The Sports Desk
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
Sir Jim Ratcliffe: full exclusive interview
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sir Jim Ratcliffe sits down with BBC sports editor Dan Roan after completing his deal to buy a 27.7 per cent stake in Manchester United. The British b...
Harry Kane on breaking records and building resilience
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We catch up with England captain Harry Kane after his brilliant start to life at Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.Kane talks to Alex Howell about his p...
Luke Littler: The Boy who Changed Darts
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The public has watched with growing astonishment at the 16 year old darts prodigy who has beaten players forty years his senior to progress in one of ...
Inside the Saudi sporting revolution
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Whether it’s the Saudi Pro League's £750m spending spree, the unopposed bid for the 2034 men’s World Cup or the growing influence in golf, tennis...
How should football react to the Middle East conflict?
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As the Israel-Gaza war intensifies, we examine the stance taken by football and some of its key protagonists. Following the row over the decision not ...
Climate of fear: What's the solution to women's football's ACL crisis?
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
England captain Leah Williamson and star Beth Mead were among more than 25 players to miss the Women's World Cup due to anterior cruciate ligament (AC...
Is Spain's football crisis really over?
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Katie Smith is joined by Spanish football expert Guillem Balague and reporter Antia Andre from RNE radio to react to the news that most of the Spain w...
Can women’s football be a billion pound industry?
13 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On the eve of the Women's World Cup, we discuss Karen Carney's landmark review into domestic women's football. Carney joins the podcast panel to outli...
How does protest impact sport?
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As Wimbledon becomes the latest major sporting event to be disrupted by protestors we discuss what impact protest has on sport and explore the cause o...
Cricket's day of reckoning
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A long-awaited independent report has painted a sorry picture of deep-rooted discrimination in English cricket and challenged its governing body to ad...
Has Saudi Arabia just bought golf?
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A special edition reacting to the shock merger between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabian-backed circuit LIV golf.The surprise announcement...
Erling Haaland: full exclusive interview
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Erling Haaland sits down with BBC sports editor Dan Roan before he and his Manchester City teammates play the final two matches in their hunt for the ...
Can Vinicius episode be a turning point in football’s racism battle?
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Will global outrage at the racial abuse of Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr prompt change?We analyse the week’s events, ask whether football’s anti-racis...
The battle for football’s future
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The biggest leagues in Europe may have taken a break this week – but it’s been a busy time for the powerbrokers shaping the future of the world’...
Should Premier League clubs stop flying to domestic games?
23 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Manchester to Leicester. Nottingham to Blackpool. Liverpool to Newcastle. Just a small sample of the routes Premier League clubs have travelled by pla...
Is horse racing right to crack down on the whip?
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s one of the highlights of the racing calendar but the build-up to this year’s Cheltenham festival has been dominated by controversy over one p...
Exercise Me, Influence Me
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Note: This episode contains issues surrounding mental health. If you, or someone you know, have been affected by any issues raised in this podcast, su...
Which Heals Quicker - The Body Or The Mind?
13 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There won’t be many of us out there who play sports or who keep active and have avoided injury. Perhaps a little niggle, something that’s forced y...
Why are there so few black football managers?
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There is no end to the talent line of brilliant black players in English football – but why are so few of them going on to become managers or execut...
Changing What We Wear
09 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How does tailored sportswear empower women and improve athletic performance? In this episode we explore how women’s sportswear is changing - and whe...
We’re Not All The Same. Period
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
‘If men had periods menstruation would become an inevitable boast-worthy, masculine event: men would brag about how long and how much’ - Gloria St...
Will Wimbledon U-turn on Russian player ban?
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One year on from the start of the Ukraine war, we explore the moral and financial dilemma facing Wimbledon and the Lawn Tennis Association as they com...
Man City v the Premier League
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As the world’s richest football league charges its champions with serial rule-breaking, we assess how the case could alter the landscape of English ...
Will rugby union’s new tackle law cause more harm than good?
02 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A radical new ruling banning tackling above the waist in amateur rugby has sent shockwaves through the sport. But is it a necessary change to address ...
Southgate: Why I stayed as England manager
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In his first interview since the 2022 World Cup, Gareth Southgate reveals how close he came to quitting as England manager.Speaking to BBC sports edit...
Stalled on the grid - why are there no female F1 drivers?
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s one of the only major global sports that doesn’t have separate categories for men and women. And yet all the drivers on the F1 starting grid ...
