Last updated at 5:13 PM on 26th January 2011
Shamed Richard Keys gave a remarkable interview to talkSPORT to apologise for his sexist comments in the videos leaked by Sky Sports. Here is the full transcript...
Live to the world: Richard Keys is interviewed at talkSPORT HQ
PRESENTERS: Richard Keys, Richard Good afternoon...
RICHARD KEY: Afternoon,
P: Richard, why have you decided to come in and talk to us and the TalkSPORT listeners today.
RK : I've been trying to find an opportunity Paul to do so. There is a firestorm raging out there and it has been very difficult to step into the middle of it to try to get across the way I'm feeling and correct some of the mis-information that's been put about and an awful lot of inaccurate reporting that's been done. I listen to you guys all the time, this is the best place, I felt, for me to come and be allowed the time to say what I think and that's why it was my idea to come and talk to you today. I don't have an agent, I don't have a spin doctor, I don't tweet, I don't have blogs or websites. Finding myself in the middle of something like this is most, most discomforting for me. But it's not about me. You asked me a question why am I here, these are some of the reasons why I'm here. My decision. I checked this with Sky and the answer was go ahead, so here I am. And I will answer any question that you like, but before I do, what I would like to say is, I would like to reiterate what I said to Sian Massey on Sunday afternoon during the second half of the Blackpool-West Brom match, not as reported at 5 o'clock on Monday evening when as this storm blew up that I'd reacted late. I rang on behalf of Andy and myself Sunday afternoon. I made it an official apology which Sian accepted. She and I enjoyed some banter together. We left on very good terms. I can't tell you any more about the conversation beyond saying she was in good spirits and I expressed my disappointment that Andy and I in misguidedly having a little fun, had got it wrong. There is no excuse anywhere for anybody to make a judgement on someone else's ability to do a job because they are male or female. It was wrong.
P: You say it was fun Richard, you know we'd like to believe that, but the tone of it was quite aggressive and do you honestly believe that a woman official appointed by the League wouldn't be up to it?
RK: No, of course not. It was ironic Andy. I know what you are saying, I know when you listen to these things in the manner in which they have been presented they sound very different, but of course it was all part of a much wider conversation that everybody there on the day in many respects was having. And I'm quite certain in dressing rooms, and I'm quite certain because I've been told that's the case. So is football inherently sexist? No, of course it's not. Is football full of sportsmen who enjoy a little bit of lads mag humour, yes it is. Is it for me to judge that? No it's for others. But I don't think football is inherently sexist. So in dressing rooms, in pubs to make the point and I am absolutely certain in many other places on Saturday there was a raised eyebrow. Now amongst the things that haven't been mentioned, right at the start of the game, on air, I said, there she is, you know, a female lines assistant today, we wish her all the best. Of course we do. At half time, we said she made a very good decision. One of our studio guests said we all held our breath. We all did. And I can tell you from my conversation with her, so did she. Am I defending what we said and did? No. Let me repeat again, I have never had a problem in life saying sorry when I'm wrong. We were wrong. It was wrong. It shouldn't have happened. It did. What can you do beyond that? I apologised on the Sunday. Now, there are some dark forces at work here. I, having done that, asked could we make people aware of the fact that we have had a conversation and that both parties felt it was best to move on. I was told no. And 24 hours passed, by which time the world had gone mad. Now, I don't know why I was told no. I don't know why I was stopped from telling people that that's what I had done. And I remember saying to her Sian I have to say this, officially I need to make this official, on behalf of Andy and myself we unreservedly apologise for our behaviour. It was wrong. I won't tell you what her response was because one of the things I would like to happen here is, I can stand up and have done for 3 days and get battered because I deserve to be. If the people who are passing judgement on this have any self-respect, they will stop hounding Sian. Leave her alone. This is not her fault.
PRES - She lost the game last night, she has become the story. She was on the cover of the Sun and that is very unfortunate.
RK: The cover of the Sun raised my eyebrow I have to say. I know it was aimed at Andy and myself- get them off but to put a picture of her on the front page photographed of the angle that it was in my opinion not right particularly in these circumstances so the people who did that have some serious questions to answer for themselves. But I am not here to pass too many judgements there is a tone of my voice which you can understand is a little frustrated by what has happened and what is going on. We were wrong. We were totally and utterly wrong.
P: You should regard it as banter though Richard. People, that word has been used a lot over the last while.
RK: Yes it has. I noticed Rio Ferdinand tweeted and said prehistoric banter, no place for it. Rio. Are you telling me it does not take place in the Manchester United dressing room? Because, my information says it does. Now that is not to say its right Andy. It is not to say it is right. There is a wider conversation here about is it sexist, is it Lads Mag banter. Is there a place for it? That is not for me to judge and this is not the time for that conversation. What I do think is, it is right for me to step out. It is right for me to say sorry again. It is, I hope, if there is any good to come from this it makes it easier for others to follow Shan that would be a plus and please all those who are hounding her. Leave her alone. Ask yourself why are you doing this?
