After a five year hiatus, the iconic Hogmanay comedy Only An Excuse? is making a triumphant return — but this time, it's in podcast form.
The beloved BBC show, which for years lampooned Scottish football with sharp wit and sharp accents, is now part of a new weekly podcast series titled Forget The Ball, Get On With The Game.
The new podcast is hosted by Jonathan Watson, the star of Only An Excuse?, alongside co-creator Phil Differ and BBC pundit Chick Young, a fan-favourite character in the original show.
The series promises a fresh twist on the format, blending in-depth football analysis with comedy sketches that continue to feature Watson's legendary impressions of key figures from Scottish football.
Among the returning characters are the likes of Sir Kenny Dalglish, Sir Alex Ferguson, Graeme Souness, and broadcaster Jim White, all sharing their thoughts on the latest developments in Scottish football
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The transition from television to podcast marks a new chapter for a programme that holds a special place in the hearts of fans.
The final TV episode of Only An Excuse? aired on Hogmanay 2020, after 27 years of satirical takes on the Scottish football scene. It was the most watched show from Scots that year, generating over a million viewers.
The show first began in 1986 as a special one-off broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland, before evolving into a cult TV series that became synonymous with Hogmanay celebrations.
Its ultimate axing left a void in the comedy and football landscape, but this new podcast gives fans a chance to relive the magic of the show's best-loved sketches.
The new podcast, Forget The Ball, Get On With The Game, drops every Monday morning and will cover everything from the weekend's football matches to the nostalgic moments and future predictions that shaped the game.
Differ promises "no rules" when it comes to the subject matter, which means listeners can expect plenty of football gossip, both on and off the pitch, alongside the classic humour that made Only An Excuse? such a hit.
"It will be dropping every Monday morning and we will be looking at the weekend's football, we will be looking back at nostalgia and we will be looking at the future," he said.
"It's the big stories from on the field and more importantly from off it. The rules are there are no rules. It's football and everything related to it so I hope you will join us."
