Alison Hammond's Big Weekend with Tony Bellew
Alison Hammond's Big Weekend with Tony Bellew is on BBC One tonight at 8.30pm or stream it on iPlayer now.
Alison Hammond's Big Weekend with Tony Bellew is on BBC One tonight at 8.30pm or stream it on iPlayer now.
During her visit to Tony’s home in Southport, Alison discovers that he and his wife, Rachael, are knee-deep in major renovations. As Tony gives her a tour, he reveals that only one room in the house is currently functional—much to Alison’s disbelief.
Opening up about life after hanging up his gloves, Tony talks candidly about the challenges he’s faced since retiring. He admits to struggling with boredom and missing the adrenaline of fight nights. Most worryingly, he shares how the years in the ring have affected his health, particularly his memory. With honesty and vulnerability, Tony expresses concern over the long-term effects of repeated blows to the head and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.
Determined to give Alison a taste of his world, Tony takes her to his beloved boxing gym—the place he credits with saving his life. He puts her through her paces on the pads, before taking her to Goodison Park. Not only is it the home of his treasured football club, Everton, but it’s also where he clinched his world title.
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At the stadium, Tony reflects on what it felt like to step into the ring on fight night. He opens up about the mindset required to compete at the highest level and the motivation that drove him: securing a better future for his family. When asked whether he’d ever consider a comeback, Tony admits that “everyone has a price,” leaving the door tantalizingly ajar.
Later, Alison joins Tony on a trip down memory lane as they visit his childhood home and catch up with his mum, Gail. She learns about Tony’s early years and hears how the intense build-up to his grudge match with David Haye impacted the family—especially when the trash talk turned personal.
The weekend winds down with a special date night for Tony and Rachael, courtesy of Alison. She uncovers who really wears the trousers in the relationship before surprising them with a parting gift tailor-made for Rachael’s sweet tooth: their very own ice cream van.