P: For many people it was the closing comment in that first clip about Karen Brady that was more troubling. Have you spoken to Karen?
RK: Let me tell you. I tried to ring Karen twice on Sunday night. She didn't answer the phone. There is no answer phone on Karen's mobile. That may be a sign of the times at West Ham I don't know. There is no answer phone on Karen's phone. So I texted her in case she saw a number she saw a number she was unfamiliar with and did not want to answer it. I said Karen it is Richard Keyes. I very much need to talk to you. Could you please take my call or ring me back. Now she chose not to. I do not know why. A by product of all of this of course it took her and West Ham out of the press. She knows and so does everybody else what a mess they made of trying to appoint Martin O'Neill and she was getting it in the neck. Now she claimed that was because she is a woman. That is her view. It is not necessarily mine. It might be that others do not share that either. She played that card, rightly or wrongly.
P: So you are standing that comment up?
RK: I am not standing that comment up. My view was, aw come on, do me a favour. It was again. It wasn't – look I am right, it was a view which I held, didn't come out when you listened to the tape in a manner that was acceptable. It was wrong again but...
P: Do you still hold that view? Do you feel that she was hiding behind the fact that she was a woman?
RK: I think it is for others to pass comment on that. It is for others to judge that. I tried to ring her to say sorry and she did not take my call. Now I do not know why. Maybe at some point she will tell us.
P: We should say that Andy Gray who has been fired – is there any reason why you should not go too?
RK: None I suppose, but again that is for others to make a decision on Andy. Obviously with someone who I have grown enormously fond of over the years. An enormously influential character in our business. Someone who re-wrote the rule book when it came to analysis and the job he did. I have got to ask myself do I want to carry on without him? And that is something I have been doing. Obviously. He by his very nature has been described as a bully. He has been described as a sexist also. I know I have. I have been described as aloof. If operating in a manner that I do, staying away from red carpet, staying away from tweeting. Staying away from blogging. Keeping myself to myself for my family. If that is aloof then I am guilty of that as well. I do not get overly busy. I don't write news columns. I do not appear on radio stations other than perhaps in these circumstances. I am not out there. My ego does not need that. I do my job and I have loved doing that for 20 years. I am enormously proud of what we have done across 20 years and whatever happens next they will never take those 20 years off us. Andy Gray as a player was signed to play in dressing rooms because of his personality and success followed him everywhere he went through his playing career. Now our prehistoric banter is not acceptable in a modern world. I accept that. We got it wrong. We failed to change while everything was changing about us but one of the reasons that we liked to have what is described as prehistoric banter. I am not saying it is, it is being described as such. My view was that we did things a little differently. We did the best. We got people to air that were able to relax and enjoy an afternoon as though they were sitting in their own lounge. I always said that if we could get between five to and five past without anybody noticing we had gone on the air we had done our job. Television studios like this radio studio, enormously intimidating places. Footballers and football managers do not operate in them except very rarely so we never wanted people to feel under pressure or different so we would have a bit of a chuckle and a laugh. Now I am not saying that what we said, before someone miss-interprets what I just said then. I am not saying what we said Saturday was a chuckle or a laugh. It was wrong and I have apologised. I apologised to Sian and I have done it again and again and again today so that people understand where I am coming from. There is no place for it in a modern workplace.
P: Lets go back to something you said. We will come back to the subsequent coverage of the fall out in a moment but you talked about dark forces and who in the world has gone made. What has happened? Who are these dark forces?
RK: Well from something that was, I thought controllable. Pick up any newspaper today. I have never appeared on radio 4 before. I have never been on the BBC news. I have worked in most broadcasting outlets down the years but I have found the reaction to be extraordinary. I think…
P: Do you think political correctness gone mad?
RK: That is not me to make an opinion on. That is for others to make a judgement on. All I can do is sit here and apologise for our behaviour. If others think that has happened then..
P: So you can't quite believe the media storm?
RK: I cannot believe the frenzy that has blown up. If I was in a position to get out the fact that I had said sorry on Sunday I don't think it would have done, I think people would have understood but what they thought was because no one said anything that we perhaps argent and dismissive of something which was very serious. We weren't. I reacted immediately when I knew there was a problem and I rang Sian and I rang Karen to say sorry and Karen didn't want to take my call.
P: Some of the reporting around the story Richard you claim is inaccurate but the clip themselves, the audio clips we heard from Saturday and some of the other subsequent clips that have been leaked and that is something else that we will come back to a little bit later on. There is no arguing about that they happened and they are on record.
