Jamie Carragher had his punditry duties on CBS’ Champions League coverage interrupted by a heartwarming – and hilarious – call from his mother Paula on Wednesday night.
The Liverpool legend was basking in the warmth of the Reds’ 3-0 win against Marseille on the French Riviera, when co-pundit Micah Richards noticed his phone glowing with a new message.
His mother Paula was similarly satisfied, sending her son a text which he was convinced to read on air.
‘Oh my god, what a win,’ Carragher recounted to the punditry team – and international viewers – aloud. ‘Been in the theatre with Angela.
‘Just seen the score – made up.’
Richards was then keen to get Paula on the line for a more detailed response to the away win in Europe, as Carragher wondered what she had watched on her night out in Liverpool.
Jamie Carragher shared a heartwarming and hilarious call with his mother Paula on live TV
The former Liverpool defender revealed his close relationship with his mum and introduced her to his colleagues
Carragher rebuffed Richards’ suggestion to ‘give her a ring’ at first, but later warmed to the idea – only to be interrupted by his mother giving him a ring in return.
‘Hiya James,’ Paula said, before her son asked her if she was ‘made up’ at the club’s win.
‘I’ve just seen the score,’ she continued. ‘I said, “Angela! 3-0, they’ve won!”‘
‘What did you go and watch?’ Carragher asked, with Paula revealing she had gone to see The Scouse Christmas Carol at the Royal Court Liverpool.
‘Because it was in such popular demand, they extended it. Because we couldn’t get in before Christmas,’ Paula added.
Richards was then quick to remember that they had not yet informed Paula she was live on television, prompting Carragher to interrupt his mother and tell her she was on ‘TV in America’.
‘You’re joking me!’ she said, much to the amusement of the studio. ‘Oh Angela, we’re on American TV!’
Richards introduced himself as ‘Micah… Big Meeks, they call me’ in a bid to see if Paula recognised him, but she quickly began to feel ’embarrassed’.
Carragher’s co-pundit Micah Richards was initially keen for the studio to give Paula a ring
Thierry Henry was tickled by the creative spin that Paula put on his name as she made her television debut
But Thierry Henry revealed a more promising response, with Paula sounding more interested in talking to the man she referred to as ‘Tiarry’.
As interest grew in the call, Paula demurred, saying that she should put the phone down, prompting Carragher to ask: ‘Have you had a couple of bevvies?’
‘A couple, like!’ was the response, prompting further mirth in the studio.
‘Mum just say, good night America,’ Carragher offered.
‘Goodnight America!’ Paula finished, before signing off with her son.
Carragher is one of Paula’s three sons, with the family Liverpool natives who lived in Bootle.
Initially, Carragher supported Liverpool’s loathed derby rivals Everton due to his father’s allegiance to the Toffees – but the family are likely to have switched the red side of the city following their son’s nearly two-decade career as a one-club man at Anfield.
