Jimmy Anderson: Behind the Bowler

Full Disclosure with James O'Brien

Global

Society & Culture

4.6 • 3.5K Ratings

🗓️ 30 May 2025

⏱️ 60 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with cricketing icon Jimmy Anderson to trace the arc of a record-breaking career- from growing up as a shy kid in Burnley, to becoming the most successful fast bowler in Test history. Jimmy reflects on the early self-doubt that plagued him, the physical toll of a 20-year career, and the inner battles he faced behind the scenes.

They discuss everything from the fierce rivalries that shaped him, to being dropped from the England squad after nearly two decades. Jimmy also shares personal revelations about his mental health, the strength he drew from family life, and how loss, resilience, and therapy helped him endure some of his darkest moments.

As he steps into retirement, Jimmy opens up about what the game has taught him, why he’s still not finished giving back, and how he plans to navigate life off the pitch. Reflective and candid, this conversation reveals the human side of a sporting great who’s spent his life finding calm amid the chaos.

Find out more about Jimmy Anderson: Finding the Edge: The Autobiography here

Transcript

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0:00.0	Why do I race for life for our very own stand-up comedian who's getting cheekier by the day?
0:04.8	A bug lover and local celeb around the fire service.
0:08.0	When he shaved his head, I shaved mine.
0:10.5	And so did all our friends, such a loving wee son whose resilience I'll never be able to understand.
0:16.1	His name's Archie and I'm racing for him.
0:18.8	No matter how cancer affects us, life is worth racing for.
0:23.0	Join your local event at RaceforLife.org by the 2nd of June to get 30% off entry
0:27.3	in partnership with Headline sponsor StandardLife.
0:32.2	This is a Global Player Original podcast.
0:43.8	Thank you. Global Player Original Podcast Hello and welcome to full disclosure.
0:50.5	A podcast project conceived exclusively to let me spend more time with interesting people than I would ever get on the radio.
0:52.9	I'm quite excited about this one.
0:53.9	Jimmy Anderson, welcome. thank you for having me does
0:55.3	everyone call you jimmy most people do what if you've been naughty does your mum still call you james
1:01.0	my mom actually hates jimmy does she when did it stick school no it was cricket was it yeah
1:07.8	probably when i was jimmy that's not his name. Call him James. So she still calls you James.
1:12.0	Yeah.
1:12.4	It's funny.
1:12.9	I can date my life by what people call me.
1:16.1	So from Jimbo to Jim,
1:17.8	James.
1:18.9	But I was never a Jimmy.
	...

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