Jake’s home tie
TV host Jake Humphrey says that it “isn’t easy” getting a work/life balance – but the legendary football commentator John Motson helped him get things right.
Jake always goes home to his family after working on a football match, even if it’s really late, after Motty admitted to him that he had neglected his home life during his career.
Former BBC star Jake now fronts most of BT Sport’s football coverage, and will be in charge for the FA Cup final this Saturday. Asked about his work/life balance, he said: “My rule has always been I will try and get home all the time.
“So if I’m coming off air in Liverpool after a Champions League night at 11pm, everyone else is off to their hotel room. I would rather hop in the back of a car, try and get a couple hours’ sleep, cross to Norwich so that I get in at four in the morning. Then I would still get up and do the school run.
“I will never forget, ahead of the final of Euro 2008, which was one of John’s final commentaries, I sat in the bar with him the night before. I said, ‘John, what a career – unbelievable. Is there anything you’d change?’
“His only answer was, ‘I just wish I’d seen my kids a bit more when I was younger’.
“I vowed at that moment – I am never going to give that answer. So I do try my very best, but it isn’t easy,” he told the Series Linked podcast.