James Stafford was invited onto BBC Radio 5 Live last week to talk about sport’s greatest underdog stories.
Appearing on the Tony Livesey show, James featured in the programme’s ‘The Greatest‘ segment in which Tony, guests and listeners discussed their favourite underdog stories in sport.
James was invited on the show thanks to his book ‘Unbelievable Underdogs and Rebellious Role Models: Sporting Heroes Who Defied the Odds and Shocked the World’ which had a worldwide release in 2024.
UK listeners can check out the show here (the relevant segment is at 2 hours and 12 minutes into the broadcast).You can listen to the show here (I'm around the 2hr 21m mark). www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/…
— James Stafford (@jpstafford.bsky.social) 20 January 2026 at 12:27
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January also saw James appear on BBC Radio Wales to discuss major Welsh sporting events with presenter Oliver Hides, in light of the announcement that a leg of the 2027 Tour de France will take part in Wales.
Unexpectedly got asked on BBC Radio Wales earlier to chat with Oliver Hides about the impact and importance of big sporting events in Wales and how they can inspire young children.
Available on BBC Sounds, etc. #sport 🏴🚵♀️
— James Stafford (@jpstafford.bsky.social) 16 January 2026 at 15:27
The conversation starts 1 hour 10 minutes in to the programme: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002ppjy.
James also saw the TARDIS.
Unbelievable Underdogs and Rebellious Role Models by James Stafford is published by Polaris Publishing and available from all good booksellers and bookstores.