Eating disorders & body-shaming 'fat clubs' in English women's football
13 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Former England winger Claire Rafferty talks to The Sports Desk podcast about her struggles with bulimia and a culture of "fat clubs" and body shaming ...
Could Ronaldo help bring the World Cup to Saudi Arabia?
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With Cristiano Ronaldo signing for Al-Nassr the Sports Desk podcast asks what it could mean for Saudi Arabia’s hopes of hosting the World Cup?The 37...
Qatar 2022 – Has it united or divided football?
16 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The World Cup in Qatar has been one of the most controversial and politicised tournaments in history. As the tournament draws to a close, the Sports D...
Sports Desk Qatar Special: Can we really just focus on the football?
17 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With the start of the men’s Fifa World Cup just days away, the Sports Desk are in Doha to ask whether with all the off-field issues surrounding the ...
Liverpool Football Club - up for sale?
11 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With reports that Liverpool is up for sale, we’re asking what could the future hold for one of the world’s biggest football clubs.The owners of th...
What price is sport paying in the cost of living crisis?
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With rising inflation and an increased cost of living, how does sport survive in the current climate. If people are cutting back on recreational sport...
How do we stop the managerial Merry-Go-Round?
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With the average tenure of a Premier League manager decreasing, what can be done to stop the constant change. Can someone perform to the best of their...
Rugby's financial crisis - what's the solution?
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been a devastating month for top-flight rugby in England. First Worcester and now Wasps – the inaugural champions of the professional era –...
Is the World Cup a make or break moment for rugby league?
14 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Can the Rugby League World Cup provide a much-needed catalyst to help the sport grow beyond its heartlands? The Sports Desk panel are joined by St Hel...
The Premier League’s US takeover
07 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With half the clubs in the Premier League now owned or part-owned by Americans – and more likely to follow - we ask what the growing US influence co...
English cricket’s club v country battle
30 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A domestic shake-up aimed at taking England’s men to No.1 in all three formats of cricket has sparked a furious response from the county game. In an...
The real Roger Federer
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Beyond the perfect groundstrokes, snappy outfits and winning smile, what do we know about one of the sporting icons of the 21st century? We speak to t...
Rugby’s concussion crisis – do the sport’s risks outweigh its rewards?
16 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Crushing tackles and full-on collisions are part of the spectacle of modern day rugby – but at what cost to players’ health? With a new season und...
Serena Williams – the ultimate game-changer?
02 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As Serena Williams bids farewell at the US Open, we examine the legacy of the African-American girl from Compton, California, who changed the sport of...
Is there too much cricket?
12 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With the second season of The Hundred underway now and after Moeen Ali questioned the future of the 50 over game we’re asking is there too much cric...
Can England's Euro 2022 win provide real change for the women's game?
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Following England’s Euro 2022 win we’re asking how that victory can provide real change for the women's game?Sarah Mulkerrins is joined by BBC com...
Birmingham 2022 special: How relevant are the Commonwealth Games?
28 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Activists, athletes and organisers debate the impact of the Commonwealth Games.In a Birmingham café, influential voices from the city join The Sports...
Did London 2012 inspire a generation?
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony, through Super Saturday and a record-breaking Paralympics, 2012 was a golden summer of national pride and sporti...
Why hasn’t athletics cracked America?
15 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Despite dominating athletics for generations, the USA hasn’t taken track and field to its heart. So can this week’s world championships on home so...
Can professional cycling ever clean up its image?
08 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After a professional cycling team was raided by police on the eve of the Tour de France we’re asking can the sport ever clean up its image?Team Bahr...
Can Euro 2022 turbo charge English women’s football?
01 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It promises to be a summer like no other for women’s football: a home Euros, sell-out crowds and an England team tipped by many to go all the way. H...
Can Raducanu shake off her US Open hangover?
24 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After her meteoric rise to US Open success and global stardom in 2021, it’s been a bumpy ride back down to earth for British tennis star Emma Raduca...
Will British Gymnastics’ day of reckoning be a turning point for welfare in sport?
17 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As the damning Whyte Review reveals a culture of abuse and fear in British Gymnastics, we’ll be asking what the sport can do to restore its reputati...
Football and crypto – perfect match or potent mix?
09 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you’re a die-hard football fan or just a casual observer, it’s hard to ignore the rise of crypto products within the game. We cut through ...
Pitch invasions and pyrotechnics: how can football control its fans?
26 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From the crowd trouble at Wembley during the Euro 2020 final to attacks on players during end-of-season pitch invasions, fan disorder has been a const...
