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Phil Tufnell's Biography

 
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Philip Clive Roderick Tufnell was born on 29 April 1966 in Barnet in Hertfordshire.

His schools included Highgate School and Southgate School.

After which, he worked at his father's silversmith factory near the Angel, Islington, before joining the ground staff at Lord's.

He initially joined Middlesex as a medium-fast bowler, but very soon it was discovered that his metier was as a left-arm spinner.

He made his debut for Middlesex in 1986 and ended up taking more than 1,000 first class wickets. He took 121 wickets in his 42 Tests for England.

A low point in Tufnell's life came in 1994, when he slapped his then partner Jane McEvoy across the face. Her father gained revenge by slapping Tufnell in the face with a brick.

Soon afterwards, according to The Independent: "he went off the rails so spectacularly in Perth that he was checked into a psychiatric hospital."

After retiring from cricket at the start of the 2003 season, Phil Tufnell has been regularly in the public eye.

Highlights include Tuffers winning the second series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here and being a team captain on They Think It's All Over and A Question of Sport.

He also became a regular pundit on Radio 4's Test Match Special.

Phil Tufnell and his second wife Lisa have a daughter, Poppy.

In 2009 Phil Tufnell partnered Katya Virshilas in Strictly Come Dancing.

They were eliminated in week 9.

In September 2020, it was revealed that Phil Tufnell along with fellow captain Matt Dawson and presenter Sue Barker were to leave A Question Of Sport.



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