Sam Thompson: Replacing Pete Wicks, ADHD and Soccer Aid Tactics

22:12And they might look like they don't, but I feel like... It's a shield. Yeah, and I understand why that is because I have that as well sometimes. We live in a big city and it can be quite scary but like I genuinely think if you were to look someone in the eye and you would just catch eye contact with someone and you would just go and smile and they'll smile back. Yeah but when I do that people get creeped out. You do that because you've got a lovely cute face. I do that. They're like fucking hell he's going to kill me on the trip. I'll smile at you mate. You mean you don't do that. No I don't. But people do mate.

22:46I genuinely think people are nice and most people I think I love I love sitting on the tube and just like watching people and thinking like everyone's silent on the tube and I and I stand there and I'm like I feel like break it into song do you know not song but I'd love just to like I feel pretty let's all chat start a chat with like a load of people on the tube what stops you what do you think stops everyone doing that it just makes I still have a little bit of like embarrassment I'm like oh people can be like what wanker but like I would And inside, I'm like, I would love, imagine just starting a chat with like random people.

23:23We all in the carriage get talking about like whatever and we all have a laugh. I'd love that. And that'd be really, really cool. You touched on ADHD. So how long ago were you diagnosed with ADHD? 29. So three and a half years ago. Did that, what did that do for you? Was it a positive diagnosis for you? Yeah. That made you go, great, I've got some answers. or was it like, oh, fuck. Yeah. What have I got? No, do you know what? I was never like that. The reason I got it done, everyone used to keep telling me I'm ADHD and I didn't really understand what it meant because I think we grew up in a, we both grew up in a time where...

24:08Mental. That is mental that you can go back to that. We both grew up in a time. Well, I don't think at school it was really understood or discussed. so I was just a naughty kid at school, right? And who just wasn't very clever. And the really naughty ones would be on Ritalin. Yeah, exactly. Or just chucked on random. They're like, oh, he's got... Basically, if you're... He's just really naughty. If you're headbutting the walls, you'd get put on like Ritalin. But like for everyone else, it was just you're a naughty kid and you're not very good at learning. And if you were to read my report cards, it was crazy.

24:38Like, so the... I'm not going to get the word right, but the psychotherapist, whoever it was, the lovely lady who diagnosed me, they have to go through report cards because a lot of it obviously is based on what you're like at school because it's so regimented and from the age of about 8 to 18 we read my report cards because we got in touch with my schools and we got them and they all said the exact same thing, it was likeable enough, too disruptive needs to apply himself more needs to concentrate more those are literally verbatim. I don't know about you, Jake, but the most cutting thing you just said there was likeable enough.

25:18I thought that, yeah. Likeable enough. Likeable enough. It's like ending with Fringe Review. It's likeable enough. It was bait. It didn't really sell the show. There's no need for that sort of level of critique. But it's... Basically, he's not very good. He's not very good. He's not very good. But he's a nice kid. That was kind of how it was. And so I never really understood back then what it was like. and then everyone used to tell me I had it, used to tell me I had it and then I did a show called SAS Who Dares Wins when I was about 25 and there was a lady... Foxy, was it? Yeah, Foxy. He reminded me quite a lot, by the way.

25:54I'd tell you, as a common person. Yeah, absolutely, I would. He's actually been in that show. Friend of the show, he's been in it. Yeah, he's a really legend. Really nice guy. Also, he sent me some shirts. Did he? Yeah, he sent a couple through for you. So this is a conversation about ADHD, by the way. Just so we know what's going on. I think we're both going. Yeah, 100%. There's a conversation about ADHD where Sam Thompson's trying to explain how he was diagnosed and Joe Marler trying to understand it then completely loses a train of thought and starts talking about Jason Fox. I was wearing...

26:25And wondering if he's ever... And also, regularly wondering if he should ever look into it himself. You didn't want to give me a high five. My hand was going up for a sorry and you went for a high five. That stung my soul. I want to be up front with you. And I want to apologise because whatever just happened here, I don't want you to think that this has now made this not a safe space for you. This is very much a safe space. I would like to think that you might be aware of some of the traits of someone with ADHD. Yeah. That they might have a habit of going, actually, Foxy sent through some shirts.