RK: There is absolutely none and as I have said to you that has no place in a modern work place. That shouldn't happen does it happen elsewhere? It probably does. In fairness my current employers. Sky is not sexist, SkySports is not sexist, the football department isn't sexist. There has been a lot of good work gone on to make sure that is not the case. It's something that is a left over from an era when we started. Listen we have grown up with nobody liking us. We are a little bit like Wimbledon, we have to upset people along the way to get to noticed. We started out with all those colourful jackets I used to wear. I always described. I was driving a mini so we had to make a bit of a fuss. These days Sky's a Rolls Royce you don't have to make so much of a fuss. We've done an awful lot to make Sky a success. There are many people drinking from the well we dug and are enjoying that success. Good because that's why we did it.
P: It was a sexist comment Richard wasn't it? When you here it it's hard to argue otherwise.
RK: It's very hard to argue otherwise. It shouldn't have happened and I have apologised for it. I am doing so again here. It shouldn't have happen but it did. The timing of it is irrelevant, it shouldn't have happened. There is no place in a modern workplace for that sort of talk.
P: Richard do you feel in anyway stitched up by colleges. All this footage because lets be honest off air footage does not get to air unless somebody from within. This is not accessible to anybody else other than people inside the organisation so presumably somebody there has got it in for you.
RK: I don't know. I couldn't possibly pass comment on that. Again that is for others and you have almost past an opinion in asking me that question that is for others to make a judgment on. What else can I say about that.
P: We will come back to that point and we will come back as we said to the coverage. Richard Keys is with us in the studio at the moment and we will talk more very shortly. We will take some of your calls, emails, sorry some of your texts and emails shortly.
P: Andy Jacobs here on TalkSPORT Richard Keys is with us in the studio we've got some emails and texts from you to read to richard in a moment but Richard do you want to return it it's quite an emotive phrase the idea of dark forces and Andy mentioned earlier on that feeling that you could feel you know you said that's ....to say you could feel you might have been stitched up internally and we'll come back to the reasons if that is the case why that happened but what do you exactly mean by dark forces, I'm just trying to get my head round that.
RK: You two guys are very good at what you do. People working in our profession do it at the very highest level for that reason too. I mean you just used the phrase stitched up, you said that not me but we know full well that whatever I say today is likely to be misunderstood, misrepresented and turned round to suit the purposes of whichever organisation it is that is reporting this from this point hence forth. There are certain clips which I am certain you will take from this to suit whoever it is that is writing the particular story that follows when I'm gone a four, five, six o'clock tonight. All I can do and the reason I came here is offer you my honest assessment of what happened. Everybody will have a view on why Keys chose Talk Sport, was it to be with the guys and get an easy ride? No, it was so I could get the time to get my point across neither of us have had the opportunity to talk, I said that earlier.
P: There will be people out there feeling that Richard, after what happened to Andy Grey yesterday, Richard Keys is just trying to save his job.
RK: Absolutely, whether I continue or not I believe I also have a decision to make in that respect. Of course people will say that this just goes on and on you know. There will be people criticising the fact that I turned up today and telling me I should have come Monday. Couldn't come Monday, couldn't come Tuesday there was too much else happening . In the end I said I have to get out and say something, I want to. It is something that I've been bursting to do and I'm grateful for you giving me the opportunity to do that. I repeat, I mean how many times and I probably will before I leave I'm sorry, I'm sorry for Sian Massey. I'm not sorry for myself like I told you I can stand up and take a beating the same as the next guy, that's not a problem, I had to.
P: It cant be easy because you mentioned the dark forces and the idea that subsequently an awful lot of newspapers, you mentioned aloof, arrogant was a word that's came up quite a few times. There was a feeling of arrogance maybe about you and Andy and the fact that you were football personified in this country.
RK: No I don't think we ever felt that either of us. Arrogant, yeah you could, look it depends what spin you want to put what view you have of a, did we have belief in ourselves? Yes, are we enormously proud of what we did? Yes, but beyond that its for other to decide if we were indeed the best or not, we like to think we were but if that in turn is interpreted by some as being arrogant again I cant do anything to affect that. I can only offer what I've said to you I'm not a celebrity football presenter, and there are plenty, that enjoy the life that comes with it, that's not me. I don't do that you know the limelight never sought, ever sought. My job puts me in the front line in that respect. Its great, I've described it many times as the best job in the world, it is. Look there are two sides to every argument, we are losing at the moment and quite rightly were getting a pasting but we do live in a democracy there are two sides to this. Please, we've heard one a lot, lets here the other one a little bit because there are two versions of what happened two views about what happened.
P: Fellow journalists in the press have wasted no time in kicking you basically when you're down I mean has that surprised you? Some of the top football writers have basically the accusations were you aware of those attitudes because they've been clear over the last few days. You were always at the football writer's dinner for example.
