Jack Whitehall's Sporting Nation - Season 1
Season 1
Episodes
It's Coming Home
In, It's Coming Home Jack celebrates Britain's finest sporting moments and achievements to have taken place on home soil, asking why it is that when the United Kingdom hosts a major sports event the whole world stops to watch - and why holding a international tournament in our own backyard brings the very best out of us as a nation.
From the odd events of the 1908 London Olympics to the English triumph of World Cup 66 and Britain's unforgettable Super Saturday at London 2012, this is a comedic love-letter to British sport in a nation that simply can't get enough of it.
The Hero's Journey
Jack turns his comedic sights on Britain's attitude towards its sporting heroes, examining the delight we take in building our sports stars up, as well as bringing them crashing down again.
From the red cards and free kicks of David Beckham, to Andy Murray's difficult route to the top of tennis and Zola Budd's infamous 1984 Olympic tangle, Jack looks at why it doesn't matter how incredibly talented you are - if you want to become a British hero, you're not in for an easy ride.
The Cult of the Underdog
This time, Jack irreverently dives into Britain's undying love for the plucky, humble outsider, looking at how, when it comes to sport, we can't help but get behind an underdog. From 5000-1 Premier League winners to the biggest upset in 1980s snooker, from Kelly Holmes defying the odds to Torvill and Dean turning ice-dancing into a national phenomenon, Jack examines our passion for giant killing and why there's no better or more satisfying a sports story than one that goes against the script.
Class
This time, Jack examines how class is woven into the DNA of British sport and how breaking social boundaries can lead to moments of incredible drama, including the fierce athletic rivalry of Seb Coe and Steve Ovett, Fred Perry taking on the Wimbledon establishment and Andrew Flintoff destroying the Australians at the 2005 Ashes. Our sport may have started divided, but it is one of the few things that bring us all together.
Best of Enemies
In this episode, Jack takes a celebratory tour through the long-standing and essential rivalries that underpin British sport. Touching on the centuries of history that spice up Home Nations rugby and football, Jack uses the Ashes series' most brilliant and brutal moments, the unforgettable England 5-1 Germany and Johnny Wilkinson's incredible World Cup-winning performance to show that even though we say we hate our rivals, they are an intrinsic part of what makes our sport so brilliant.
Glorious Failure
In 'Glorious Failure', Jack turns his comedic sights on how when the British fail at sport, we do it in a truly spectacular and glorious fashion. Taking in Wales' quest to reach a rugby World Cup Final, Archie Gemmil scoring Scotland's greatest ever goal and Derek Redmond's heart and hamstring breaking appearance in Olympic history, Jack celebrates our talent for coming up just short and our love of those who gave it a really good try.
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