Former striker Danny Webber, who played for Manchester United, Sheffield United and Portsmouth during his career, is the latest guest to take on the challenge of the BBC Sounds podcast "Karel Prince: Lie Detector," a light-hearted show in which footballing figures test the panel's ability to separate fact from fiction.
In the episode, released on BBC Radio 5 Live, Webber presents three stories drawn from his time in the game, leaving hosts Karel Prince and Anita Abayomi to work out which of the tales are genuine and which are fabricated. The stories put forward include a claim that Webber once had security cameras and fingerprint entry access installed to gain admission to an exclusive dressing room society at Sheffield United, a suggestion that former Chelsea manager Avram Grant was so taken with his football knowledge that he nicknamed him "World Wide Webber," and an account of Neil Warnock allegedly leaving a voicemail message begging him to overlook his own reputation and sign for Sheffield United.
Throughout the episode, Prince and Abayomi are given photographic evidence and are encouraged to draw on their own footballing knowledge to interrogate each of the three claims, weighing up plausibility and pressing Webber for further details before delivering their verdicts. The format keeps listeners guessing until Webber steps in at the end of the episode to reveal which of the anecdotes are true and which have been invented for the purposes of the game.
The podcast, which runs for around 26 minutes, is part of an ongoing series produced by Sport Social Studios for BBC Sounds. Each episode follows the same format, inviting a guest with a career in football to submit unusual or eyebrow-raising stories from their playing days, while the hosts attempt to catch them out. The show has built a following for its blend of nostalgia, humour and insight into the dressing room culture that often goes unseen by supporters.
Webber's career took him through several clubs in English football, including a spell in Manchester United's youth ranks before moves to Sheffield United and Portsmouth, among other clubs, in a career that also touched several lower-league sides. His experiences across different dressing rooms and eras provide fertile ground for the kind of stories the podcast thrives on, from dressing room rituals to encounters with high-profile managers.
The episode's credits list Matt Tasker as series producer, with Tom Hinckley serving as technical producer and Jim Salveson as executive producer. Photography for the production was handled by Tom Barker, while artwork was created by James Mobbs. The original theme music was composed by WIZZFX. On the BBC side, Stevie Middleton is credited as commissioning executive, with Steve Trenchard serving as assistant commissioner.
The episode is available to stream via BBC Sounds, with the platform noting that it will remain accessible for over a year following its release. It forms part of a wider catalogue of "Karel Prince: Lie Detector" episodes, each offering a similar format built around anecdotes and revelations from figures connected to the football world.
While light in tone, the podcast continues to attract attention for the way it blends genuine footballing history with playful uncertainty, giving fans an entertaining way to learn more about the personalities behind the game, including the sort of behind-the-scenes stories that rarely make it into traditional match coverage.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.