RK: Yeah we've done an awful lot of things we go to the football writers dinner year in year out and have supported that. Sky sports sponsors that. Its disappointed me of course it has but there are others as is always the case there are others who if I turn this phone on now it will ring between now and midnight tonight. I've been on the phone for the last three days there are approaching five hundred messages on there from different people, many good friends in Fleet Street who I grew up with saying "cant believe what's going on here son this is out of all proportion that's there view. I'm not passing comment on that, that's their view you know. So there's been a weight of support for me as well and Andy, as well as those who wish to brow beat. Sky is a fantastic company I think we've done, I reiterate that, I'm proud of what we've done given football our national sport the shop window that it's had. I'm not proud of what we did at the weekend I'm really sorry that happened but you know with success comes envy. I suppose the crux of this is are you sorry for doing it or are you sorry for being caught doing it I suppose. Note that when I said that right at the outset, I'm sorry it was wrong, there's no place for it, no place for what happened on Sunday, Saturday, Sunday, Saturday, what day is it now? No place for that, no place for what's gone on in and around the work place but the clips that you've seen, as is always the case, are fairly selective. They are fairly selective they have targeted two individuals, it might be that that's not necessarily representative either of our studio which is our dressing room.
P: Are you concerned that there could be more to come out are you aware that there is more to come out?
RK: I am almost certain and have been for three days that people are looking as we speak, of course and if you dig far enough and deep enough you will find what you are looking for.
P: Yeah, who, whom you mentioned, who are these people, are they colleagues at Sky, are they are just people in the Press.
RK : Again Andy I don't know that, you tell me, I don't know. I am au fait and I think I am up to speed with the modern media. I get on alright. I'm not, I don't live in the Dark Ages despite the allegation, but I can't possibly, I have a view, which I will remain silent with, of course, like yourselves. I can't answer the question. All I can do is keep saying and I have, it was wrong. And the behaviour in and around our studio is wrong. And I have apologised for that. I'm not here to express how sorry I feel about this for myself. It's irrelevant. I said to you right at the outset, leave Sian alone, get off her case. There's alot of double standards being applied here by a number of people.
P: We have had a statement actually, a statement has just been released via the Press Association from Andy Gray, so I will run that past you as well Richard. Yes Andy has apologised for his part in the Sky Sport Sexism row and says he was devastated by losing the job that he loved. His statement in full issued by his Law Firm, Shilings, was 'I am very sorry that certain comments made by me have caused offence. Such comments were made off air to work colleagues and were, of course, never intended to be broadcast. I was very upset when the comments were brought to my attention. And it was my intention to apologise on Monday night when I was back on air for the Bolton v Chelsea game. Sadly I was unable to do so as I was suspended from the show by Sky Sports and have now been sacked. Football is my life and I am devastated by losing the job that I love. I am equally upset that third parties have been dragged into this issue. I ask that the media respect their privacy so that they can continue in their roles. I have worked for Sky Sports loyally for over 20 years and I do not wish to comment further at this time.' Richard, what is your reaction to that?
RK : Well, it's kinda saying what I have. I didn't know he was going to do that. I spoke to him obviously yesterday and today and we've talked a lot over the last 3 days. You know, there is a row raging at the moment about the invasion of privacy, phone tapping, understandably. What's the difference between what happened to us and what's happened, allegedly, to many others? If off air conversations of television and radio presenters were reported up and down the country there would be no-one left working. You know that as well as I do. That is not, I reiterate, that is not to defend what happened. It shouldn't have done. We shouldn't have done it. We shouldn't have done it.
P: The problem is, as you know, these have become public and that is the bottom line, isn't it, which is why we are where we are now. Just very quickly, we're going to continue after two o'clock and chat more to Richard Keys and take more of your questions. We'll be reading them shortly. But generally the reaction on talkSPORT over the last few days since it's been discussed, I mean I'm not pretending for one moment that some have been supportive, some have kinda said similar things to what you have said today. But people have also said you shouldn't be allowed to broadcast again, you are a dinosaur, those views shouldn't be held in the modern game and that you don't deserve to be a national figure commentating on the national game.
RK : Well, all but the last line of that text which you just read out, I think I have addressed. I've said very much the same thing haven't I? I've said there is no place for that sort of behaviour, there is no place for that view in a modern world. I'm here to accept responsibility for what happened, that's why I have come out and said just that.
P: So have you changed your view Richard, because obviously when you made those comments, we can hear, we can hear what you said, it sounds like you believed it.
RK : No Andy, you don't believe that. You don't believe that. What I believed was what I said when the game started, good luck Sian Massey, good luck, it's a big day here in the spotlight. That's what I believed, good luck and we all collectively held our breath when that first decision was made. And if she'd got that wrong, heaven forbid. There is a possibility, but of course I didn't believe that. One of the reasons why we probably were in over drive on Saturday is we had a fresh gas (?) with this guy called Matt Murray who used to play in goal for Wolverhampton, we wanted to make him feel relaxed and comfortable, and that was part of that process. But, you know, I have learned very quickly, I have learned a very harsh lesson that that can't be the case and that shouldn't be the case.
Presenter : So that was effectively the kind of, you are saying it's the kind of dressing room banter that will get a guy, that's the sort of language he's used to in the dressing room, that will get him reacting.
