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Ian Botham wasn't like other sportsmen.
A weed-smoking maverick, he punched policemen, shagged waitresses and partied with the Rolling Stones.
From 45 year feuds to "coke-fuelled shagathons", this is the story of England's stoner superstar...
A weed-smoking maverick, he punched policemen, shagged waitresses and partied with the Rolling Stones.
From 45 year feuds to "coke-fuelled shagathons", this is the story of England's stoner superstar...
Our story begins in 1980, when England cricket captain Ian Botham bizarrely joins Football League side Scunthorpe.
He plays 11 times, but scandal strikes at the Christmas party.
Botham is caught up in an alleyway scrap with gobby local fans, and gets charged with assault.
He plays 11 times, but scandal strikes at the Christmas party.
Botham is caught up in an alleyway scrap with gobby local fans, and gets charged with assault.
He's eventually acquitted, and stars in a glorious 1981 Ashes series.
But his new fame makes him a target for the tabloid vultures.
On a tour to New Zealand, he's accused of snorting coke and smoking weed in the dressing room.
He sues the papers, but there's worse to come...
But his new fame makes him a target for the tabloid vultures.
On a tour to New Zealand, he's accused of snorting coke and smoking weed in the dressing room.
He sues the papers, but there's worse to come...
On New Year's Eve 1984, four police officers bang on his door brandishing a search warrant.
They find 2.19g of weed in his bathroom, and arrest him, hauling his wife Kath to the station too.
When they get home, a livid Kath throws a glass table at Ian.
They find 2.19g of weed in his bathroom, and arrest him, hauling his wife Kath to the station too.
When they get home, a livid Kath throws a glass table at Ian.
But Botham is a hero once again when he walks the length of the UK, raising £1m for charity.
There's still time for drama: when a busybody policeman tries to interfere, Ian punches him.
Unfortunately, the copper is wearing a helmet and Botham breaks his hand.
There's still time for drama: when a busybody policeman tries to interfere, Ian punches him.
Unfortunately, the copper is wearing a helmet and Botham breaks his hand.
High on fame, Botham recruits dodgy agent Tim Hudson.
Tim convinces him he's a global sex symbol and flies him to Hollywood to become the next James Bond.
But Hudson's masterplan falls apart when he tells Botham's father-in-law that he plans to "get Ian's wife out the picture".
Tim convinces him he's a global sex symbol and flies him to Hollywood to become the next James Bond.
But Hudson's masterplan falls apart when he tells Botham's father-in-law that he plans to "get Ian's wife out the picture".
As Ian sets sail for the West Indies 1986, he promises his wife Kath: "no more tabloid stories".
Within weeks, he's accused of taking heroin and holding a "coke-fuelled shagathon" with Miss Barbados.
He brands the stories bollocks, but can't afford to sue another paper.
Within weeks, he's accused of taking heroin and holding a "coke-fuelled shagathon" with Miss Barbados.
He brands the stories bollocks, but can't afford to sue another paper.
That summer, Botham finally confesses to smoking weed, sparking tabloid outrage and a 3 month ban.
Hoping to spend time with some like-minded stoners, he goes on a televised Q&A with some Scottish teenagers.
But it's a trap...
Hoping to spend time with some like-minded stoners, he goes on a televised Q&A with some Scottish teenagers.
But it's a trap...
After retiring in 1992, Botham releases an autobiography called "Don't tell Kath".
One year later, he's caught shagging an Australian waitress.
At lunch with Kath, Botham breaks the awkward silence by pointing at a waitress and observing: "she's beautiful".
One year later, he's caught shagging an Australian waitress.
At lunch with Kath, Botham breaks the awkward silence by pointing at a waitress and observing: "she's beautiful".
These days, Ian is a retired family man. But trouble still finds him.
In 2014, a naked selfie including a flaccid penis appears on Botham's Twitter profile.
It's captioned "what are you thinking xx".
He insists he's been hacked, tweeting: "very funny whoever that was".
In 2014, a naked selfie including a flaccid penis appears on Botham's Twitter profile.
It's captioned "what are you thinking xx".
He insists he's been hacked, tweeting: "very funny whoever that was".
From smoking spliffs to shagging waitresses, get the full story of England's stoner superstar on the latest episode of The Upshot podcast.
Ian Botham: weed, wickets and waitresses
podfollow.com/the-upshot/epi…
Ian Botham: weed, wickets and waitresses
podfollow.com/the-upshot/epi…
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