managed to see some wonderful parts of the world by doing the cricket, going to Australia and the West Indies. It's been terrific so far, and hopefully there's many more to come still.

 

Who's the biggest star you've bumped into at the Beeb?

Madonna. Not that she had a clue who I was mind but I still bumped

into her!

 

Do you think Fabio Capello can bring England success?

Yeah I don't think any of them are prepared for what's going to come their way, it's totally different to what they've ever had, it's going to come as a culture shock.