27:05Oh, fuck, what were you talking about? Let's go back to it. That's my life. It's not because I don't care, but it's because of it. One of the worst things I do with that is that I will always try, and people hate this, like I have to stop trying to do this, or try to stop doing this, sorry, is that when someone says something they're going through, I, the only way I can, I try and be like, oh, I've been through that as well, so I'm going to talk to you. Your way of relating to it. It's my way of relating to it. People then confuse that for one-upmanship. For one-upmanship. All right, I've been to Sanerive.

27:35I've been to Sanerive. Yeah, I've been to Sanerive. that i'm trying to show you that i can understand the feelings that you're feeling right now because i've had it as well yeah but sometimes people don't want to hear that they just want you to listen and i'm really not very good at listening i want to get better at listening but the fact that you acknowledge that is a starting point that you go oh i can get better at that well it's because i do therapy i do adhd therapy so is that how you deal with it now yeah that's how you manage it yeah i don't i don't go enough to be fair but yeah when she told me this is my when she said you've got ADHD we did it for a documentary we did it for a Channel 4 doc and the lovely director is like right so she's going to tell you whatever the reveal is and I went I think it's pretty obvious I've got ADHD and I was like if you're looking for like a cry you're not going to get it I'm not that phased by I've pretty much known I've had it for a long time and she was like okay that's fine let's just see what happens I was like well you're not getting that money shot so I just want to I'm like, warn you that now.

28:35And the lady goes, you've got ADHD. And she goes, you're a very special boy. Bro, I cried. And I don't know why. I do actually know why now. Because at the time, I was just going, I don't know what's going on. I had a weight that I didn't know I had. I know this sounds a little bit cringy, but I had a weight on my shoulder that I didn't realize that was there. and all the report cards and all the times. I used to cry into my textbooks at school being like, I can't understand why it won't go in. I used to not understand why if there was energy happening in the class, it would be drawn to it. I couldn't keep away from it.

29:16And it just lifted. And I got really emotional. I couldn't believe it. I almost got annoyed because I was like, fuck, she's getting it. I felt really, so in a very long-winded answer to your question, it did actually change quite a lot for me. Getting some answers. Yeah, and then we got prescribed the medication. I was on Elvance. If you know what Elvance is, it's like amphetamines, basically, and you get put on certain doses. And it wasn't really for me. I didn't feel very good on it. It did work, but it just, I didn't like the way I felt on it. And by the way, and I mean this, it can save lives for some people.

29:57for me we're so lucky that we I get to do a job where like I can almost let it all out you know like if I was sat at a desk not being able to move from that desk and not being able to talk with a beard yeah sure I just found your eye again yeah that's three for three that's what that is it's starting to become a bit of a thing I'm so sorry

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31:12From athletic to athletic-ish, Sierra's got it. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Listening to this podcast instead of doom-scrolling? Smart move. Another smart move? getting help from one of State Farm's 19 ,000 local agents when you choose to bundle home and auto bundling just another way to save with the personal price plan prices are based on rating plans that vary by state coverage options are selected by the customer availability amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state do you want to talk us through what it's like to be in your head sometimes yeah sure but without talking about it there's a tried and tested did you just stare off into the desk i was like did you hope i was gonna telepathically hear it no i was just like how am i gonna do that um well for me when i'm in my own head i like to make notes on my phone yeah and it's scientifically proven isn't it jake yeah i mean we'll throw scientifically proven out twice an ep um and sort of it's all it's yeah it's good have you got your phone by the way yeah yeah let's do let's do a note off oh my god i'd love to I love you.

32:22You're so... I'd love to. Do you want to shit in a paper bag? I'd love to. You're doing it with me, yeah? Yeah, yeah, great. Right, first one, Sunday, metamorphosis. Sure. Metamorphosis, nothing underneath. No context. No context. Okay, what are you trying to spell there? Metamorphosis. Do you mean metamorphosis? Metamorphosis, that is exactly what I was trying to do, yeah. This should be a requirement when two people meet each other for the first time. Right, just give me the first three notes on your notes app. You messed up with the wrong guy, sir. What? You messed with the wrong guy. I like the idea that you've written that down.

