Richard Keys: 'It was just banter' | Life's A Pitch

BT Sport takes a look at the sexism scandal that shook English football back in 2011. Richard Keys tells his side of the story as he talks sexism in sport, conspiracies and the press. What are your views on the contentious story?
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[@chriswilkinson7636]

I've noticed that people who like to dish out"banter" don't seem to like it when they get it back.

[@jakeansell5408]

Sounds like your one of them

[@chriswilkinson7636]

@@jakeansell5408 Sound like what? Someone who dishes out banter?

[@tfootball8704]

there is a fine line between banter and bullying

[@JJ-pl5cj]

@@tfootball8704using dark humour between him and his mate is now bullying?

[@LickyTee]

I liked your comment and made it 124 so I took it back to let it remain 123

[@23lFrench]

The fact he cheated on his wife who had cancer with his daughters friend really puts it bed that he isn't a very nice guy

[@aceman0000099]

It was just banta

[@stevencross8877]

Oh come on it was just banter

[@andersgulowsen2814]

@@stevencross8877 I kinda know the guy.. heæs my step uncle

[@malarki5]

Apparently it was 3 inches lol

[@pr-tj5by]

@@stevencross8877 Agreed

[@SuperFerdie1965]

Keys is proof that a human can be inflated to 6000psi and not burst.

[@cycleking9911]

The Archbishop of Banterbury

[@callumreid513]

Cycle King Eric Bantona

[@JGKarting]

This moment is underrated

[@ChrisbG531]

The archbishop of arseholes more like

[@Stratis42]

This bantermment is banterrated.

[@seanmulligan3916]

Banta Claus

[@penaltygallery]

I've never noticed before, but Richard Keys has a really small mouth.

[@Yimello]

+Jack Tanner Normal sized mouth, really big face.

[@slymear]

+Jack Tanner potato head

[@edgarmedina9910]

CANT FUCKING UNSEE ill be having nightmares now

[@slymear]

+Shinonome Hakase it's not that deep

[@MrMmnngghh]

+Jack Tanner small mouth, big banter

[@RealGaIaxy]

"It's great banter, it really is" - Alan Partridge

[@blueragebull]

Him cheating on his wife was just banter

[@cousinleigh1470]

blueragebull he pulled out so it was not cheating

[@bighands69]

Cheating on wife has nothing to do with what happened.

[@StevenEllesmore]

Oh do jog on

[@josephdyson3737]

You’d always see keysey hanging out the back of the daughter’s mate

[@MultiStrickland]

He smashed it

[@djembadjemba5038]

You can say all you like about Richard Keys, but the best premier league days were the days with him and Andy Gray, no question about it

[@bigzy8183]

Bang on

[@sunnylal888]

Andy gray commenting on liverpool united was like what jim ross is to the attitude era

[@HolloVVpoint]

I watch them both now on Bein sports. Just like the good old sky sports days. Hey sky's loss Beins gain.

[@SirChesterBellington]

Yes but those days being good had nothing to do with them so what is your point

[@thedunyadoneya2628]

The only reason for that is him and gray have so far been around for the vast majority of the PL's televised coverage. It's relatively early days yet, but I'm enjoying carra, neville, henry, given, bellamy etc much more than those dinosaurs who offered next to no insight into the game for fans.

[@Kal-xg5id]

1:27 is what you are looking for...

[@alexcoffey3589]

I see you nearly every video I watch

[@heiheiyoo]

Thanks

[@dan003]

Crying at that.

[@ewanhull6555]

Thanks ibra

[@Marsh-gs7zr]

cheers Ibra

[@paulbaker1505]

Relaxing a studio guest,who was the guest,Jimmy saville

[@carradalebear840]

Jimmy Saville was your dad.

[@MattJay.]

