Even Elton John loves Jeff Stelling but he has message for Laura Woods fans

The Soccer Saturday icon called time on his 29 years in the Sky Sports studios in May. Now, following a well deserved rest from the broadcasting world, he's raring to go and ready to become the new host of talkSPORT's Breakfast Show.

ELTON JOHN IS A FAN

It's been four months since fans found out Stelling would be joining the talkSPORT team, with the move being announced in August as part of a new on-air line-up.

talkSPORT listeners have been looking forward to this moment, and with good reason. Stelling is one of the most recognisable faces in sports media and became synonymous with Saturday 3pm kick-offs.

Receiving farewell messages from iconic singer Elton John and other big names when he left Sky Sports sums up just how big a figure Stelling is in the world of sport.

Fans have missed hearing from him and, unsurprisingly, he's also missed being on air too - and his children are equally as excited for him to get going!

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"I've got two sons, a wife and a daughter," he laughed when asked if he'd missed being on air. "My daughter never watches football, my two sons always do. So, they get the benefit of my wisdom.

"Actually, they think I'm a real pain in the backside because I will not shut up during the course of a football match. They think I'm still doing Soccer Saturday when I'm not, so you know. So they're sick of my opinions!"

UNBELIEVABLE, JEFF

Stelling is replacing former Breakfast host Laura Woods who led the show for just over three years, but called time on her early starts earlier this year.

He promises listeners can expect more of the same from him, though he does want to apologise to a few.

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"I won't be as glamorous as Laura is, that is for sure! That'll be a disappointment for some people, I know that.

"If anybody has watched Soccer Saturday over the years, they will know that I love football."

Stelling may be known for his obsession with football, and his affection for his beloved Hartlepool United in particular, but he can't wait to get stuck into a variety of sports - except one.

"I've got a passion for football, I've got a passion for all sports, pretty much all sports anyway," Stelling said, before laughing: "Not Formula 1! But pretty much all sports.

THE RIGHT FORMULA

"So, I hope [listeners] will get that passion, people will know I'm an opinionated so and so.

"There will be opinions expressed as well. I think the important thing is to have a bit of fun, put a smile on peoples face.

"I know from getting the 6:47am train this morning from Winchester to Waterloo there weren't many smiles! You need to bring a smile to peoples' faces. That would be lovely."

But aside from his new 4:30am wake up call, there's a heartwarming reason why the 68-year-old is looking forward to getting back on the airwaves - getting back to what ignited his passion for broadcast.

"I started off at a local newspaper for four years and then went on to local radio," he said. "That's more years ago than I remember, or that I care to remember! I'm looking forward to turning the clock back to something I did in the very early days of my career.

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"I'm back to one of my first loves really."