Soccer AM favourite Helen Chamberlain was nearly sacked from show by Tim Lovejoy

Tim Lovejoy almost fired Helen Chamberlain from Soccer AM (Image: Joel Ryan/PA)

In a shocking revelation of behind-the-scenes drama at Sky Sports, it has emerged Tim Lovejoy once nearly sacked Soccer AM co-presenter Helen Chamberlain. And the decision likely would have caused uproar among British football fans considering just how beloved Chamberlain is among most spectators.

Despite the pair's unique on-air rapport, popular Chamberlain shed light on some less harmonious times during her time on the programme. The Torquay United supporter started her journey with Soccer AM in 1995 and spent 22 years on the show, outlasting Lovejoy's tenure by 11 years.

The duo managed to see the humour in the situation years later after the topic came up on the Soccer A-Z podcast (via The Mirror). The conversation featured former Soccer AM figures like Robbie Knox, Joe Worsley, and Neil Smythe sharing their tales of shifting roles within the iconic Sky show.

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Former producer Knox expressed his disbelief and said: "He [Lovejoy] offered the job to someone else before me! I went for an interview, you offered it to someone else. They couldn't start in time, so I got the job. I'm only here because someone else couldn't get out of their previous job."

It was then that Chamberlain chimed in with her own jarring revelation, stating, "He was gonna sack me! Don't you remember? He took over Soccer AM, first thing on his list: 'Don't need her, she doesn't do anything!'"

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The broadcasting legend clearly bears no resentment over the matter given she told the tale with glee. Chamberlain and Lovejoy have long celebrated as an iconic duo in football presenting circles, and the latter himself acknowledged her anecdote was genuine.

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"That is true," commented the 56-year old-presenter with a smile before adding: "But it turned out Helen was brilliant!"

In praising their past collaborations, Lovejoy also gave kudos to other former colleagues for stepping up splendidly into their respective roles. Numerous members of the show started as members of the production crew but came to embrace on-screen positions, including the likes of Tubes and Rocket.

After bidding farewell to Soccer AM in 2017, Chamberlain took time away from the cameras to tend to her farm. She has since made more recent forays into presenting, however, which includes spearheading the World Seniors Darts Championship coverage for TNT Sports.

Soccer AM favourite Helen Chamberlain was nearly sacked from show by Tim Lovejoy

Soccer AM favourite Helen Chamberlain was nearly sacked from show by Tim Lovejoy

Soccer AM favourite Helen Chamberlain was nearly sacked from show by Tim Lovejoy

Soccer AM favourite Helen Chamberlain was nearly sacked from show by Tim Lovejoy

Soccer AM favourite Helen Chamberlain was nearly sacked from show by Tim Lovejoy