Richard Keys returned home from riding a horse, his wife said "had the horse out for a gallop?". Richard Keys said "it was just a canter". A man said to Richard Keys, "what do you serve your wine from?". Richard Keys said, "just a decanter". Richard Keys was pulled over for drunk driving. The cop said "have you had any alcohol tonight?". Richard Keys said "no". The cop said, "what have you been drinking then?". Richard Keys said "it was just Fanta".

[@MrMmnngghh]

+ASMRWhisperLight. Richard Keys went on a snorkeling trip off the coast of The Bantahamas. When Keysie finally re - surfaced, Graysie asked Keysie what ocean creatures he'd seen. Keysie spoke of beautiful tropical fish, a few small sharks, some squid, but seemed rather taken with a huge ray he'd seen. "A stingray?" asked Graysie. "No," Keysie replied. "It was just Manta"

[@chrisdavies274]

ASMRWhisperLight. Is it a bird, is it a plane?.... No, it was just Santa

[@MrMmnngghh]

Christophe David Nice one Christophe! Anyone else got a good Keysie gag?

[@strykah92]

MrMmnngghh Richard Keys one day felt like catching up with some old-school cartoons he grew up watching. His mate walked in and asked "was that Snagglepuss on the telly just now?" Keysie replied: "It was just Pink Panther."

[@leewharton2013]

Richard's wife walks in on him watching something sketchy, Richard quickly turns the TV off and exclaims "It was just Setanta"

[@keelan1231000]

IT WAS JUST BANTER.

[@sam-6979]

anthony mckeever Gr8 b8 m8 I rel8 no h8 I r8 your b8 8/8

[@sam-6979]

k

[@keelan1231000]

K

[@keelan1231000]

K

[@keelan1231000]

K

[@user-kb9xc3jr8v]

Go round there any night of the week and find Redknapp hanging out the back of it

[@martintemelkov]

1:26 the part we're all here for.

[@krishnan-resurrection714]

Banter-sarus Rex !!!!!

[@apc4y]

Keys would have us believe he is a victim. The interviewer did not ask enough relevant questions. However I do miss Andy Gray's voice on MNF with Martin Tyler. That was the double-act worthy of note..

[@keenodribbles]

Seems like he's a bit more sorry that he was found out than for actually saying the comments

[@MrOstrichLover202]

"I found myself in the middle of a forest fire."

[@onlineperson123]

Forest fires are generally started by incompetent humans, so this makes a lot of sense.

[@weallfollowmanutd]

That's what he said.

[@jmckendry84]

@@onlineperson123 Haha!

[@alexander21822]

It was just banter

[@birminghamcityfansforum8734]

Andy Gray was a brilliant pundit and that’s from a Blues supporter. He was always fair imo, unlike some I could mention now. Sky have always had an agenda and it’s the same now.

[@Peepsarestrange]

I miss those days and football was better back then.

[@diabeticfridge2930]

The Sun telling others what good taste is 😂😂

[@JPLammy]

The it was banter sounds so out of place its so obvious 😂😂😂

[@craigpointon8394]

haha yeah

[@TheDziNeIT]

It isn't fake LOL

[@simonh2011]

Sounds so out of place coming from someone who's 108 years old

[@TheIkaraCult]

I think i can speak for all football fans when i say that none of us miss Richard Keys.

[@ianharris1812]

Derby fans dont like him.Roy McFarland once had a go at him over what he said about them.

[@freshjive8586]

Him and gray set a bar to this day sky haven't been able to get back to

[@glemonsbhatkin514]

@@freshjive8586 HAHAHAHAHAHA

[@pr-tj5by]

@@glemonsbhatkin514 Just banter imo

[@pr-tj5by]

@@freshjive8586 Nothing but banter

[@ChallengeMaster360]

BT Sport should sign him and Andy Gray up

[@mickmcknight162]

Why? There 2 bores.

[@JonnyFellOver]

Mick Mcknight *Bosses

[@skthejanner]

Dear god no. 2 has been looking to revive their popularity at a foreign station

[@TwixtorSettings]

Agreed

[@alexander21822]

They're with beIn Sports now I think

[@jamesinhenley]

If he "doesn't have any regrets" then why apologise?

