Sixty Years of Hurt: Trailer: Sixty Years of Hurt with David Baddiel

Summary

The History Podcast

Episode: Sixty Years of Hurt: Trailer – Sixty Years of Hurt with David Baddiel

Date: May 8, 2026
Host: David Baddiel
Producer: BBC Radio 4

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Overview

This special trailer episode introduces the upcoming series "Sixty Years of Hurt" hosted by David Baddiel. The series aims to explore what eleven young men—England's national football team—tell us about what it means to be English. It promises to interrogate the complex relationship between Englishness, football, and national identity, just in time for the countdown to the next World Cup.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Challenge of Defining Englishness

• David Baddiel sets the scene by questioning if football can explain "Englishness" and vice versa.

• Baddiel reflects on the difficulty of pinning down the concept of national identity:

  "It's almost impossible to define Englishness. I've spent 50 years trying to answer this question." (01:46 – Baddiel)

• He humorously acknowledges his own mixed heritage:

  "I don't know what our national identity actually is any more than any other half Welsh, half German, born in America, Englishman." (02:03 – Baddiel)

Football as a Cultural Institution

• The podcast positions football as England's dominant cultural reference point:

  "Football is singularly the most important cultural institution in the country when it comes to defining English national identity." (02:00 – Co-host/Guest)

• The lasting impact of the 1966 World Cup win features prominently in the series, with the perspective that it changed how England saw itself.

  "We won the World cup in 1966." (02:42 – Narrator/Advertiser)
  "Famouses really did open the sluice gates to a new kind of way of England looking at itself." (02:45 – Baddiel & Narrator)

The Emotional Complexity of Englishness

• Baddiel notes the signature bittersweetness of the English identity, as expressed through football:

  "Oh, it's so English. It's happy, sad, mournful. It's so English." (02:17 – Baddiel)

• The series intends to revisit both highs and lows of England's footballing past, capturing national emotions.

The Unique Experience of English Fans

• The show promises to weave in perspectives from fans, sportswriters, historians, and actual footballers who experienced iconic moments:

  "We'll be hearing from fans... sports writers... and also some footballers, the ones who were there making these moments happen before they became nostalgia." (02:40, 02:53, 02:59 – Baddiel)

• A playful, self-deprecating discussion hints at the mixture of hope and historical disappointment specific to English football fans:

  "We're gonna end up like the men's fans where we just go to every tournament. Go, go on. You should win it. Of course, the difference between in we've actually got a record to back it up." (02:32 – Co-host/Guest)

Moments from History

• The series will blend cultural and historical anecdotes (e.g., Henry VIII’s supposed football boots) with lived experiences, like going from scoring goals against Spain to seeing the Sex Pistols:

  "Historians Henry VIII had a dedicated pair of football boots." (02:50 – Co-host/Guest)
  "Scored here against Spain on the Saturday and went to see the Pistols at Finsbury park on the Sunday." (03:07 – Narrator/Advertiser)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Can football explain Englishness?" (01:40 – Baddiel)
• "Can Englishness explain football?" (01:51 – Baddiel)
• "The idea of muddling through is definitely a very English idea." (02:55 – Baddiel)
• "Listen to 60 Years of Hurt, first on BBC Sounds." (03:12 – Baddiel)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:27–01:46]: Introduction to the new series and central question about football and Englishness
• [01:51–02:22]: Reflections on the difficulty of defining English national identity and the emotional tone of “Englishness”
• [02:32–02:40]: Humorous take on the experience and expectations of English football fans
• [02:42–03:07]: Promises of hearing from fans, historians, sports writers, and footballers, blending nostalgia with history

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Episode Flow & Tone

The trailer is witty, self-aware, and affectionate towards both football and the pitfalls of the English psyche. David Baddiel's characteristic humor is evident, mixing nostalgia with pointed questions. The series promises to be engaging for fans of both football and cultural history.

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Listen to the Series

"Sixty Years of Hurt" launches soon—available first on BBC Sounds.

(End of summary. Skip to episode launch for more content.)

Transcript

[David Baddiel]

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[David Baddiel]

Welcome back to the History Podcast. I'm David Baddiel and I want to tell you about the next series you'll hear from Radio 4 and the History Podcast. This is 60 Years of Hurt.

England have won the World cup in Wembley.

It's a series in which we'll be asking the question can football be explain Englishness?

The thing is, Dave, it's almost impossible to define Englishness. I've spent 50 years trying to answer

this question and can Englishness explain football? Football is singularly the most important cultural institution in the country when it comes

[Co-host/Guest]

to defining English national identity.

[David Baddiel]

I mean, I don't know what our national identity actually is any more than any other half Welsh, half German, born in America, Englishman. But I did co write the lyrics of a song that a lot of English people have sung over many years, so maybe that helps.

Oh, it's so English. It's happy, sad, mournful. It's so English.

And the series will warm you up for the coming World cup by reminding you of all those great campaigns England have had at previous ones and Sorry, can we check this? I think I've got the German presenter's notes.

[Co-host/Guest]

Oh God, we're gonna end up like the men's fans where we just go to every tournament. Go, go on. You should win it. Of course, the difference between in we've actually got a record to back it up.

[David Baddiel]

We'll be hearing from fans.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

We won the World cup in 1966.

[David Baddiel]

Famouses really did open the sluice gates

[Narrator/Advertiser]

to a new kind of way of England. Looking at itself.

[Co-host/Guest]

Historians Henry VIII had a dedicated pair of football boots.

[David Baddiel]

Sports writers, I think the idea of

muddling through is definitely a very English idea.

And also some footballers, the ones who were there making these moments happen before they became nostalgia, scored here against Spain

[Narrator/Advertiser]

on the Saturday and went to see the Pistols at Finsbury park on the Sunday.

[David Baddiel]

Listen to 60 Years of Hurt, first on BBC Sounds.

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