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Andy Jacobs

Andrew Ian Jacobs (born 26 November 1952) is a British sports radio personality, producer, and former magazine editor, best known for co-hosting the weekday afternoon show Hawksbee and Jacobs on talkSPORT since 1998 alongside Paul Hawksbee. Born and raised in London to Jewish parents Stella and Jack Jacobs, he comes from a family with media ties, including his great-great-uncle Sam Costa, a BBC radio presenter and singer. Jacobs began his career in men's fashion before editing FHM magazine in 1986. He later produced American sports programming for three years and co-created the BBC Two comedy series Fantasy Football League with David Baddiel and Frank Skinner, producing 70 episodes between 1994 and 1998 that featured satirical takes on football and celebrity guests. Jacobs' radio work on emphasizes humor, banter, and sports commentary, often highlighting his passion as a supporter through memorable on-air rants. Married to Sue with two sons, he maintains an active media presence, including contributions to books like Clips of the Week compiling humorous sports moments.

Early life and education

Family background

Andy Jacobs was born on 26 November 1952 in , . He was raised in by his parents, Stella and Jack Jacobs. His father later relocated to France. Jacobs' grandfather, Harry Jacobs, had migrated from to , establishing the family's roots in the capital. The Jacobs family maintained a strong Jewish heritage, with the maternal side tracing origins to Sephardim, which shaped his early cultural environment in . No siblings are mentioned in available sources. He is related to the notable entertainer and presenter Sam Costa through his mother's family.

Schooling

Andy Jacobs completed his secondary education in during the late . His parents encouraged him to pursue a stable career in accountancy, but he rejected this advice after failing his O-level, which proved to be a pivotal moment in steering him toward more creative endeavors. This decision marked a shift away from conventional professional paths, allowing Jacobs to explore interests that aligned with his emerging passion for and . Although specific extracurriculars are not extensively documented, his early foray into began shortly after leaving , when at age 21 he volunteered for radio, providing an initial outlet for his communicative skills and foreshadowing his future career in radio and production. Upon completing his schooling, Jacobs entered the menswear industry, developing a that reflected his creative inclinations before transitioning into and roles in the .

Professional career

Publishing and magazine work

Andy Jacobs entered the media industry through print , serving as editor of For Him Magazine starting in 1986, shortly after its 1985 launch as a free publication targeted at young male readers. Previously contributing articles to the title, Jacobs shaped the publication's early content and style as a men's magazine, emphasizing humor, , and . In his role, Jacobs handled much of the content creation in the magazine's formative stages, drawing on his background in menswear to inform features on and , while navigating challenges such as limited resources and the need to broaden distribution beyond high-street outlets. One notable from this era involves Jacobs' heavy reliance on art directors for visual support, as he reportedly wrote up to 90% of the early material himself—a testament to the lean operation before the title's commercial expansion. Jacobs held the position from 1986 to the early 1990s, leaving amid a dispute with publishers over proposed changes to the editorial hierarchy. Following his departure and the magazine's acquisition by Emap, it was relaunched as in 1994; the magazine's circulation then surged from approximately 60,000 to over 700,000 copies within four years, fueling its growth into an international franchise licensed in multiple countries.

