An audience with Andy Murray
By BBC Sport tennis correspondent Jonathan Overend:
Five minutes after walking into the redeveloped National Museum of Scotland I was into a debate with Andy Murray about the next England football manager. Maybe he saw Fabio Capello's exit coming more than I did.
Brother Jamie was chipping in with his usual vigour - before going all silly and advocating a selection policy based around all available players from his beloved Manchester United.
We were tucking into the gluten-free food selection as the off-air conversation moved to the Redknapp situation and then the John Terry situation. Then mum Judy walked up the stairs and into an emotional hug with her sons. For Andy, it was the first time he'd seen her since before his epic match with Djokovic in Australia. They are incredibly close.
We were getting ready for the recording of the RBS Museum Talk which was initially scheduled for broadcast at 7.30pm tonight, but now will start at 9pm. I should reassure tennis fans that the programme retains its full 90 minute duration, just slightly later than advertised. It will also be available as a 5 Live Sport Special podcast.
A capacity crowd of 350 had gathered inside the Grand Gallery at the museum, keen to hear the story of one of the country's most successful sporting families and their passionate support of the Set4Sport campaign. They want to encourage kids to learn basic sporting skills such as balance and hand/eye co-ordination through a series of simple play at home games.
It's how they started, at home in Dunblane, and even though they didn't know it at the time, the brothers were starting out on their sporting careers by jumping over pretend shark-infested waters or using tennis racquets as self-defence as Mum threw balls at their legs
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We played highlights of the Djokovic match - five hours in a minute - and relived Jamie's Wimbledon triumph of 2007, when Andy choked up on air in the commentary box. The replay of the audio tugged at the heart strings again.
Jamie was just back from another ATP doubles final, with Paul Hanley in Montpellier, Judy had returned from a successful debut as Fed Cup captain in Israel while it was Andy's first public appearance since running the world number one so close in Melbourne.
He talks about the improvements to his game, his work with coach Ivan Lendl and his hopes for the year including the dream of the London Olympics. He takes questions from the audience and also talks at length about other issues close to his heart such as facilities, accessibility and the need for a British "identity" in terms of coaching and style of play.
It made for a friendly, fascinating evening and hopefully something you'll enjoy listening to tonight on 5 Live or at your leisure on the podcast.
Jonathan Overend is BBC Sport's tennis correspondent. You can follow him on Twitter at @5livetennis.
An Audience with Andy Murray will be broadcast on 5 live on Thursday 9th February at 9pm and will also be available to download afterwards as a podcast.
Comment number 1.
At 13:52 9th Feb 2012, Jasmine wrote:Exactly what we need to know, Murray's view on Redknapp as the next England manager. Come on 5 Live we need to know what President Assad thinks about it.
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Comment number 2.
At 15:32 9th Feb 2012, carrie wrote:He always sounds as if he is about to nod off.
By the way, keeping this on track, surely one of the most successful sporting families in this country are the Redknapps, so can we please have this next? I bet they've got some great stories to share. Jamie, his dad and Frank, can't wait.
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Comment number 3.
At 16:08 9th Feb 2012, UnallocatedB wrote:What's the opposite of rose tinted glasses?
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Comment number 4.
At 16:43 9th Feb 2012, carrie wrote:Not sure, but I really meant it. No irony at all intended. It would be a great thing if the listening public could hear more about what makes this successful sporting family tick, instead of how they are presented by newspapers and the opinions of people on phone in programmes.
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Comment number 5.
At 16:39 11th Feb 2012, Jackstumps wrote:Can't find a suitable thread to post on but at least this is 'sport' ...
Can some please tell Juliet Ferrington / Farrington that we the listeners are not all deaf. Her presentational style is community radio at best but why does she shout.? None of the other folks do (note I didn't say 'blokes').
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Comment number 6.
At 17:22 11th Feb 2012, Jackstumps wrote:What is the matter with Matt Dawson on the rugby? Too many Red Bulls I suggest.
He's becoming the rugby version of Robbie Savage and believe me Matt, that is no compliment!
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Comment number 7.
At 15:50 12th Feb 2012, stirling wrote:"Exactly what we need to know, Murray's view on Redknapp as the next England manager. Come on 5 Live we need to know what President Assad thinks about it."
Well given the endless coverage the BBC has given to this "story", I wouldn't be at all suprised if he's been asked!
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Comment number 8.
At 18:07 12th Feb 2012, zelda wrote:Phone in on Whitney Houston tommorrow perhaps?
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Comment number 9.
At 18:54 12th Feb 2012, carrie wrote:Oh I hope so zelds, because this is what 5Live is about, just reacting this way.
I am sorry there hasn't been more discussion about the Murray "audience" because he is the most successful tennis player we have had and generally it is good to get out of the usual mish mash of interviews post-game and find out what makes someone tick. In this case I didn't actually feel very much but that is why a discussion on here might have put me right, as it so often does. Bless.
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Comment number 10.
At 20:22 12th Feb 2012, stirling wrote:"Phone in on Whitney Houston tommorrow perhaps?"
It will be either that or the Suarez affair. Never mind the fact that Greece is burning and that she (and most probably the Euro) is the brink of collapse.
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Comment number 11.
At 08:48 13th Feb 2012, zelda wrote:Well...............I was close. Addiction phone in this morning.
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Comment number 12.
At 09:11 13th Feb 2012, carrie wrote:At least it wasn't that wretched handshake and 'pool, 'pool, 'pool.
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