[@darrenhunt9480]

He got advised to for the sake of his job probably. Obviously didn't work lol

[@dazediss6629]

He apologised because the new bosses at Sky said that if he didn’t then he’d be sacked. Andy was sacked instantly & Richard resigned because of that. Basically there were new bosses at Sky & they were gonna find a way to get rid of these two without having to pay out their salaries for unfair dismissal. They were stitched up. I don’t particularly like either of them, but they were systematically shafted out of that job so that the new Sky bosses could push womens football & an ethnic diversity agenda.

[@nufcchamp09]

The sun 'the self-appointed arbiters of good taste' hahahahaha classic BANTER

[@ryanskeffers5286]

No Tom. It is disrespectful to women

[@DemonetisedZone]

Get to your bed

[@pr-tj5by]

@@ryanskeffers5286 Back to your monastry

[@cotswold5213]

They weren't joking about! It wasn't "banter!" Anyone could tell from the tone of their voices that they were disgusted that a woman was running the line at Wolves that day. Sorry but if the host wants any credibility then THIS is the line that he should've pursued - they seem pally so that's obviously why he bottled it.

[@leonhughes9014]

so what ... its not illegal to have an opinion....

[@cotswold5213]

@@leonhughes9014 Say 'hi' to your uncle Richard for me, Leon 😁

[@leonhughes9014]

@@cotswold5213 snowflake...

[@jjjjjjjjj3406]

@@leonhughes9014 i don’t think you’d like it if it was the other way around. what he said was objectively sexist, don’t be dense.

[@cameronjosephvideos5942]

@@leonhughes9014 Has anyone here said he should be arrested. No. But we do hold the right to be outraged at someone's opinion, and are especially justified in being outraged when such an opinion is insulting and disrespectful.

[@geopeet1265]

1:28 a legendary meme was born..

[@samorry15]

This was Sky's excuse to bring in new pundit talent and promote Gary Neville, bring in Henry and Carragher. And to be fair it was needed, and Keys and Gray paid for it in ruthless fashion

[@philipslattery2883]

I loved Life's A Pitch. BT Sport had some great shows in their first few years. Now they are just a discount sky sports.

[@krishnan-resurrection714]

...i miss the Bants !!!!! 😁

[@JfK--OBJECTivE]

I couldnt believe he is 65, i was convinced he was at least 75.

[@WALTONCHIEF]

Yeh cause of a room of lads never say anything remotely like this ... 👀

[@lorro7585]

I come back to this video on an hourly basis, each day, every week, every year 24/7. I live for this video. It. Was. Just.

[@dominicreakes1526]

Still here?

[@lorro7585]

Dominic Reakes yes

[@jackgk6203]

@@lorro7585 still?

[@AirScottyfpv]

How bout now?

[@Jm-uh7wg]

@@AirScottyfpv still here mate?

[@Cheximus]

That video where they're laughing at arsenal vs Croydon, had me in stitches. So funny.

[@ganju_san2675]

True but the comments on the match are justified because it was pure banter😂😂💀

[@Scallion_D]

Yeah, it's still classic.

[@DevilboyScooby]

Has Sian ever come out and said it was just banter? We only have his word for it, what she said on the phone...

[@stanmonzon5788]

I think she called it ‘patter and craic’ but when pressed she said it was ‘banter’

[@tim40gabby25]

Soeness saw the potential damage, as cameras running, gave Mr Keys a hushup kick. Good response.

[@sammyhill69]

Souness blamed Pogba.

[@tim40gabby25]

@@sammyhill69 ha! :)

[@toas4188]

Souness is actually very progressive and a good guy.

[@JeromekJerome1972]

Andy Grey is the Clarkson to Richard Keys Hamster.

[@richardevans7035]

I miss Richard keys and Andy Gray on sky sports sunday ,

[@rhyswlf1]

It was just. Banter.