Jake Daniels: Can a 17-year-old trailblazer help kick homophobia out of football?
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this week’s podcast, will the decision of Blackpool striker Jake Daniels to come out as gay help football become a more inclusive space or merely...
Mind games: Guardiola, Klopp & the psychology of a title race
13 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With Manchester City and Liverpool firmly established as the Premier League's dominant teams, we’ll be analysing the mental battle between their man...
Sport’s transgender conundrum
09 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In a special, extended edition of The Sports Desk, Sarah Mulkerrins, Dan Roan and Jane Dougall explore and explain the issues surrounding transgender ...
Taylor, Serrano and history at Madison Square Garden
29 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss how far women’s boxing has come as Katie Taylor prepares to defend her world titles against Amanda Serrano at Madison Square Garden. The...
Kinahan, Fury and the state of boxing
22 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As US authorities step up their hunt for Daniel Kinahan and the Kinahan organised crime group, world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury insists he has no...
The FA Cup: Is the magic still alive?
15 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This season marks 150 years of the men’s FA Cup, an institution of the English game. But has it taken a back seat in recent years as the Premier Lea...
Is it time for football to cut ties with gambling?
08 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Whether it’s through sponsors on the players’ shirts or advertising around the big games, the betting industry and football have never been closer...
Qatar 2022: Can football be a catalyst for change?
01 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With the spotlight on Qatar for the World Cup draw, we assess whether football can bring progress in a country blighted by human rights concerns.We he...
Norman, Mickelson & Saudi money: is golf eating itself?
25 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Greg Norman’s Saudi-backed super league has shaken the world of golf and sent former World No.1 Phil Mickelson into exile. So is it a chance to grow...
Brady’s u-turn: why do sportspeople find it so hard to retire?
18 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s become a trope in sports psychology to say that athletes are the only people who die twice – once at the end of their lives and once when the...
EXTRA: Life after Abramovich - what’s next for Chelsea and English football?
11 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned by the UK government as part of its response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.With Chelsea FC among his frozen ass...
The sports stars on the frontline in Ukraine
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Whether it’s the inspiring leadership of former boxers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko – or the courage of tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky - Ukraini...
Exit Abramovich as sport turns its back on Russia
03 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Reaction to the news that Roman Abramovich is selling Chelsea after 19 trophy-laden years. What does his departure mean for the London club, English f...
Esports - twiddling thumbs or genuine sport?
25 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With revenues of $1 billion and a global audience approaching half a billion, esports is one of the fastest growing sectors in the media and entertain...
Skating on thin ice – can the Olympics recover from another doping scandal?
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
15-year-old Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva came to the Winter Olympics in Beijing with the weight of a nation on her shoulders, but now has the ...
The push for parity: can women’s sport reach new heights in 2022?
11 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The year 2021 was a record-breaking one for women’s sport, with The Hundred and the Women’s Super League drawing in millions of new viewers. But w...
Christian Eriksen: full exclusive interview
10 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this special bonus edition, we bring you an exclusive broadcast interview with the Danish footballer Christian Eriksen, eight months on from the sh...
Olympic dream: Can GB become a top-5 snowsport nation?
03 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dave Ryding says his historic World Cup gold medal has broken the ceiling for future skiing generations in Great Britain. But was it a one-off or the ...
Can Manchester United be restored to its former glory?
28 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to Manchester United, the fall has been almost as dramatic as the rise. But could a change of leadership herald a change in fortunes for...
What is the future for red-ball cricket in the English game?
21 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As England’s Test cricket team return home from Australia we reflect on how the side can come back from such a crushing Ashes defeat.We’ll hear fr...
Beijing 2022: human rights and athlete activists
14 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing starting next month, we discuss how alleged human rights abuses in China have prompted diplomatic boycotts by...
Djokovic’s latest Australian victory: from courtroom to practice court
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A special bonus edition of The Sports Desk reacting to Novak Djokovic winning his appeal against the cancellation of his visa, seemingly paving the wa...
Is ‘safe standing’ a forward or backward step for English football?
07 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It was an evocative sight for football fans up and down the country – supporters at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford legally standing to cheer on th...
Who’d be a ref? How rising abuse threatens grassroots football
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Refereeing has never been easy but the signs are that it’s getting harder than ever. With more than 90% of grassroots referees reporting some form o...
Winning Formula? Hamilton, Verstappen & Netflix drive F1 resurgence
09 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A title race going down to the wire, a roll call of young, marketable drivers with huge global followings and an audience that’s getting younger and...