Television production

After leaving publishing, Jacobs produced American sports programming, including coverage for , for three years at Cheerleader Productions. In the mid-1990s, Andy Jacobs transitioned from print to , joining as head of development in August 1993. In this executive role, he focused on creating innovative content, drawing on his editorial experience to develop programs that blended humor with culture. His leadership at Avalon marked a pivotal shift toward visual , where he oversaw the creation of shows that captured the growing popularity of fantasy in the UK. One of Jacobs' most notable productions was Fantasy Football League, which aired on BBC Two from 1994 to 1998. Hosted by comedians and , the series adopted a format centered on a celebrity-managed league, where guests selected teams, discussed match performances, and participated in comedic sketches and interviews with football personalities. The show revolutionized sports entertainment by merging irreverent humor with football analysis, significantly boosting the mainstream appeal of fantasy leagues and propelling Skinner and Baddiel to national stardom, including their collaboration on the Euro 1996 anthem "." Its cultural impact endured, influencing subsequent comedy-sports hybrids and embedding into British . Building on this success, Jacobs series-produced Fantasy World Cup for ITV in 1998, a special tie-in to the in . The program adapted the Fantasy Football League format for international competition, featuring celebrity guest managers selecting global players, live match commentary, and satirical segments on events. Innovations included real-time scoring updates during the tournament and broader guest lineups from international stars, enhancing viewer engagement with the global spectacle. Beyond these flagship series, contributed to the development of additional sports-related programming at , including pilot concepts and format refinements that emphasized accessible, light-hearted content. His work during this period solidified Avalon's reputation in comedy-sports production before he departed in 1999.

Radio broadcasting

Andy Jacobs entered the radio industry in 1999, joining as a shortly before the station rebranded and launched as in 2000. Since 2000, Jacobs has co-hosted the Hawksbee and Jacobs show on alongside , initially airing on select days but evolving to a weekday slot from 13:00 to 16:00 GMT. The program is known for its humorous take on sports commentary, blending witty analysis of current events with celebrity interviews and light-hearted segments that often feature game shows, impressions, and comedic sketches. One recurring element is The Birthday Spread, a Thursday segment at 15:30 where hosts and guests engage in a birthday-themed quiz or guessing game, adding to the show's playful, interactive style. The show has covered major sporting events, including extensive World Cup commentary, with dedicated daily podcasts during tournaments like the to provide in-depth reactions and guest insights. Notable moments include Jacobs' interview with basketball icon in Orlando, marred by the mishap of forgetting to activate the , which became a humorous in his . Over the years, Hawksbee and Jacobs has expanded its reach through podcast formats on platforms like and , attracting a broader audience beyond traditional listeners by emphasizing and cultural commentary on athletics. This evolution draws partly from Jacobs' prior television production experience, which informed the show's structured yet spontaneous on-air dynamic.

Personal life

Sports interests

Andy Jacobs has been a devoted fan of Chelsea Football Club since 1957, when he first began supporting the team as a young boy. His allegiance was briefly interrupted in 1982 due to concerns over and at Stamford Bridge, but he resumed following the club in 1990 upon returning to with his family. As a lifelong , Jacobs holds a at Stamford Bridge and regularly attends matches, often sharing personal anecdotes about the highs and lows of the team's performances. Beyond Chelsea, Jacobs maintains a broad enthusiasm for football, including international tournaments, which has led him to experience major events like the in . His fandom extends to other sports, particularly American ones, where he has expressed a strong passion shaped by early professional encounters with icons such as . Jacobs' personal sports enthusiasm occasionally informs his radio commentary, adding authenticity to discussions on team dynamics and match outcomes. His outspoken takes, delivered with a signature wit, underscore a deep emotional investment.

Family relations

Andy Jacobs' extended family includes notable figures from the entertainment industry on his maternal side. His great-great-uncle, Sam Costa (1910–1981), was a prominent English singer, entertainer, and broadcaster of Sephardic Jewish descent. Costa began his career as a and vocalist in the era of the 1930s, recording hits with orchestras led by , Jay Wilbur, and Maurice Winnick, and appearing in radio comedies such as and . In the post-war years, he transitioned to broadcasting, hosting popular shows on , including Sam's Scene, and on , while making guest appearances on programs. Jacobs' maternal lineage traces to the Costa family, who were Sephardim, reflecting a heritage tied to Jewish communities with roots in the and broader Mediterranean traditions. This Sephardic background connects to broader family narratives of migration and cultural continuity within the . On his paternal side, Jacobs' father, Jack Jacobs, relocated from to France later in life, where he continues to reside, fostering ongoing transcontinental family bonds. Jacobs is married to Sue and has two sons. No specific details on Jewish family traditions or events involving extended relations have been publicly documented.

References

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