Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
A sports promoter who transformed boxing, snooker, and darts, turning champions like Anthony Joshua and Steve Davis into household names.
On the island
Eight records
because the words are so appropriate to my life. There's time enough for counting when the dealing's done. In other words, just go for it the whole time. You don't stop to say, how have I done? How much am I worth? That's all irrelevant, isn't it? Time enough for counting when the dealing's done, says it all.
one of my favourite films of all time, but Sweet Home Chicago for me is the ultimate party song to get everyone going. And it reminds me of being with my kids in early days when they were growing up.
Sunshine on My ShouldersFavourite
it's just something that just lifts me every day because it just makes me feel good. And bear in mind, I'm already feeling good, then this adds something special.
Jeremy [Beadle] didn't believe in God, but he had a a gathering. And as I walked into the church I heard this song … And he came down the stairs of the church and he played the remainder of the song to Jeremy's coffin. And it was one of the most emotional things I've ever seen in my whole life. And I'll never forget it.
I remember Chas and Dave had done a really good record for Spurs Football Club, and I phoned up Chas, who I knew vaguely, and said: Could you do me one earning for Snooker? And this is what came out.
When a young fighter who had amazing potential and incredible charisma walked into my life, changed it to an extent, drove me mad to an extent. But he came to my house one day and my wife Susan said, Eubank, because we never call him Chris, Eubank, this is your entry music, she said. And she played him Simply the Best by Tina Turner and he became a household name and a national treasure.
the ultimate party ending song of all time … This is the end of the night when you are much the worse for wear, where the shirt is damped through the energetic dance moves … But I am tempted every now and again when this comes on to give it one last go.
on my 70th birthday, I went out with my son and some friends, came back to my house, and we had a wonderful dinner … And in the background I suddenly heard this song being played from a marquee in my back garden … and Tom Paxton had been flown in by my children to entertain me for an hour and a half … in what became the greatest day of my life. … And the song, of course, is a humorous version of taking the mick out of the American burial system … And it's called Forest Lawn. So enjoy it, because it's in my will that this song will be played at my funeral.
In conversation
Presenter asks
1:55Putting on an event is a very personal decision for you, isn't it, Barry?
When I promote an event and this sounds dreadful, but it actually works I promote an event for me. So when I go into like the first time I walked into Circus Tavern to watch the darts, I'd never been before, and all I saw was eight hundred people having a few beers, smoking a cigarette … Having a bet with the local bookies and watching world-class sport played by ordinary people and I thought … I absolutely bloody love this.
Presenter asks
2:25People say that success brings a lot of pressure with it. You don't believe in pressure, do you?
You don't … I think pressure is is only felt by those that fail. Pressure is an ingredient that we can't live without, not that we can't live with. It motivates us. But it's not something to be fearful of.
Presenter asks
4:32Tell me about your mother. What did she do to get you on your way?
I think she was best described as a working-class snob. … So she always wanted the best for her kids, which is commendable, and she was very pushy and she wasn't someone that you disagreed with. … But my mother was the one that really pushed me and she was a disciplinarian. … she enrolled me quite early in the amateur dramatic society at school … she also put me in elocution lessons because she wanted me to speak proper. And as you can see, it hasn't really worked. But she was the one that told me at 12 years old, you're going to be a chartered accountant when you leave school. … she gave me that discipline and that work ethic that has stuck with me ever since. So I owe her an enormous vote of thanks.
The keepsakes
The book
Ernest Hemingway
It's a story of an old man that comes to terms with himself. and what's really important to him.
The luxury
My fishing rod because the only time I really turn off is when I stand there on my own with a fishing rod.
Presenter asks
9:39After being told at 23 that you'd gone as far as you could in the accountancy firm because of your background, what went through your mind?
I can't use the language on this program that would went through my head. But basically, it was, that's fine. I'm going to use you. You're not going to use me. I will leave when I'm ready. I will further myself at my own timetable. And I don't give a monkey about what you think about it, because this is my selfish period. I'm doing this for me. That's the secret of my success, is that everybody thinks I'm a barra-boy, an East End barra boy. The truth is, I'm also very smart. But I don't need to share that with everyone else, 'cause it gives me an advantage. … By the time people find out how good I am, I've already won.
Presenter asks
17:53You were one of your billiard halls in Romford when you were introduced to Steve Davis. What were your first impressions of him?
He was he w a little nervous boy really never looked you in the face always looked at his shoes when he was talking and you know can I play in your suka event mister Erner Very rarely do people seriously concentrate just on being the best they can be which is what he did so I never told him what balls to pot and he never told me how to fill in his tax return.
Presenter asks
21:50You said that back then [in the early days] you used to lie all the time. What kind of thing?
Well, just to try and get a deal done, you know, you'd make you exaggerate more than lies, would you make things bigger? And there are times when you're a second hand car salesman, you know, you're trying to ramp up prices, you're trying to drive create competition where there isn't any. … Well, I remember the deal that saved me really was in 1989. I was on the rocks and I had an event starting in January that needed a sponsor. … I went to see this guy to pitch this event. And I made up all sorts of stories about this event. I can't begin to tell you. … Total rubbish. It was just another event, really. And he said, well, I've got no money. And I just said, go out with style. I said, well, Mr. Hearn, thank you for your time. And I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year. And I turned around to walk away and he said … But I've got hotel rooms. He said I'll give you three hundred thousand pounds of hotel rooms. And by the time I'd walked back to Slough station, I'd sold that three hundred thousand pound of hotel rooms to friends in the travel industry at a forty per cent. discount, and that hundred and eighty grand saved my business, and more importantly, it saved me.
“When I promote an event and this sounds dreadful, but it actually works I promote an event for me. … all I saw was eight hundred people having a few beers, smoking a cigarette. Having a bet with the local bookies and watching world-class sport played by ordinary people and I thought … I absolutely bloody love this.”
“I wanted to play sport all the time, which is what I did, cricket and football mainly. Every type of athletics you could think of. I did everything from the pole vault to the discus to the one mile sprint walk to fifteen hundred meters, and I never won one of them. I was second, third or fourth in every single discipline.”
“She came home one day from cleaning this man's house and she said, I know exactly what you're going to do when you grow up. … And I said to her, oh, am I? I said, well, what do they do? She said, I've no idea. But the man whose house she cleaned told her that, and the quote was, which has lived with me ever since, was, you never see a poor one.”
“I am trying so hard. Honestly, I know it doesn't sound like it. And everyone thinks it is just so difficult when something's been such a major part of your life for 45 years. … I can't just walk away. I am seriously trying hard. I am playing a lot more cricket, playing a little bit more golf and doing a lot more fishing, which has always been the relaxation of my life. But in between that, there's a businessman that still wants to beat last year's figures, and I can't help it.”
“My fishing rod because the only time I really turn off is when I stand there on my own with a fishing rod. … Clarity of mind follows and every decision I have to make is so much easier than by the river.”