Matt Lucas' little known sports success as he hosts 'dream job' on Sky's Fantasy Football League

Matt Lucas has gone from Bake Off to the beautiful game as Sky’s revival of Fantasy Football League enters its third series. The comedy show was first made popular in the 90s when it was hosted by David Baddiel and Frank Skinner.

Today, it brings Matt together with broadcaster Elis James and comic Andrew Mensah to poke fun at the week’s football news, with a different celebrity guest manager in each episode. Best known for sketch comedy, Matt is a passionate footie fan.

The lifelong Arsenal supporter was even a ball boy for the London club as a 14-year-old.

“Fantasy Football League is a dream job for me as it combines my two favourite things,” he says. “Football and sitting down.” He says he has developed a “unique kind of physical intimacy” with his fellow presenters and can’t wait to kick off a new series. “Elis is the perfect co-host.

His knowledge of football – particularly lower league football as played by underperforming Welsh clubs – is second to none,” he says. “Andrew is one of the few comics I know who has not yet been cancelled, so he has a kind of fearlessness about him. I watch in wonder.” It wouldn’t be Fantasy Football League without the ever-popular segment Phoenix From The Flames – sketches where the hosts re-enact iconic moments – and Matt reveals there are some star-studded scenes in store.

“We filmed with Manu Petit, recreating the goal he scored for France against Brazil in the World Cup Final in 1998,” he says. “Imagine doing that! He won the [league and cup] double with Arsenal only weeks before. I told him he had basically completed football.” England Lioness Jill Scott and cricketing legend Stuart Broad are among the line-up of celebrity guests.