Matthew Lewis and Jermaine Beckford launch brand new Leeds United podcast 'Doing a Leeds'

Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK—Leeds United are back in the Premier League for the first time in 16 years but unfortunately for Leeds born-and-bred actor Matthew Lewis, he currently lives 4,300 miles away in Florida, meaning the one-time season ticket holder will be forced to watch from afar as Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites go head-to-head with the high and mighty of the Premier League.

Luckily for Matthew, former Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford has offered to keep him on top of all the important news and developments on and off the pitch. Doing A Leeds will see Matthew and Jermaine discuss everything from the latest games to the big stories coming from Elland Road, regular updates on Matthew’s attempts to set up a supporter’s club in The Sunshine State to a look back at the last two decades at the club. There will also be huge guests, from current and former players to famous faces from the world of film, TV, music and entertainment.

Matthew Lewis said: “We’re back in the Premier League, with the god himself, El Loco, at the helm. Unfortunately, during a global pandemic, I’m stuck in the US trying to get somebody, anybody, to talk to me about Leeds United. With baseball, basketball and American football all back on everyone is pretty exhausted with humouring me so I thought I’d see if anybody back home wanted to talk to me about it. Inexplicably Jermaine said he would and then my mate said people would probably like to listen to that. So we’re recording it. And Leeds legend Jermaine Beckford is going to be my inside man as I play the role of possibly the only person in sunny Florida that wishes they were in cold, grey Leeds!”

Jermaine Beckford said: “I’m really looking forward to being part of this podcast with Matthew - while he’s stuck in the US I’ll be his link to Leeds’s return to the Premier League. Don’t worry Matt, you top up your tan while I do all the heavy lifting keeping a close eye on Marcelo and the boys. I can’t wait for the season to start.”

Matthew is best known for his role as Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films, as well as his roles in films and TV series such as Me Before You, Ripper Street, Happy Valley and The Syndicate. He will soon be soon in the Taika Waititi-executive produced film Baby, Done. Originally from Horsforth in Leeds, he had a season ticket at Elland Road for a number of years before work took him out of Leeds, and he is the Vice President of Leeds Rugby Foundation.

Jermaine Beckford played for Leeds from 2006-2010 having been signed from non-league Wealdstone, going on to become a fans’ favourite not least for his winning goal against arch-rivals Manchester United in 2010 which dumped the Red Devils out of the FA Cup. He scored 71 goals in 126 games during his time at Elland Road, helping the club to promotion to the Championship before he left for Premier League Everton.

Matthew and Jermaine will pick a charity to give a shout out to in each episode of the podcast, beginning with The Big Issue for the first episode.

Doing A Leeds is a Lovely Stuff production, produced by Dave Cribb and Will Wood. The first episode will be released on Friday 11th September, available from all major platforms.