[@markspaul9426]

Richard and Andy on sky were the best

[@onlineperson123]

The only problem with your statement is that it's wrong.

[@onlineperson123]

DavidF 86 I’m sure Andy Gray and Richard Keys would agree with your statement! I mean it was only banter!

[@dylancorcoran8801]

Gary neville has surpassed them.

[@pr-tj5by]

@@dylancorcoran8801 Neville has good analysis, not even on the same planet as Andy Gray at commentary

[@SmokeMyBlunt]

"Watching female football is like watching flamingos chasing a balloon across ice"

[@BoSSLeVeLs]

Ho Ho Ho better legs do what 😂FML 🤦🏻‍♂️ For future reference 👉🏻Though

[@roblaa3198]

😆🤣😂 Brilliant bants

[@GarethWareth]

"He didn't rewrite it, he invented it in it's modern form..." So he rewrote it...

[@thedunyadoneya2628]

Lmao, just shows how much bollocks this guy chats. Andy gray offers nowhere near the level of insight as the the current guys like carra, neville, henry, bellamy, given etc

[@corpgov]

@@thedunyadoneya2628 I think he's much better, as he's a long time retired ex pro, there's little to no bias in what he says. Neville is his equal but the others, including Carragher, are crud and just make up the numbers

[@SeanMaccaUK]

It was JUST... BANTER. Prehistoric banter. She and I enjoyed some BANTER together.

[@THE_TonyFielding]

+SeanMaccaUK Banter is banter.

[@th3envyp238]

Puzzy

[@01cipas]

It was Jamie Redknapp, the worst pundit in football, who got Andy Gray, the best co-commentator in football, the sack. Keys has been replaced as host by Jeff Stelling and Ed Chamberlin both of whom I actually prefer and I think Gary Neville is a better pundit than Gray but no one else compares to him as a co-commentator

[@paulakelly2106]

I miss them both. Gray with his Scottish voice and Keys with his English voice. Good luck to both of them. Just to be clear Chamberlain,Neville,Carragher.Redknapp.Souness and Hoddle I think are good as well.

[@conorl1894]

Redknapp is a self absorbed airhead never was. Complete waste of space

[@aegonbreakspear9102]

8 years on and Gary Nevile is the biggest sell out, hypocrite and horrible commentator

[@fitman42]

shows what a pathetic politically correct world we live in

[@ishmealoj]

feminists

[@griffnuts]

Nope, shows that the world is changing for the better. So just shuffle off mate.

[@DeezN1892]

griffnuts no, it was an off camera joke never meant to of been seen live, but some snowflake decided to send it in and ruin the commentating experience in the premier league, now commentators like Alan Smith are just boring and forgettable

[@sbellaharris]

Shows that we live in a world where we have respect for everyone, those two would never have joked about it with male refs.

[@DeezN1892]

GG2K7AU05 nowadays jokes about the opposite gender, race, and acts of terrorism, this is an extremely light joke made in private. Should never of been sacked

[@shellsbignumber2]

Dont miss Keys one bit but Andy Gray was a great co-commentator.

[@Scallion_D]

Yeah, that's my view too.

[@stuartcarter7279]

Not a chance Sian Massey ever said that it was just banter. This absolute joker.

[@WRCSeb]

Sky is nothing without martin tyler and Andy gray commentary and Richard keys presenting end of story

[@ianhitman]

Had an affair with his daughters teenage friend while his wife was suffering from leukemia. Keys replied "It was just Cancer."

[@gunton21]

more back peddling than a cyclist.

[@MattJay.]

Peter Gunton bikes don't really pedal backwards do they

[@MrMmnngghh]

BMX and fixed gear bikes pedal backward just fine

[@MattJay.]

MrMmnngghh ok I didn't know, thanks for the new info 👌

[@XBesty12X]

I can't read a comment without the word "Banter" in it XD

[@haydoncooper3744]

Keys and Gray we’re brilliant.

