Off the Ball (radio series)

The show began in 1994, and is currently (since 1995) presented by broadcaster and writer Stuart Cosgrove, a fan of St Johnstone, and newspaper columnist Tam Cowan, a Motherwell supporter, plus at least two weekly guests; usually one from the world of Scottish football and one from Scottish culture. When the show first began, it was hosted by Cowan and comedians Greg Hemphill and Sanjeev Kohli, who later acknowledged that they did not have the depth of football knowledge required to give credibility to the format in addition to its humorous aspects, which Cosgrove was successful in providing.[1]The show was known as On the Ball when it aired from 1:30pm until 2pm prior to the 3pm matches being played on Saturdays, with the post-football show being called Off the Ball.

Occasionally, other presenters will cover for Cosgrove or Cowan if they are not available, including Jane Lewis and Annie McGuire.

The BBC briefly suspended Cowan from the programme in 2013 following controversy over remarks he made about women's football in his Daily Record newspaper column.[2]

Features of the show include the Team of the Week, where listeners are invited to contribute players for a subject suggested by Cowan. For example, if the subject was "The Female Fashion XI", then players such as Alan Bra-zil and Lionel Dress-i would be in the team. In a long-running joke, former Clyde player Tommy Ring is almost always included in the team.

Listener interaction is always encouraged on the show, with the presenters asking for contributions on a variety of football and non-football related topics. Limericks are often asked for, with the first line usually given by Tam or Stuart.

The Terracing Teaser is a weekly competition, with a question usually suggested by Tam, such as "If x is the answer, then what is the question?". Tam, Stuart and a guest choose a winner, and they win either an Off the Ball mug or face mask.

A song is always chosen to end the programme based on listeners' suggestions on a subject suggested by Cowan, usually related to a news event from that week. On the Sunday show, songs with a particular theme are chosen by the listeners and played in full.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, National Clinical Director of the Scottish Government, Professor Jason Leitch, is a regular guest on the Saturday programme, answering listeners' questions about the pandemic.

A weekly podcast of the show is produced and is available on a Saturday. The show is also available on the BBC Sounds app for thirty days after the first broadcast. A podcast of the Sunday show is also produced and is made available during the following week.

The programme's theme tune is "Let Me Clear My Throat" by DJ Kool, followed by a snatch of the theme music from The Odd Couple.

• Off the Ball at BBC website
• Programme of the week: BBC Radio Scotland's off the Ball, Football365
• Celebrating 25 years of radio success Off the Ball, Scottish Field
• As Off The Ball clocks up its quarter century, presenters Stuart Cosgrove and Tam Cowan on why they're still shooting from the lip, HeraldScotland
• Interview: 25 years on, Tam Cowan on why fans needed Off the Ball, The Scotsman