33:03Like, in case I get mugged, I need to get my phone out to remember exactly what to say. You've messed with the wrong guy. It is one from the 28th of October, 2025. Yeah. Jake, 32, dry eye syndrome. Mum had a colonoscopy story. Broke up with his girlfriend in the summer. Your mum broke up with her girlfriend in the summer? Wait, that's about me. Did you have a colonoscopy? Because I've had quite a few. No, I think I told Joe about my mum's colonoscopy. Hang on, you wrote notes about our first conversation. Wait, read it again. Jake, 32, dry eye syndrome. What's that, mate? I don't produce enough tears.

33:43I don't know if you've ever seen me blinking a lot. I blink all the time, yeah. Yeah, it's because I'm not producing enough tears. Yeah, I know how that feels. Mum had a colonoscopy story. Yeah. Broke up with your girlfriend in the summer. Oh, she was freshly single. Well, no, this was back in... Let's not diminish it. Still painful. Fucking hell, it's March. Still painful. Still think about her every night. Oh, it was in the summer. Fucking miles away. He's over it by now. it's only been for eight years

34:20thanks to your right hand notes oh god

34:29who's the most famous people Tom Hiddleston wow yeah adore him nicest man in the world you love him yeah and he's going to be a soccerer by the way he's your new friend is he nice I would say we're friends yeah and how did you meet how did you connect So he did Soccer Aid two years ago. It was the first time I'd ever done it. Okay. And he's like Miss Soccer. He does it all the time. And bear in mind, he's like so famous. And he basically like will stop filming like a movie and be like, okay, I'm going to fly over and like take part in it. And I walked into the changing rooms of Soccer Aid. Bear in mind, mate, you know I'm a fan of quite a few people.

35:01I walk in and he, in the changing room, I see Thompson in between Hiddleston and Stuart Broad. Huge. Wow. Bro, I'm a big cricket fan. Tom fucking Hiddleston. And I sat there and they both walk in at the same time. And I went, hi, boys, I'll be your neighbor in the changing room for today. And I was like, Sam Thompson, nice to meet you. And like shook both their hands. And then we all got into our briefs, which was so cool. And then on the last day, sorry, on the last day. I don't know why I keep doing it. On the last day. the audio listener he keeps podding him he on the on the last day before we we sort of like rolled out to the to the stadium so we all by the bar and I went Tom I feel like we've made like relative sort of like friends and I was like is there any way that I could have like a moment of your time to talk about some of the amazing things you've done and he was like I've known you've wanted to ask me about Marvel and about Loki since the moment I met you and he went go on mate he was like you've got an hour and I was like an hour?

36:06An hour? Bro, he sat down for an hour with me in the corner of the bar so no one could see Yeah, yeah, yeah, mate, mate, he was, he made us put towels over our heads Mate, he was so lovely, I'll never ever forget that and he sat there with me for an hour and answered every question of mine about me, he was just so lovely So for someone who's like a massive famous superstar who's actually just the most lovely chill guy in the entire world as is Michael McIntyre okay did he do soccer with you as well no it was just always been nice I remember that I had a really I think maybe it's a boring story but I basically did the only time I've ever been invited to the BAFTAs was when I was when I worked the red carpet I thought I might like get a chance to host some of it and I was actually just doing the digital handing out cheese to people on the red carpet I was literally I had a phone I had a phone with like you know one of those things a phone stick they were like all right you hold that and hand out cheese to our guests i was like telling people that i was like doing the brit bafta's red carpet i mean technically you were doing the red carpet fucking out that melted cheese to people and like you can imagine i got like people would like this just sweaty cheese with my little phone camera being like hey like do you fancy some cheese and um no one says yes and uh and then a few people i won't know spat it back out and I the one person who I heard Sam Sam Thompson I turned around and I'd only met him once before on the wheel and it was Mark McIntyre with his wife and he went how are you mate I was like I'm really good thank you I was like I can't believe you remember he went of course I do you're on the wheel mate and he goes why are you handing out cheese and I was like oh it's a job that I'm doing for the thing and he went I'll have one took one and he went this is my wife introduced his wife and he went anyway mate we'll go and see you inside but make sure to say goodbye when you leave and I was like that's the nicest man bless And then, inside, I didn't have a seat.

