Jeff Stelling's Dawn Routine and New Podcast Venture
At 04:30 on a bitterly cold winter morning, Jeff Stelling's alarm sounds. Within moments, he's out of bed and into his meticulously structured routine, leaving his hotel precisely on schedule. This relentless energy has become synonymous with one of football's most vibrant personalities.
Long before sunrise, Stelling arrives at talkSPORT's London Bridge studios, preparing for four hours of lively banter with co-host Ally McCoist and engaging with callers nationwide from 6am. This has become his regular schedule on Mondays, Tuesdays, and often Wednesdays.
The Unchanged Passion of a Broadcasting Icon
Speaking ahead of launching his new podcast, The Jeff Stelling Show with OLBG, the 70-year-old reveals his enthusiasm remains undiminished. 'I love it,' Stelling declares. 'I feel exactly the same as I did when I was in my mid-30s, my mid-40s, my mid-50s. I don't see any reason to stop. As long as people ask me to do it, I'm going to carry on.'
The football broadcasting royalty, who received an MBE at Buckingham Palace in 2024, still radiates the same energy that powered his 25-year tenure on Sky's Soccer Saturday until 2023. He acknowledges occasional criticism about being out of touch but firmly believes all opinions hold equal merit regardless of age.
A New Direction in Storytelling
Stelling's podcast represents his first venture into this medium, which he'll balance with his talkSPORT commitments. Rather than focusing solely on sports achievements, he aims to explore guests' personal narratives. 'It was an opportunity to do a podcast which wasn't just sports-based but to find out a little bit about people's lives,' Stelling explains.
'I'd like to hear their backstory. In this day and age, they're so managed that we hear their answers about that game, that race, that match, but we don't necessarily know them as human beings.' His dream interviewees include Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho, describing the latter as an 'enigma' who embodies multiple contrasting qualities.
Concerns About Modern Media Direction
Having witnessed dramatic media evolution since beginning at the Hartlepool Mail after school and joining Sky in 1992, Stelling expresses reservations about the industry's pursuit of younger audiences. 'There's a drive to get younger viewers, right throughout the media. I've never been convinced that was the right way to go,' he states.
He argues that chasing demographics who consume content differently risks alienating existing audiences without guaranteed returns. 'Stick with what you've got, stick with quality programming, quality presenters, quality pundits,' Stelling advises, suggesting younger viewers may eventually appreciate traditional quality broadcasting as they mature.
Balancing Professional and Personal Passions
Despite his demanding schedule requiring substantial preparation, Stelling maintains time for personal interests, particularly supporting Hartlepool United. Though residing in Hampshire with his wife Liz makes away games more accessible, his dedication remains unwavering.
His honorary presidency at Hartlepool ended in May last year following frustrations with former owner Raj Singh, whose attempt to ban Stelling from other clubs' hospitality backfired spectacularly. 'There are a lot of opposing clubs who ask me to come in the boardroom anyway,' Stelling reveals, though he prefers avoiding potential confrontation.
When asked about remaining sports ambitions, seeing Hartlepool return to League One tops his list. Regarding his own footballing ability, he humorously compares himself to Paul Gascoigne after progressing from inside forward to full-back during his playing days in the Hartlepool Sunday league and London's Octopus League.
Stelling's enduring presence in sports media, combined with his new podcast venture, demonstrates how passion and adaptability can sustain a remarkable broadcasting career well into its eighth decade.
