John Fendley — better known to football fans as Fenners, the long-serving Soccer AM favourite — has stepped into the hot seat for the latest episode of Karel Prince: Lie Detector, the BBC Sounds podcast that challenges its guests to defend the wildest stories from their careers.

The episode, released on Radio 5 Live's podcast feed, runs to 25 minutes and gives presenter Karel Prince and co-host Anita Abayomi plenty to work with. Fenners arrives armed with three stories, each one more difficult to believe than the last, and the duo pick them apart with photographs, football knowledge and, by their own admission, plenty of scepticism.

Three stories, one liar

The format is simple enough: the guest submits the stories, Karel and Anita deliberate, and then Fenners returns at the end to reveal which one is true. The three on the table this time around make for entertaining listening.

  • Messi rage-quit: Did Lionel Messi really storm out of a FIFA video game match after losing to Fenners, cancelling the pair's scheduled interview in the process?
  • The Wembley goal: Did Fenners score the first ever goal at the new Wembley Stadium during a pre-opening test event, before any competitive football had been played there?
  • Rivaldo in a bush: Did Barcelona legend and Ballon d'Or winner Rivaldo vanish moments before a filming session, only to be discovered relieving himself in a nearby bush?

Any one of those could be true, and that is rather the point. Fenners has spent years embedded in football media, which means his access to players, dressing rooms and unusual situations is entirely credible. The market for which story holds up will likely be split — the Wembley claim feels oddly specific, which in this format usually means something.

A strong format finding its feet

Karel Prince: Lie Detector is a Sport Social Studios production for BBC Sounds and has carved out a neat corner of the football podcast landscape. The show leans into the oral history side of the game — the stuff that never makes a press conference — and Fenners is exactly the kind of guest it was built for. He has decades of behind-the-scenes stories and the broadcaster's instinct to tell them well.

Karel Prince presents alongside Anita Abayomi, with Matt Tasker serving as series producer. The episode is available on BBC Sounds now and sits in the catalogue for over a year, so there is no rush — though the format works best when you go in without knowing the answer.

With the football season building towards its opening fixtures, it is the kind of easy summer listening that slots in perfectly between pre-season friendlies and the genuine business of August. Whether it is Messi, Wembley or Rivaldo hiding in the shrubbery, Fenners has certainly lived a career worth lying about.

Frequently asked

What is Karel Prince: Lie Detector on BBC Sounds?
It is a BBC Sounds podcast presented by Karel Prince and Anita Abayomi in which football personalities share three stories from their careers — two true, one false — and the hosts try to work out which is the lie before the guest reveals the truth.
Who is Fenners from Soccer AM?
Fenners is the nickname of John Fendley, a broadcaster and long-time contributor to Soccer AM. He is known for his access to top footballers and his wide range of stories from behind the scenes in the game.
Where can I listen to the Fenners episode of Karel Prince: Lie Detector?
The episode is available on BBC Sounds. It was released on the Radio 5 Live podcast feed and runs to around 25 minutes. BBC Sounds is free to use in the UK.