38:04So I had to sit in the green room. And when people had given an award out, they then come into the green room afterwards. Or if you've won an award, you come into the green room afterwards. For cheese. And no, this was for beer. Or just a green room. But there was a bucket of beers there. And I'll never forget, Ross Kemp came in. What am I doing? And was like, can I have a beer, please, mate? And I was like, fuck, he thinks I'm the bartender. I was like, shit. so I'm stood there handing Ross Kemp Budweiser out the fucking bucket Do you think he actually thought you were the bartender? Genuinely, yeah because he asked for a second I was literally just going yeah cool I'm not the kind of dude who's going to like correct you So for those who don't know we're both doing we've been selected in the England 11 I know slash 20 odd Yeah, there's a lot of us For Socrate Yeah I can't tell you how excited I am This is your third year Third time, yeah and who's in it who are like the big names that you're going to go after like you have done in the past big names what and just like trying to befriend oh yeah oh dude well Robbie Williams is obviously like huge if you get a few minutes with Robbie Williams that's always pretty cool I mean Tommy Dixon is going to be there again so I'm definitely going to be approaching him Frank Lampard was there last time I don't think he's there Harry Redknapp Harry Redknapp's the nicest guy in the entire world I mean obviously you've got Paddy McGuinness who's like an old hand he's the most capped and you've got I think Robbie Keane will probably be playing as well.

39:31He's an absolute legend. I mean, Big Zoo's a great guy. Angry Ginger's playing. But, mate, you're going to have a genuine, and I mean this, you're going to have the best time. What's your advice you're giving me? What's my, how am I attacking this? Do you know what? These few days. I'll tell you exactly how. For someone who doesn't really like social environments. Well, if we get locked in Champneys, not physically, but pretty much locked in Champneys to train for like four days, and we all basically, no one really is on their phones. there's no like entourage I mean I wouldn't have an entourage but like you know for the really big celebrities they don't really bring anyone with them it's just us, them the celebs, the pros who play football and you just sit and just train together live together eat together and you have a couple beers in the evening together as well mate it's one of the most magical things that you'll ever do it's so fun and we'll get massages together mate because there's a massive massage station why am I getting a massage with you?

40:25oh dude I love it Me and Tony Bellewy last year were just getting massages left, right and centre. Why am I getting a massage? Because you probably want one. You can do with a fucking massage. Yeah, to be fair. Chill you out a bit. Just out of interest, do you reckon you can have a prediction as to how many goals A, you're going to bang in and B, what the actual whole score will be? All I want to do is score a goal but I've never scored. To be fair though, look, there's 11 people on the pitch. Being the goalkeeper is only one. A more interesting question, actually. How many goals do you think Joe's going to let him?

40:59How springy? It's like, can you dive? Who's fucking chuckles at that? Can I dive? No. No, yeah, so goals are massive. Can I plod aimlessly out of my goal, out of my area, to be like a rush goalie and intimidate the person with the ball and threaten to slide them and two-foot them, possibly in the shins? Lovely. yes I can will that put them off and stop them scoring hopefully do you know who I want to be no I just put my hand up because I didn't want to cut you off mate that is I think that's the polite way

41:43I want to be right next to you I'd love to be left back or centre back right near you I really hope no please what do you usually play normally I'm like left wing because I'm relatively quick but I Mate, I could be left back. Me and you just banter left, right and centre. Well, left. And then just... Just on the left. That is brilliant stuff. Standing up for that. Fuck you, Pete Wicks!

42:14Now, we started at the top of the show in the assessment that we were going to help you let go of Pete and find a new best friend in yourself, learning to love yourself. However, I do need to help you finally detach from Pete. Okay. And I've got one final exercise, and it's using proven scientific methods. Are you ready? Yeah. Please say hello. A unicorn. It's not a unicorn. It is piñata Pete. Oh, my God. The audio listener is a piñata on a long fishing pole. I think it's a microphone stand with Pete Wicks' face on it. It is piñata. Pete Yata. Okay. You've got a great photo. No, I can't. I could never.

