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Botham: The Legend of '81

The story of cricketer Ian Botham's stunning comeback performance against Australia in the summer of 1981 during the Ashes, and his tireless work to help children with leukaemia.

It is the most remarkable comeback story in English sporting history, and it all began 30 years ago this summer.

It's the story of a team, so abject they had been written off completely, led by a man so distrusted and ridiculed that he was forced to resign his post for the sake of his family.

Days later that man, Ian Botham, produced a 'boys own' performance to inspire that team, England, to beat Australia against 500-1 odds. It was just the start of Botham's Ashes.

Botham: The Legend of 81 tells the simply incredible story of how Ian Botham went from national zero to hero, not once but twice.

As well as the story of that almost unbelievable summer of 81, we hear how the success that followed changed Botham's life, making him, but breaking him at the same time.

Having been reduced to zero once more we see how the anti-establishment Botham unwittingly became a national hero once again, this time through his tireless work to help children suffering with leukaemia.

Featuring contributions from his family, colleagues and eyewitnesses such as Sir Mick Jagger, Sir Viv Richards, Bob Willis, David Gower, Sir Elton John, Stephen Fry and Sir John Major, Botham: The Legend of 81 charts one of English Sports most colourful and controversial careers and tells surely its most enduring comeback story.

59 minutes

Last on

Fri 18 Jun 2021 00:05
BBC Two except Wales & Wales HD

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:00

    Blondie

    Atomic

  • 00:13

    Toots & The Maytals

    Pressure Drop

  • 00:15

    Dawn Upshaw, London Sinfonietta, Zinman

    Symphony No 3 (2Nd Movt)

  • 00:17

    The Specials

    Ghost Town

  • 00:32

    Booker T. & the MG’s

    Soul Limbo

  • 00:34

    Derek and the Dominos

    Layla

  • 00:41

    Not Credited

    Monday Night Football

  • 00:44

    Tears for Fears

    Shout

  • 00:53

    Efterklang, Rasmus Stolberg

    Modern Drift

Credits

Director Stephen Lyle
Producer Stephen Lyle
Executive Producer Carl Doran

Broadcasts

  • Wed 20 Jul 2011 21:00
    BBC Two
  • Wed 27 Jul 2011 23:20
    BBC Two
  • Wed 29 Jul 2020 19:00
    BBC Two except Scotland
  • Fri 18 Jun 2021 00:05
    BBC Two except Scotland & Wales