Rugby revolution: Is it right for sports stars to switch nationalities?
03 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A landmark new ruling in rugby union will allow players to switch allegiance to another country where they have ancestry. Is it a model other sports s...
Is it time for football to put fans before money?
25 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
By any measure, these are turbulent times for English football. The collapse of historic clubs like Bury and Macclesfield, the foiled Super League plo...
Qatar 2022 – a World Cup like no other
19 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With just one year to go until the World Cup in Qatar, we find out more about how a tournament in the wealthy middle-east state will look and feel. He...
Yorkshire racism scandal and cricket’s 'uncomfortable truths'
11 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The allegations of institutional racism at Yorkshire CCC by spin bowler Azeem Rafiq and the club's handling of the investigation has plunged one of En...
The impossible job? Is the abuse of football managers out of control?
05 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“We’ve got to be careful that managers don’t get attacked” – the words of former Stoke and Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis in a highly cha...
Does football really care about the environment?
29 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Who bears most responsibility for making football more environmentally friendly?Nesta McGregor and Sarah Mulkerrins are joined by the BBC's Katie Gorn...
Wright & Kolisi: Black excellence and white allies
22 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To mark Black History Month, we speak to two iconic black sportsmen.Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright is joined by his son and grandson Sh...
Can Newcastle shake off the Saudi stigma and build a global super club?
15 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One week on from perhaps the most controversial takeover in English football history, many questions remained unanswered. How will Saudi Arabia capita...
Is football failing to protect women?
08 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After the firing of North Carolina coach Paul Riley over sexual misconduct allegations we focus on a growing crisis in women’s football. We hear fro...
Should football ban heading?
01 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Whether it’s a big defender leaping to head the ball clear, or a striker diving full-length to score, heading has always been a big part of football...
Wenger exclusive: My blueprint for football’s future
23 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In an exclusive interview, Fifa’s head of global development Arsene Wenger tells the Sports Desk why his controversial plan for a men’s World Cup ...
Raducanu and the year of the teenager - can Britain's new sports stars help get the nation active?
17 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Emma Raducanu's US Open triumph caps a golden summer for British sport with young, multicultural talent leading the way. But with levels of physical a...
Should sport get tough on vaccine hesitancy?
10 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a divisive issue across society – and sport is no exception. The Covid-19 vaccination – recommended by governments and medics across the wo...
Is motorsport killing the planet – or helping save it?
03 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From synthetic fuel to Extreme E, motorsport is getting greener, but is it enough?Delyth Lloyd and Nesta McGregor are joined by the BBC’s chief envi...
Can the Paralympics change the world?
27 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Paralympic Games were launched this week in Tokyo with the bold intention of changing the lives of the 1.2 billion people around the world who liv...
Afghanistan and the threat to progress through sport
20 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As the world reels from the Taliban’s return to power, we examine the consequences for sport and inclusivity in Afghanistan. The founder of the coun...
Messi, PSG and football's power shift
13 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As Argentina great Lionel Messi swaps Barcelona for Paris-Saint Germain, we explore the changing face of European football. With the Manchester clubs ...
Has Biles changed the game on mental health?
06 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It was the story that rocked the Olympics: gymnastics icon Simone Biles stepping away from the canvas to focus on her mental health. But has the Ameri...
Super shoes: Has technology gone too far?
30 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
World records have been tumbling on the track in recent months, but how much of that is down to new super shoes and has technology gone too far?Sarah ...
An Olympics to remember or regret
23 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Whether it is the pandemic or the heat, from doping to the hostility of some locals to the event, there’s plenty of issues and concerns about the To...
Does golf need to rein in the big hitters?
16 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With titanium drivers and high-tech modern balls, Bryson DeChambeau and golf's other big hitters are making older courses like St Andrews look like pi...
Euro 2020: Goals galore but tough questions for Uefa
09 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Goals galore, fans back in stadiums and England v Italy in the final at Wembley. What’s not to like about Euro 2020? Dig beneath the surface however...
Federer, Brady, Ronaldo, Williams: the era of the age-defying athlete
02 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From Roger Federer and the Williams sisters to Cristiano Ronaldo and Phil Mickelson, it seems age is just a number for sport’s growing band of golde...
Is the Tokyo Olympics sport's biggest gamble?
25 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With just one month to go until 11,000 athletes descend on Tokyo for the Olympic Games, we’ll be weighing up the risks and rewards of staging the wo...