43:08What this symbolizes, Sam, is not the destruction of Pete, but rather not needing to rely on anyone and standing on your two feet. It's less about him and more about you. Oh, Peter. Actually, to be fair, he'd do this to me. I'm going to give you three whacks. Uno, dos, three. Yeah. With each one, I want you to give a reason why Pete is no good for you. Yeah. Your first whack, give me a reason why you want to let go of Pete. Why do I want to let go of Pete? I don't really want to let go of Pete. Look, the people that are closest to us, there are still things that we don't like about him. All right, fine.

43:48Pete never comes to mind anymore. Ooh. Yeah. That felt amazing. Felt good, right? Well, no, not about the Peters and the hit. Yes. He never comes to yours. Never comes to mine, yeah. What do you mean? Well, he is really busy, to be fair. But yeah, he never really comes around anymore. He used to come around all the time and film things around mine. But he never does anymore. Shame. Yeah, shame, Nat. To be fair, he didn't really enjoy it. And I can understand why. Whack number two. Whack number two. Or Pete Yarta. Pete Yarta, whack number two, would be never slept over at mine. Oh, fuck. Sorry.

44:25That'd be the face then. Okay, his face is gone. The face has gone off the pinata. It's now just a pinata. Do you know what? I always invite him to stay the night and he never stays the night. Never stays over. Never stays the night. Third and final whack to tell us why Pete is no good for you sometimes. At the moment, he's really, really busy. But now I've had my third whack, I'm really proud of Pete. And I mean that in all deadly serious. I think Pete's come into a... I think Pete's come into a prime at the moment that he's the happiest he's ever been. And I think he's doing the things he's always wanted to do.

45:04And sometimes you've got to let go a little bit. This isn't a gun. I don't know why I'm holding it like a gun. Yeah.

45:13Sam, congratulations. you have worked your way through the ancient ritual of Pete Yarta well done we all love a Pete congratulations thank you sir we give every guest a badge I love a badge give every guest a badge to remind them of the journey they've been through what badge have we conjured up? I'm sticking with you, brackets, not Pete and that's for you thank you Jake there you go thank you very much Joe We also give every guest or patient... Can I have that bat back, please? Oh, of course you can. I thought we wanted the badge. No, not the badge. We also give every guest or patient a lollipop.

45:52Oh, my God!

45:58So I don't know what that was. What colour do you want, mate? I actually just hit my knee on the corner of the desk when I did that. Oh, no! Sure. Reds, purple, green. If we were ever to get in a fight, not me and you, we wouldn't fight. If we were to ever get into a fight with other people, I think we'd be formidable.

46:22How are you doing with that lollipop, mate? Can't get undone. What an option to follow what a statement. It's not a lollipop fight, then, Trey. I can tell you for why. Please do. Because you... I would kick behind you. and you would like rock over and I'd be like yeah get him I feel like I could work well sometimes a big guy needs a small guy to succeed he's got me thank you very much sometimes a big guy needs two small guys I cannot begin to tell you how much I have enjoyed this session with you Sam you have been incredible you've brought for someone who is heavily pessimistic and cynical about anyone and everything in the world, you managed to make me smile every fucking 30 seconds with your energy and your buzz.

47:24It would make me, don't, you'd make me tear up. I think you're a wonderful person, mate. And I think loads of people love you too, so. Thank you. Do you know what? Don't ever change. Thank you, mate. Sam Thompson, everybody. Yes. Yes! I'm standing up. Janet, please come and pick up Sam Thompson, please. We're a hero. The first standing ovation we've ever had on the series, actually. He always stands, so that doesn't count. Janet, no, come and get him. Quick. Sam Thompson, everybody. Oh, yeah, there he goes. Sam Thompson, everybody. I had a wonderful time. I had a wonderful time. Thank you, man.

47:58So great. Thank you so much. So funny. Thank you. Sam Thompson, everybody. if you want to join the doctor's wait list then please subscribe to our youtube channel and follow us on instagram at we'll see you now show remember unless it's not clear enough already i'm not a real doctor if you need any professional help you'll find a link to great support services on our instagram i've been joe marler and this has been joe marler we'll see you now and i'll see you next time bye-bye close your eyes exhale feel your body relax and let go of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class.

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