Prime Minister Theresa May celebrates Test Match Special on BBC Radio 5 live

The iconic cricket commentary programme will broadcast an affectionate look back over the decades in ‘Our TMS’ on Tuesday 25 July at 7.30pm, featuring fans’ favourite memories of the hugely popular show.

Simply introducing herself as 'Theresa', Mrs May says that she has been listening to TMS since “the days of John Arlott and E W Swanton”.

She expresses her adoration of the much-loved programme, recalling its early days saying: “There was no better sound of the summer than the hiss of TMS on Long Wave.”

She talks about some of her strongest memories, including, as she puts it: “The agony of England’s middling fortunes,” alongside audio of Mike Atherton being run out just short of a century.

Mrs May pays tribute to the legendary TMS commentator Brian Johnston, before directly addressing Henry 'Blowers' Blofeld, who has just announced his retirement from the programme team.

She says: “And can I just say Blowers, my dear old thing, we wish you all the best in your well-earned retirement. Your innings may be over, but TMS is 60 not out and we all look forward to seeing it reach its century.”

The Prime Minister was invited to take part in Our TMS for BBC Radio 5 live having often spoken for her love of the programme. She recorded her message with a member of her team and it was sent to BBC Radio 5 live producer Tim Peach.

Tim says: “Our TMS features memories from all over the world of people recalling their very best TMS moments, and what the programme has meant to them. It is wonderful to be adding Theresa May’s voice into an already very rich mix of stories.”

The documentary hears peoples’ highlights from around the globe, including the lady who gave birth listening to TMS, and the stories of whole villages in India gathering around the ‘transistor’ to listen to the cricket during a power cut.

Our TMS can be heard on BBC Radio 5 live on Tuesday 25 July at 7.30pm and will also be on BBC iPlayer. It will be followed by a round-table discussion with Jonathan Agnew, Henry Blofeld and Jim Maxwell as they recall their personal highlights of TMS.

Visit www.bbc.co.uk/5live for all listings information.

GB

About TMS

• BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra began to broadcast TMS along with Radio 4 Longwave from 2002
• Today, its commentary team includes Jonathan Agnew, Henry Blofeld, Alison Mitchell, Michael Vaughan, Geoff Boycott, Ebony Rainford Brent and Isa Guha
• TMS has broadcast the Women’s game extensively since 2002, including full coverage of Ashes series and World Cups
• Celebrity TMS fans include Lily Allen, Stephen Fry, Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn and Daniel Radcliffe
• TMS started on BBC Third Programme in 1957
• In 1994, it moved to BBC Radio 4 Long Wave, and can still be heard on LW now
• Cricket fans across the globe tune in to TMS with the Facebook page receiving comments from India to Israel to Iceland, and FaceBoycs Live attracting a quarter of a million people asking questions to Geoff Boycott
• Some of TMS’s best-loved traditions include the commentary team enjoying home-baked cakes sent to them by listeners, as well as the musings of the commentary team as they observe everything in the cricket ground - from stray pigeons to the shape of the clouds

Full transcript

Hello, I’m Theresa, and I’ve been listening to Test Match Special since the days of John Arlott and E W Swanton.

[Audio of Swanton and Arlott]

There was no better sound of the summer than the hiss of TMS on Longwave.

[Audio of Arlott]

The agony of England’s middling fortunes…

[Audio of Atherton being run out - Brian Johnston]

And the immortal lines of Brian Johnston…

[Brian Johnston Ashes audio]

And can I just say, Blowers, my dear old thing, we wish you all the best in your well-earned retirement.

[Blowers audio]

Your innings may be over, but TMS is 60 not out and we all look forward to seeing it reach its century.

[Brian Johnston audio - "What a splendid person to have on the side"]