[@ZodiacFTW]

T

[@mattcast44]

Not banter. Banter is supposed to be funny, yet no-one was laughing. It was said quite seriously. Banter implies a bit of to and fro; not a bit of it was to be heard there.

[@kieranmccarthy6072]

Himself and Andy where stitched up to modernise sky punditry

[@user-pk4sd9dd2w]

how is he still on TV!???

[@Lunch_at_Marcos]

From what I heard... didn’t seem like banter at all

[@delanodegenie6970]

From watching the clips of the comments made off camera it was clear to me that Keys and Gray thought they were untouchable... They'd been there since day one and thought they could do whatever they wanted... They got played and they lost.

[@ksm199]

Sky are a bunch of wankers ...Richard Keys said sorry wat else could he do...Wendy toms lol

[@rocco8385]

Lol he's a legend

[@rocco8385]

Banter

[@thetopkopkid1]

IT WAS JUST BANTER

[@bentuber1]

Who leaked the conversation to the mail on Sunday?

[@peterdowney1492]

"Just banter" Yeah, innit?

[@Garnachogoat]

Des Kelly wanted to laugh at him so bad but kept it professional

[@samorry15]

Liam Neeson interviews Richard Keys

[@barryosullivan1486]

It wasn't a joke. A joke is a two way thing where both people are equals and enjoying it. This was not that.

[@paulpattaya2071]

Andy gray made sky sports what it was he was second to none on commentary

[@AlanAHAPartridge]

It wasn't banter at all. They were deadly serious

[@OasisManUtd1]

It was Jamie Rednapp that recorded with the phone

[@davehall17]

Richard Keys saw someone breaking into his house through the chimney. He says it was just Santa.

[@purehyperbole5727]

Listening to him you'd be forgiven for thinking he wasn't just a TV presenter.

[@jackieboy3968]

Arrogant little weasel

[@Ellanvannin03]

Jimmy salville comes back to life and says to his victims "it was banter"

[@DevilxFIFA10]

***** Lol

[@GlentoranRangers1690]

Aye because this was the same, fs wise up

[@teliksmith]

+David Smith r u my dad

[@suffern63]

+soviet player Is there no difference between a sexist comment and mutliple rapes?

[@VillaBoys123]

+suffern63 It is all just BANTER.

[@andrewcoulon8161]

Respectful banter at that!

[@thomasjones2415]

Please Bring Richard Keys And Andy Gray Back On BT Sports. Bcause There Original Sport Football Team.

[@garybarnett1041]

They clearly had a hidden agenda against the both of them, there is a lot of double standards in the world, how did Kirsty Gallagher keep her job after being done for drink driving?

[@errbud]

d b PARKLIFE

[@williamjamesclarable]

First rule of making a mistake; do not admit making a mistake. Blame it on the banter and fictional agendas. Poor Richard.

[@krishnan-resurrection714]

...Bants !!!!

[@JJ-pl5cj]

What mistake? Having a laugh with his mate?

[@quatz1981]

Never forget andy gray with his multiple VHS setup.

[@medpub]

What did he say?

[@mjsee08]

