It's tragic that such a seemable amiable character can turn out to be an absolute vilan. (Savile always seemed such a slime ball)

I appreciate the circumstances are not quite the same...

little girls once

On 11 March 2005, Hall sparked controversy with remarks on an episode of BBC Radio Five Live's light-hearted, Saturday morning sport punditry show Fighting Talk. At the time it was hosted by Christian O'Connell, and Hall's fellow pundits were boxing commentator John Rawling, sports show host Danny Kelly and journalist Will Buckley.

O'Connell: It's been suggested [...] by teachers that live football should be shown after kids have gone to bed. Is swearing in football really such a big deal?

(Rawling, Kelly answer)

Hall: This is all nonsense [and] you're getting all hot under the collar about nothing. It's the Great British patois. All great truths begin as blasphemies, so why castigate Rooney, young tender sweet bud-on-the-vine [Wayne] Rooney. Your average ten year old can instruct you in oral and anal sex.

(O'Connell and Rawling swiftly interrupt.)

Kelly:Welcome to the last ever Fighting Talk!
Hall continues: Swearing is endemic in our language. It's there to stay... realise it!


O'Connell: Which sporting nation would you like to see have a renaissance?
Hall: Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is a wonderful country - I've been there umpteen times and it is being brought to extinction by Mugabe. The average life expectancy is 33, so if you are not dying from Aids, malnutrition, starvation, deprivation or stagnation, don your flannels, black up, play leather on willow. Mugabe as captain and witch doctor, imagine him out at Lord's casting a tincture of bats' tongues and gorillas' gonads.
O'Connell interrupts:Are we still on air?
Hall continues: Give cricket a shot in the bails it needs!"

(pause)

O'Connell: Let's have a break for the news so we can think about our careers.

Sources: The Independent, The Guardian (both 17 March 2005).

***** :-(.