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

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

You will be able to register and receive advance notification for the first World Cup podcast. Full details will follow in The Times.

Announcing details of the partnership, Keith Blackmore, Executive Editor, The Times, commented: “Baddiel and Skinner are an essential part of the World Cup. There are no better commentators to bring the excitement of the tournament to life for all the fans in the UK and around the world. The Times is proud to be hosting the podcasts and we know we are giving Times readers something very special alongside the paper’s outstanding sports reporting, commentary and analysis.”

Jon Thoday, Managing Director, Avalon: “We are really pleased to be working with The Times on this exciting project, bringing Baddiel & Skinner to a new platform, where they can interact directly with football fans.”

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 commented: “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.”

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