What really wound me up about the Keys/Gray thing at the time (and still does in general) was all of the people/media lining up to feel offended on somebody elses behalf. By all accounts Sian Massey took no offence, she probably couldn't give a fuck what two middle aged men on telly say off camera, believe me she'll hear far worse from the crowd stood a few feet behind her. It really annoys me when people get hysterically offended on behalf of somebody else who probably didn't give a fuck. Their sacking had nothing to do with equality or sexism.. Andy Gray's legal action against Murdoch for allegedly tapping his phone had much more to do with it than anything these two said off camera. There were people in Sky who already wanted them out. Mobile phone footage doesn't send itself to the Mail on Sunday, that video of Gray putting the microphone down his trousers in front of Charlotte Jackson doesn't upload itself onto KZbin. Somebody has done all of that & it's nothing to do with Sian Massey. I also remember Sian Massey was taken off of several games around that time, due to the intense, bonkers, unnecessary media attention around the whole story. For a few days the entire media became vocal opponents of sexism, but they all filled airtime and column inches for their own self promotion - Karren Brady etc. None of them gave a shit about Massey, she was just a convenient catalyst for them. All these people did was harm Masseys career to serve their own agenda against Gray & Keys. I'm not saying Keys is a victim, because believe me neither of them two have lost anything. Both of them get paid more than they used to on Sky to spend all day on a Qatari beach & do a football TV show on Al Jazeera. The only victim was Sian Massey herself, deemed collateral damage in the medias quest to oust Gray & Keys. Personally I think Sky Sports is better now, with Chamberlain, Neville & Carra, but the Gray/Keys thing pissed me off then and it still does.

[@Midnightwhiskeymassacre]

Bang on, if the person isnt offended its sod all to do with anyone else and it was off air anyway so no one else business or problem. Murdoch wanted them gone thats what people should talk about, that is dark forces. Sheep follow the rhetoric far too easily.

[@MrChris280]

Set up by Sky, watching football on Sky Sports after they where gone has never, never been the same, sad to see them go out like that, great pundits of the game, where very enjoyable to listen and watch.

[@krishnan-resurrection714]

same with sky darts ...miss the old banter of sid waddell

[@cobrakaicyberdon]

The king of banter.

[@mycatismolly]

He just didn't get it

[@sps78]

He's essentially saying he's annoyed he got caught.

[@SkyClap]

I think I'm on the twilight zone or something, wth are all of this english people mad about? Those highlights were so laughably bad, AND they were supposed to be the height of women football in England. I mean, those two are used to see the top tier of the UK's football, and they are suppose to respect lousy skill just because the players are women? I didn't expect the brits to be so politically correct...

[@sbellaharris]

@@SkyClap lmao stupid. Sian Massey is a ref, still officiating in PL because she's just too good.

[@TokyoJoe703]

Sky really stitched them up and wanted them out

[@rohithraman6488]

But I thought it was forbidden to talk about Sky on BT sport 😂😂😂

[@spinach-colour-joey6776]

It doesn't really matter whether she was offended tbf

[@IrishModelRail]

It was just banta.

[@lightbearer7508]

I wonder if he'd like his daughter to have "banter".

[@supernerdgamer7959]

Go home femanist vegan

[@007Fusiion]

Probably would

[@louisbaker7477]

The banter king himself

[@JPkeo]

The greatest interview for all the lads out there... The best...

[@Batmanthe3rd]

Some People miss Andy gray but no one misses this pillick

[@justbreakingballs]

He would give Prince Andrew a run for being too honourable. The mans fell on his sword for a good mate. He’s an example for us all.

[@jb894]

Miss this guy

[@pratiksabnis]

“ He wrote the rule book ! “ People won’t realise how good and powerful they were .. and were brought down ..

[@sassysasquatch1374]

1:28

[@bigmoneymike3377]

ty

[@expatwealthasia8702]

I love Richard keys and Andy Gray ❤️❤️❤️

[@HPsauce1234]

fantastic insight. never thought that's how it happened

[@neilfitzsimmons1800]

Getting sacked was good banter Richard! Just at your expense on this occasion. Don't give it out if your can't take it back.

[@Thomas-px2lh]

Keys has the morals of an alleycat

[@MattJay.]

I want to watch this, but Richard Keys repulses me

[@sianchetty1361]

He repulses me as well. He's a liar and a creep.

[@combatenthusiast6297]

His non-existent lips are weird

[@alfieannand4608]

He's a legend

[@richsan4923]

Probably just wanted them off the payroll, probably on huge wages at the time and people higher up wanted cheaper younger people in going forward. Eg Neville and carragher or whoever.

[@cmannion14]

Hang on, he was in the middle of a forest fire?! Can we have some follow up questions about that please.