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Baddiel Explores England's Football Fanaticism
30 May
Summary
- David Baddiel examines English identity via the England Men's Football team.
- The series tackles English football hooliganism from the seventies and eighties.
- It explores how national myths are reflected in the team's fortunes.
David Baddiel's "Sixty Years of Hurt" offers a social and cultural exploration of England and Englishness, centered on the history of the England Men's Football team. The series examines how national identity is forged and reflected through the international game.
Episode three confronts the issue of hooliganism, dubbed the 'English disease,' detailing the violent surges through the seventies and eighties. It charts the evolution of fan behavior as football entered the 1990s, featuring insights from figures like Cass Pennant and Roy Williams.
The program also considers perspectives from sporting rivals and the impact of the England Women's team's success on the narrative of Englishness. Contributors, including Stephen Fry and David Seaman, join Baddiel in this multifaceted look at England's story.
Produced by BBC Studios Audio for BBC Radio 4, in collaboration with Left Bank Pictures, this series is a companion to the upcoming drama "Dear England."
