The Fantasy Football League’s Frank Skinner and David Baddiel reunite with ‘Statto’ Angus Loughran

Fans of classic BBC series The Fantasy Football League were treated to an unexpected reunion on Thursday.

Former host David Baddiel took to Instagram to share a beaming snap alongside Frank Skinner and star Angus Loughran, who was known as ‘Statto’ in the series.

The trio posed for the Instagram image 29 years after The Fantasy Football League first hit screens, after being inspired by the sporting phenomenon that swept radio in the early 1990s.

David shared the Instagram snap with the caption: ‘Me, Frank and Statto. We don’t look a day older. Than we are.’

Angus was a regular on Fantasy Football League during its original run, when he would dish out footballing facts and statistics on demand.

Blast from the past! Fantasy Football League stars David Baddiel, ‘Statto’ Angus Loughran and Frank Skinner reunited for lunch on Thursday, 29 years after the show first hit screens

David and Frank originally fronted the series on BBC2 from 1994 to 1996, followed by a series of episodes during the 1996 Euros.

The pair also recorded the now-iconic hit Three Lions for that Euros, which has become an anthem for the England squad in later years. 

The show was then moved to ITV for specials on alternate nights during the 1998 World Cup, and Euro 2004.

In May 2022, Sky Max announced they would be reviving the format with hosts Elis James and Matt Lucas.

It also comes after David found himself embroiled in a Twitter spat with John Terry, after jokingly suggested the former Chelsea and England captain should host Match of the Day. 

It had been announced by the BBC that Gary Lineker would be stepping back from presenting the corporation’s flagship highlights programme ‘until we’ve got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media’. 

Making light of the situation on social media, Chelsea supporter Baddiel appeared to make reference to Terry’s infamous shared Champions League trophy lift in 2012.

Posting on social media in the wake of Lineker’s suspension, Baddiel wrote: ‘I wonder if, somewhere, John Terry is practicing using an autocue.’

Blast from the past! Angus was a regular on Fantasy Football League during its original run, when he would dish out footballing facts and statistics on demand

It’s back! In 2022, Sky Max revived Fantasy Football League, with Matt Lucas and Eli James as the hosts

Terry, clearly unimpressed by the joke, responded: ‘Don’t use my name for a cheap laugh on social media!’

He accompanied his post with a clown emoji.

Following huge backlash, Gary returned to Match Of The Day as all of the show’s regular hosts refused to front the programme in solidarity with the former footballer.

Terry is no stranger to taking people on in a public forum. During one of Chelsea’s worst seasons in recent memory, in 2015-16, he fired back at Robbie Savage for criticising him.

‘I’ve come under criticism, individually, from certain players and individuals, players I’ve looked up to and played alongside,’ Terry said.

‘I’ve taken that on the chin: Rio, Carra, Neville, the very best I’ve come up against in the game. I take that on the chin. When others speak, maybe I don’t take it on the chin.

‘When players have not had a career, played at a really bad level in their career… Robbie Savage being one. He’s dug me out a couple of times.

‘You take it as a footballer, as an individual. I’ll take it from the Rios, Carraghers and Neville. All day long. From others? Nah.’