Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe S11 EP11: Barry Hearn
Sep 11, 2025
Barry Hearn, a legendary sports promoter and president of Matchroom Sport, shares his insights on parenting and life. He blends humor with personal anecdotes about the chaos of raising children while managing a high-powered career. The conversation touches on the competitive dynamics of family in sports and the balance between support and pressure. Hearn discusses the importance of nurturing resilience and a strong work ethic in kids, alongside the therapeutic joys of fishing as a way to find peace amid life's challenges.
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Early Parenthood Fears And A Snooker Miss
- Barry recalls being terrified at the idea of having children and not being hands-on during early births.
- He missed his son's birth once because he was playing snooker and arrived after the baby was born, which his wife never forgave.
Batting With His Son
- Barry treasures simple sporting moments with his children, like opening the batting with Eddie.
- His personal pride mixed with humour when Eddie later dismissively reacted to his cricket lecture.
The Boxing Test With Eddie
- Barry staged a sparring match with his son Eddie at 16 to find out his character and resilience.
- Eddie dropped him twice, which reassured Barry that his son could take knocks and recover.