talkSPORT releases new series of After The Lights Go Out

Thursday 13th April 2023: talkSPORT today announces a new series of the British Sports Journalism Awards-nominated series After The Lights Go Out, the programme which uncovers what happens to leading sportsmen and women when the curtain falls on their careers. Series three will consist of six episodes, kicking off this Sunday 16th April. 

The podcast is hosted by talkSPORT cricket commentator and double Ashes winner, Steve Harmison, and former Crystal Palace striker and professional boxer Leon McKenzie, who have both documented their own struggles with mental health post-retirement. In the first episode, former Spurs and England midfielder Paul Stewart discusses his addiction issues after being the victim of child abuse, and his work today delivering safeguarding awareness courses to youth players at football clubs.

The six episode run will also feature 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Steve Thompson, who explores his memory loss due to early onset dementia, and his legal battle around its connection to playing rugby. This episode will be released on the 23rd April. On 7th May, ex-England cricketer Adam Hollioake shares how he coped with the death of his brother Ben in a car accident in 2002, as well as his journey to becoming a professional boxer. 

On 14th May, episode four of the series sees former Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll discuss how a serious injury he suffered sent him spiralling into alcoholism and depression, before turning his life around to working as a goalkeeping coach today. He commented: “It’s a story that I love to get out, and I want people to understand life isn’t easy at the top and there are a lot of players who do drop very quickly. And I did drop. And I got back on the horse and jumped back up… I played at the highest level again.”

On Sunday 21st May, Commonwealth gold medalist Gail Emms shares feeling a loss of identity after finishing her badminton career, while former Reading Football Manager Brian McDermott shares how he tackled his substance abuse issues and low self-esteem in the episode airing on Sunday 4th June.

Head of talkSPORT, Liam Fisher, said: “talkSPORT is proud to host this series and our thanks to those who are bravely sharing their stories. The willingness to delve into their struggles is to be greatly admired. Steve and Leon are the perfect hosts, having shared their own retirement struggles over the years. This series is not to be missed and I urge listeners to tune in.”

The podcast episodes will be available on talkSPORT at 8pm from this Sunday, and the episodes will also be available as a podcast on the talkSPORT Gameday feed once the episode has finished.

You can tune in to talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2 via our free online streaming service at talkSPORT.com, DAB digital radio, download the talkSPORT app, or ask your smart speaker to play talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2. talkSPORT is also widely available across the UK on 1089 or 1053 AM.