Tubes’ worst experience on Soccer AM – ‘He hated me, he wouldn’t shake my hand’

Soccer AM viewers were big fans of Tubes and his unique rapping, but his interview technique didn’t always go down well with the show’s celebrity guests

Former Soccer AM favourite Tubes has revealed that comedy legend Steve Coogan was part of his worst experience on the iconic programme.

The Sky Sports show is best remembered for the 11 years it was fronted by presenting duo Tim Lovejoy and Helen Chamberlain and was a must-watch for football fans. Soccer AM, which ran for almost 30 years until it was axed in 2023, blended terrace banter, comedy skits and viral clips before the advent of social media.

It was not only the presenters or celebrity guests who played a key role in the show. The production staff also became TV stars in their own right, with Tubes being one of the most notable. Real name Peter Dale, Tubes would perform raps before asking famous faces ‘one question only’.

The feature was a big hit, with Tubes’ mix of deadpan and animated expressions making it a weekly highlight. However, not everyone was a fan of Tubes’ rap style, as he found out when he sat down to interview Alan Partridge star, Coogan.

“My worst experience was meeting Steve Coogan. I did a film junket,” Tubes said on the Soccer A-Z podcast. “It was absolutely horrendous because he hated me. I don’t know, he just hated me. I walked in there and the cameraman was behind him – there’s two cameras in a junket – and he was like, ‘Good luck’.

“So I asked him a question, I did a rap and he hated it. Then I was like, ‘Who’s the funniest man in the world, Steve?’ And he just went, ‘Not you’.

“I was like, ‘I’m aware of that but, you know, who is?’ And he went, ‘Not you’. It was horrendous. So, I sort of went, ‘Well, I’ll give this one up’, went to shake his hand, and he wouldn’t shake my hand, and it was absolutely horrendous.”

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Dale remained with Soccer AM until the show was cancelled last year, but has discovered fresh success with his Golf Life YouTube channel. The 42-year-old has also spoken openly about his personal life, discussing his battle with alcoholism as well as the heart attack he suffered in 2018.

Recalling the incident later that year, Tubes explained that he had played football the same day, though he felt sluggish, and was fortunately able to get medical help after heading home. “If it happened two years ago when I was drinking and smoking loads, they said I’d have died on the spot because it was a major heart attack,” Dale said.

“I couldn’t believe the support I got from the general public, friends and football clubs. If you have any family history of heart attacks or heart problems, please go and get it checked out.”

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