RK: That's what I said to you, that when people come into our work place into studios and they see lights and cameras what you don't want is for people to freeze. Listen, if someone put me on a football pitch, in their workplace and said go on and have a runabout, I'd look a right chump, wouldn't I? You know I can't do that. I don't want them in our studio to look the same way. I want them relaxed and happy and to, so the nature of what we were saying was unacceptable, was wrong. Now, you know I can't offer myself up more than I have in that respect. You know, there's no defence. I have realised that. Yes, I have realised that and I am not here to offer up an apology for myself, I am up here to offer an apology for my behaviour to others who I have offended.
P: Richard Keys is with us in the Studio, we have got some of your emails and texts talksport.co.uk, text 81089 we will put them to him very shortly.
P: Richard keys is with us in the studio and we have been chatting for half and hour or so and we will talk some more and we will put some of you questions to Richard. You have been e-mailing a texting in. This one is from Derek in South Wales. He says Richard how he would feel if a man had made the same comment he made about Sian Massy to his daughter who is of a similar age.
RK: Obviously I would be very upset. It's a point very well made. I think I have address it. I have said I am sorry. It's not right. It shouldn't have happened.
P: Got one here from Debby and she says do you think broadcasters have a right to sack Ron Atkinson and Rodney Marsh for their offensive remarks. If yes way then shouldn't they sack you. If Sky haven't got the guts to sack you should you then resign.
RK: Another point very well made. I obviously can't offer an opinion on decisions that have been made about other individuals only on my particular issue. Of course that is a possibility yeah both those things might yet be the case.
P: What's been the reaction of you family. We have talked about your daughter there. Your sister defended you didn't she. What has been the reaction?
RK: Well in many ways Paul it's an irrelevance how we feel about this because it's not paramount. It's not important, what is important is that we try and get Sian Massey a level playing to continue her career on which is why I said please back off and leave her alone. This is not her fault. Let others we hope find there way through. I have spent to this point an awful lot of time taking calls from the parents of different youngsters who have wanted an opportunity is this business. There is a lot of very good female presenters out there who I have played a major part in getting a break in this country and they know it. Gabby, Kelly Kates who's Dad called me right at the start of her career and said can you help. Course you can and you try to. Kirsty, Claire who is very good at what she does. Just to prove that I don't just help those of one particular gender. Alan Hanson, Alan Shearer.
P: How much support have you had from them because it was something I was going to go on to. Your relationship with the presenting staff at Sky probably in light of the Charlotte Jackson clip as well. Is that going to be difficult. Is there going to be bridges to rebuild there do you think?
RK: With Charlotte?
P: Let's deal with specifically that clip because Andy's doing the talking and you are reacting.
RK: That clip is again very selective I mean Charlotte can handle herself.
P: Does that make it right?
RK: I was just about to say of course it doesn't make it right. Of course it doesn't make it right.
P: You can't speak on behalf of Andy and we will see what happens there. It is a form of sexual bullying isn't it.
RK: Yes
P: Two older men having a laugh with someone's who is not as established at Sky as you are. Two very powerful people within an organisation that she works for.
RK: Yes
P: That's why it's quite an uncomfortable watch Richard.
RK: Yes I accept that. I have no argument but at least then spelt Andy's name right I have work for sky for 20 years and they have just got mine wrong.
P: It was quite a shocker the spelt Keys with an extra E which does take some doing I suppose after all that time. There have been accusations of bullying younger colleges. There is a story today about runner being bullied about having chewing gum on his shoe but who knows if these things are true but basically there have been these accusations.
RK: I can say Andy that I have been absolutely have no recollection whatsoever being bullied for having chewing gum on their shoe. I mean, these things, as I said to you earlier these things tend to take on a life of their own. Everybody who has got anything to say at the moment is going to. I think we have helped, you know, it is the same as emails if you have been in the business as along as I have to know that complaints generally get heard more than those wanting to congratulate you about what you have done. That is just a fact of life.
P: Sure
RK: So I imagine the weight of opinion is going to look as though that is the case on most matters that are controversial and that probably is so here. I accept that people have a right to voice their opinion. I accept that there are people who do not like what is being said and what is being done. I accept it was wrong. Please accept my apology in the manner in which it is offered because, there is no place, as I have said a number of times in a modern workplace for that to be so.
P: I think, it is a difficult one because when you leave the studio you will look at the fallout from the conversation and I mean, for example one of the team just checked out Twitter and the word whining has come up.
RK: Of course I said that to you right at the top. I said, I will get criticism whatever I do going forward. I was very very plain and I said right at the start – I am not whining. I am not here to defend myself. I am not here apologising or feeling sorry for myself. I am here to make a statement which I have so far been unable to do to say sorry. Not just to the individuals that we immediately offended but to the far greater viewing and listening public. To all those who have been offended. I am sorry. How else can I say that without it being misconstrued as me whining. I am not feeling sorry for myself. I said to you that I would stand up and I have done and I will take it and I have been doing so. So has Andy. I am not here whining. I am here to say sorry to those people who I need to say sorry to.
