David Baddiel and Frank Skinner are to launch the world’s first World Cup podcasts, which will be available free at Times Online, The Times announced today.

Baddiel and Skinner will broadcast the unofficial voice of the World Cup 2006, direct from Germany, as they travel from game to game with the fans.

The co-creators of the three-times-number-one platinum selling football anthem, Three Lions, and the stars of six acclaimed series of Fantasy Football, will bring their unique humour, knowledge and passion for football to the fans at home and around the world.

The series of ten podcasts will be available exclusively at Times Online, the website of The Times and The Sunday Times, and will run throughout the World Cup (June 9 - July 9). Baddiel and Skinner will also be online and interact with fans during the tournament on Times Online.

Commenting on the podcasts, David Baddiel said: "The podcast is a great medium for me and Frank: it's new, direct to fans, interactive, and doesn't require us to look good. From that point of view, the only World Cup double-act more suited to it would be Ronaldinho and Peter Crouch."

Frank Skinner said: "I see Dave and me as two, on-the-spot comedy-reporters, sending home the whole World Cup experience in regular podcast-sized packages. I'm really looking forward to it; especially the 'We-just-won-the-World-Cup Special."

Register for advance notification of the first World Cup podcast - full details to come in The Times.

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