Ian Wright on his inspirational teacher

Desert Island Discs

BBC

Society & Culture, Music Commentary, Music, Personal Journals

4.4 • 13.7K Ratings

🗓️ 22 September 2025

⏱️ 7 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The former footballer and pundit Ian Wright was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2020.

Born to Jamaican parents in south-east London, Ian grew up with his mother and stepfather. His biological father had left the family before Ian was two years old. Things at home were difficult, and Ian spent as much time as possible outside playing football. Ian spoke to Lauren about his childhood love of football and how one inspirational teacher, Mr. Pigden, changed everything.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:05.6	Your time starts now.
0:07.2	You're about to listen to a BBC podcast.
0:09.4	Absolutely right.
0:11.5	So, you might like to know that the BBC makes loads of other podcasts.
0:15.6	Really?
0:16.4	Wow.
0:17.2	Many of them are very funny.
0:19.1	Which I think means...
0:20.3	A hatful of ha ha haas
0:21.7	And energy
0:22.3	Even if you do say so ourselves
0:24.1	I agree 100% to that
0:26.6	Find them all on BBC Sounds
0:28.3	Just tell us a joke
0:29.3	Come on tell us a joke
0:29.9	Tell us a joke
0:30.5	Come on tell us a joke
0:31.3	Just search comedy on BBC sounds
0:33.4	I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in
0:35.8	I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in.
0:53.4	Hello, I'm Lauren Levern, and this is Desert Island Discs postcards.
	...

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