P: Is there anything else that you think you could do to make amends? Is there any way back? If people do not accept this apology?
RK : I don't know. Andy again that is not for me to have a judgement on. All I can do is offer myself up as honestly as I have done to try and to offer the apology that I have made. I am not here to try and to get brownie points. I am not here to try and persuade anybody to take a different view on this. Everybody has one and they are entitled to it. They are entitled to it. Of course they are.
P: Richard from what you have said today and from Andy's statement that we read earlier on that you feel that, I sense that you were not allowed to manage this as you would have liked. When we spoke about this on Monday on the show, as soon as the word came through that you had been suspended and you would not be doing that show Andy's immediate reaction was 'Well they could have gone on air tonight and they could have dealt with this and they could have publically apologised' and that was a feeling that I think a lot of you would have shared rightly or wrongly, maybe it should have been a punishment or whatever, that was the feeling and that is what would happen. But that did not happen and it sounds to us and I am sure to the listeners from what you said that you have been frustrated by it.
RK: You are entitled to that view and I cannot confirm or deny one way or the other what my opinion on that would be or that if it was to happen that it would have been helpful but there is a view that if we had been able to broadcast on Monday night we could have reprimanded ourselves earlier and we could have said not good enough. We could have said somebody working in a modern world has just made us look daft. We got that wrong but not our view of whether you were able to do it Sian, our behaviour was more important.
P: But then there is that moment when you have to go a beat anyway, lets look ahead to tonight's game and that is going to be tough with or without, well it is going to be without Andy now we know . that is going to be very tough Richard to pick up the pieces from this and go and face down some of your colleagues, some of your production team at Sky and this is not going to be an easy road. Do you feel that you want that, are you up for that?
RK: Nor should it be an easy road because we have not behaved correctly so I am not complaining about the treatment we have had at all. I have asked for the other side to be given a fairer hearing. I have come here today to make myself available to the views of people up and down the country and going forward might be the case but that is something that I will have to deal with if indeed that becomes so.
P: They say you never are too old to learn. Would you now on the back of this revaluate your attitudes?
RK: Andy I have now, I would not be sitting here and saying this if I hadn't. Of course I have done that and it is going to take a lot more than me sitting here behind this microphone today saying look I am a changed man. There is work to do, of course there is. There is a process to undergo and I am happy to undertake it because it would be the right thing to do but from something that was wrong, behaviour that was wrong, I used the word fire storm when I came in, what has blown up around us and engulfed us. I have found I have to say extraordinary but listen there maybe people out there who are in need of a different opinion and they are entitled to that. I have said sorry. I have said sorry To Sian, I have said leave her alone. I said it early and I tried to say sorry to Karen. I am just trying to correct a little bit of misinformation that has been going on and I chose here, not Sky, if I had gone there somebody would have said well oh yeah he is on Sky looking for an easy ride. If I had gone to the BBC why has he gone there? Why has he chosen them? I had to make a decision to come somewhere and this was the only place I would have got the opportunity to sit with you guys as long as I have.
P: Two emails here. Ones pro and ones against. I'll go with the strong one first. This is strong stuff from Steve Hibbens, he says; why isn't Richard Keys if all the recent reports are correct no one wants you anyway arrogance from ex players is one thing but a presenter is outrageous go now. He says the only reason you're on this show is to save your job and face.
RK: Well, again you know I accept it who is it Steve? Yeah I accept Steve's right to an opinion of course I do. There's a lot of angry people out there I understand what he's saying.
P: Some of these we've had too, do you think Andy grey has been made a scape goat? How do you see the coverage without him? Have you considered resigning in support of him? That comes from Steve Tanner.
RK: As I said to you earlier I am considering everything. There are all sorts of options on the table at the moment, it is very possible that someone at Sky might take a view in the time that I've been sitting with you today that they need to and will act. I think this is not played its way out yet. Please, please once again let me just say I'm not here looking for an easy ride I said to you when I walked in did I not I'll take any questions you got. I did not come with a prepared script because that would have been somebody else's words I came here to talk to you in a very open and honest manner and to start the process of apologising to the people that I need to. Work colleagues and lines assistant, referees assistants yes and everyone's who's upset by that I came here and I said to you guys I'll take what you like I'm taking a kicking and I deserve it. I'm not here to express how sorry I feel for myself, or Andy, I'm here to apologise as honestly as I can. Now I also added that would be misinterpreted, there will be many views on why I'm here and what I'm saying it is for others to judge now why I came. I want to come to also correct the little bit as I said misinformation and some reporting that has been inaccurate.
P: Were going to break our ritual talk more in a moment to Richard keys more of your questions to him and well look at the latest video that was leaked on You Tube today involving Jamie Redknapp. We'll talk specifically about that when we come back.
