Broadcasters Richard Keys and Andy Gray have returned to Britain after 13 years with Qatar-based beIN Sports to launch a new podcast.
The veteran presenters chose to leave Doha after facing missile defense alerts four times a night and watching incoming air strikes intercepted directly above Gray's terrace during recent regional conflicts.
Meeting on the top floor of the OXO Tower in London for their first UK newspaper interview since returning, Keys, 69, and Gray, 70, reflected on their exit from Qatar, their departure from Sky Sports in 2011, and their new project, Keys and Gray Unleashed.
Keys revealed that safety concerns played a major role in their decision to step away from beIN Sports at the end of last season, where they had fronted Premier League coverage since 2013.
Comparing the missile warning notifications on their phones to emergency wildfire alerts, Keys said the pair experienced terrifying security scares while working in Doha.
Missile strikes in Doha and Qatar exit
Gray recalled sitting on his outdoor terrace one night when four streaks of light flashed across the sky, followed by four interceptor missiles launched from a local United States airbase that exploded directly overhead.
Keys added that the broadcasting team was forced off the air temporarily during missile strikes, later returning to the studio to present while listening to explosions detonating in the air above them.
He described experiencing immense relief only after their flight finally departed the runway in Qatar to return permanently to the United Kingdom.
Having launched their podcast Keys and Gray Unleashed this month, the double act has already generated headlines by targeting BBC show Match of the Day and former manager Harry Redknapp.
Keys claimed Redknapp placed them in a difficult situation while facing court action at the time, lightheartedly suggesting the situation could have led to imprisonment, though Gray noted Redknapp remains bemused by the issue.
Keys confirmed that his television career is finished, choosing instead to live in West Kensington with his wife Lucie, a lawyer, while adopting a casual style of white trainers and a blue cap after wearing suits for 40 years.
Gray expressed a desire to return to match commentary on the radio, stating he would love to experience analyzing live football matches from the commentary box once again, a move Keys strongly supported.
Sky Sports exit and Sian Massey incident
Reflecting on their high-profile exit from Sky Sports in 2011, where they had presented Monday Night Football, Gray was sacked and Keys resigned after leaked off-air audio showed them questioning whether assistant referee Sian Massey understood the offside rule.
Keys also faced scrutiny over leaked footage containing off-air remarks about former footballer Jamie Redknapp's private life.
While describing the remarks as unpalatable and accepting full responsibility for his actions, Keys claimed the controversy erupted during Rupert Murdoch's bid to acquire full ownership of Sky.
Keys alleged that then Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt wanted Sky News to demonstrate editorial independence, prompting the network to make an example of its leading sports presenters.
Gray described the experience as being among the first individuals to face public cancellation, noting that up to 20 media reporters camped outside his home for weeks following the leak.
Keys apologized to Massey following the incident, and Massey accepted the apology before retiring from refereeing this summer.
Gray later sat next to Massey on a seven-hour flight in 2022, where the pair chatted amicably and exchanged phone numbers, prompting Keys to joke via text message about whether sitting in front of Gray made her offside.
Personal lives and family perception
Keys addressed long-standing public perceptions regarding his personal life, strongly rejecting claims that he abandoned a dying wife to marry his daughter's best friend.
Keys separated from his wife of 34 years, Julia, in 2016, and married Lucie, who is 31 years his junior, in Devon in 2023.
He explained that Julia had recovered from cancer nearly a decade before he left home and remains alive today, adding that Lucie was an acquaintance who had spent time around his daughter Jemma rather than her best friend.
Following open-heart surgery nine years ago that saved his life within 48 hours, Keys said he lives by former footballer Peter Reid's advice to enjoy life, adding he would support having children if Lucie wished to become a mother.
Gray, a father of five who has been married three times and is currently married to Rachel Lewis, joked about his own marital history, while Keys revealed he recently underwent laser treatment to remove hair from his hands after years of teasing from colleagues.
Punditry rankings and broadcasting memories
Sharing their views on modern football punditry, both presenters named former players Graeme Souness and Glenn Hoddle among their favorite studio analysts.
Keys also praised Lianne Sanderson, Frank Lampard, Alan Shearer, and presenter Kelly Cates, whom he mentored early in her career, while Gray listed Laura Woods as his preferred host.
While expressing affection for Phil Neville and praising Gary Neville's impact on television analysis, Keys criticized Roy Keane's approach, arguing Keane delivers attention-grabbing soundbites rather than insightful match analysis.
Keys recalled a previous Christmas Day spent alone eating a can of tuna, drinking champagne, and watching war films The Great Escape, Where Eagles Dare, and The Guns of Navarone back to back.
Gray outlined his own ideal solo Christmas routine, including scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, champagne, a full roast dinner, apple crumble with custard, and watching The Great Escape, The Bridge on the River Kwai, and 633 Squadron.
Looking back at their careers, Gray chose scoring for Everton against Bayern Munich at Goodison Park in 1985 as his top memory, while Keys selected conducting Kevin Keegan's famous 1996 title-race television interview.
Concluding their reflection, Gray expressed a desire to be remembered as a decent person, while Keys acknowledged lingering hurt over how he is perceived but felt grateful for the support of long-term broadcasting colleagues.