P: Paul Haksby and Andy Jacobs here with you until four o'clock. Richard Keys is with us in the studio, he's been so for just under an hour now talking us through the events of the last few days and his reaction to it. You've been sending in you're emails and texts and we'll put more of them to Richard in a moment. Richard just deal specifically with this latest You tube clip which has surfaced involving in the studio Jamie Redknapp and Graeme Souness and Ruud Gullit there. Some comments about I think an old possibly an old girlfriend of Jamie's. It is kind of sexually aggressive, explicit language I mean I wonder how you felt when you saw that.
RK: Shocking, horrible, out of order, wrong…old fashioned, no place, behavioural problems that need to be attended to, yeah, reconstruction, yeah. Again, it's a very selective moment from that studio at night. Read into that what you will, it shouldn't have happened, it did, its something that I'm enormously upset about, not for myself for other ...you know not individuals necessarily, only individuals that night but to the far greater watching and listening public, that's wrong.
P: Richard, one of the other things that people have said that there is a kind of, at sky there is a kind of feeling, boorish male dominated, all boys together bunch of lads that run it. A lot of the newspapers have been making these accusations I'm sure other the past few days. Would you refute that is the case?
RK: I said to you earlier there is not inherent sexism in Sky nor in the sport department, or the football department. What I think there is, is a sports room probably a little bit like yours, probably a little bit like any other fleet street office that you care to mention. A little boisterous like any dressing room up and down the country. It reflects what goes on in pubs and clubs. If you are in a pub someone is masculine type is bothering somebody at the bar, we don't like that, it's wrong. This is very similar but there are still incidents such as that, there is an attitude that exists still such as that now. As I say, if this has done anything if it starts to help to change that, that would give me much pleasure I take to pleasure, no pride at all from what's happened from the clips that have surfaced that you have talked about from the incident all the way back to Sian. People are turning on and just starting to listen to what we are saying and I'm sure that there are very many different electronic ways that they will be able to catch up. Let me just reiterate, I apologise to Sian Massey Sunday afternoon because I realised the seriousness and how deeply wrong we were to pass those comments in that manner. Sian.
P: When did you first realise that this was in the public domain? What was the time line then?
RK: Well this story first broke in the Mail on Sunday on I think the second edition is on Sunday mooring, and I looked at it, I scratched my head and I thought you fool. This is just wrong, and that's why I made the call, I contacted people that at the Premier league to get the number in order that I could call her, she accepted my call in the manner in which it was meant, there was much banter passed between us. Some of it driven from her side.
P: You prompted this was off of your own back to make this call?
RK: I was unprompted to make this call, I felt that it was the right thing to do to make this call. I rang, I rang individuals I knew who would have the number and made the call on behalf of the two of us.
P: Dennis in Manchester makes the point though, he says, just a question if the comments hadn't been realised would you still have rung Sian Messey to apologise?
RK: Listen, if the comments hadn't of been realised and she got that right and there was a way to find her, yeah I mean you would be looking back on that, thinking, well you know, well done. And we said that, we did say that, we said that at the top of the show, we wished her well and we said that after she made a great decision. This, again I go back to, this shouldn't affect her, leave her alone. Leave her alone. Those who have casted judgments on our behavior look at your own and leave her alone.
P: We do know that won't happen though.
RK: We do know that won't happen but then they...
P: It should do but..
RK: But then there is something of an irony here isn't there?
P: Well it is the way, and is the times we live in
P: She has sadly become the story and you do fear that it will be a while before.. you do hope that she doesn't give up. You really hope that she doesn't give up but that may well happen.
P: I don't get the sense that she would give up. She's a pretty strong...
RK: She's a strong girl. The conversation that I had with her will remain private. The conversation I had with her will remain private, but there was much banter, I can tell you that, I can say that. And before someone says ah yes , driven by you, you prehistoric foul. No it was a very pleasant conversation and she accepted my official apology and she accepted my unofficial apology and she said to me no harm done. There has been plenty of harm done.
P: And the management sorry, and the management were armed with that information when they made all of their subsequent decisions, you had a conversation.
RK: Everybody, I can not speak for the management at Sky as to what they knew and what they didn't but certainly there were individuals at Sky who I made aware very quickly that I had made that call. And I was amazed that it took until five o'clock on Monday for the Premier league, as it turned out to make a statement which said I had apologised. It then looked that had done so for myself, I did it on behalf of Andy and myself and of course by the time Andy had come off air he was unable to call her because she had gone to ground. Quite rightly, they were looking to protect her. I was probably one of the last people to speak to her, thank goodness because I was able to offer her my apology.
P: You mention behavioural problems there, are there steps that you can take, would Sky allow you to...
RK: I don't know Andy, it's obviously something that needs to get sorted out. I don't know again, there are many things here that I have no influence on, I have offered myself up and I am very much aware of the fact that there are changes required to be made. I mean I have started that process, I'm here today, I'm taking a battering, I'm not complaining about that, I reiterate, I deserve it. WE deserve.
P: How political is all of this, I mean Allister Campbell has ventured the opinion on twitter that basically one of the reasons why you are still here and Andy is gone is because he has this well published law suit against the News of the World, who infact are your employers.
RK: I don't know is the answer. If Allister Campbell believes hat to be the case, he has much more information about this than I do. Were he gleaned that information from , I don't know. How he got that information, I don't know that either. He might be able to tell us, whether he has fact or if it's a view. Where he gleaned that information from I don't know, how he got that information I don't know that either. He might be able to tell us, whether he has fact or whether it's a view. I don't know, I can't answer the question. You know, it's something he's obviously ...
P: Is that part of the Dark Forces you were alluding to earlier on?
RK: You just made that conclusion, not me. I don't know, I don't know. There have been many things happen around this, many things happen around this, far greater reaction than from the initial mis-guided wrong error.
P: How does it make you feel Richard that, I mean on a personal level, how does it make you feel that so many people in Fleet Street and subsequently other clips that have been, how does that make you feel personally when you see the willingness to come out and say this stuff in light of that one original story?
RK : It doesn't really matter what I feel does it, about me, you know its an irrelevance. Anything I say now you'll get another text in a minute saying ah he's whining about himself. I'm not, it doesn't matter, you know it's an irrelevance, me, what I'm feeling, what I'm thinking. It's a long way from the story.
P: Just listening to and talking to you, we've met on many occasions in the past, the 3 of us, you're a very confident man. I mean, it's very clear that the way you broadcast, you're in charge, you're on top of it. How, it's going to be so difficult for you, you must have thought about how you're going to be the same Richard Keys as the guy that kind of drives this massive juggernaut everywhere.
RK: There isn't anybody, there isn't anybody listening to this that hasn't at one time or another in their life made a mistake. How you deal with it is very important. I am trying to correct, going forward, matters that have been, that have been quite obviously exposed now as being wrong. I have said sorry. I would wish to go forward at some point and try to get on with my life. But before that it is important that Sian Massey gets on with her career and life. Listen, you and I know each other quite well, I know, you know, and Andy to the same degree. Many of the people that I've been sitting reading, who have been making judgements on me I know very well. Very well.
P: In which case that, presumably that sounds like you are not happy about it.
RK: They know and I know, they know and I know. There was a professional footballer who passed judgement. Listen, I don't care. They should, it's right and proper that they have. I've said that. But people have short memories. That very same professional footballer was on the phone to me a couple of years back, when family matters he had were a bit of a problem and said, look need a bit of help here son, and you do your best. We did. We did. That seems to have been forgotten quite quickly.
P: Just going, just finally, sort of you personally, I mean how's it been for you the last few days. I mean, I take it that you've been followed by a press pack everywhere you go and they are outside the front door.
RK: Again, you know, it doesn't matter. I mean, it's inevitable. It comes with the territory, it's going to happen. I tell you what was interesting. I watched Jonathan Ross the other night on Alan Carr Chatty Man, and he said how difficult he found it when he finally got back to work and when eventually he said goodbye to the BBC he felt like the restraint had gone and that he was in a much better place and that that was the case for everybody. Those thoughts are on my mind. You know, he was very eloquent on that subject. Of course those thoughts are on my mind.
P: Are you seriously considering resigning?
RK : Of course I have to. Of course I have to. And I have been doing so. You know, my mate's been sacked. The view of the majority, but you know what is the majority. The view of the majority is that he should have been. You've just read a few out today saying that I should have been. I have to consider all those things, of course I do. I take no pride in my part at all for the events that have unfolded. I was wrong. Andy was wrong. We were both wrong. So of course, how would I feel? I'm not saying that any decisions have been made, I'm saying that those things you consider, of course you do.
P: When do you think those decisions will be made, either by yourself or by Sky?
RK: Yeah, I mean that's possible, but I can't speak for them. They will be making their own decision going forward.
P: A lot will depend on what happens probably over the next, maybe in light of our conversation today.
RK : Let's not identify the news organisation, there's a strap running at the moment Richard Keys publicly apologises for his part in sexism row, but I did that, very early. It is just being reported today as though I've just got round to doing it. That's how the media works, isn't it.
P: Your conversations with Sky then are ongoing at the moment as to your future.
RK: Yeah, I think, yeah that would be fair to say, yeah.
P: Ok. Richard, look we appreciate you coming in and ...
RK : Well I wish it had been in different circumstances and maybe going forward it will be, but for one last time, just so that no one's under any illusions, sorry, not for myself, we got it wrong, bad.
P: And no idea yet as when we may see you back on air whether it's with Sky or anywhere else.
RK : None, none, no. But I hope this starts the process of recovery and that everybody now can just step back and understand that you know these boorish and bullish guys understand the magnitude of what happened.
P: Richard Keys has been with us in the studio for just over the past hour and you've got your chance now to react to what he said.
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