BT Sport Films pays homage to biking legend Barry Sheene

Sheene, the latest documentary from the award-winning BT Sport Films series, will premiere on BT Sport 2 at 10pm on Sunday 26 March. The documentary celebrates the life of two-time world champion biker Barry Sheene, paying homage to his trailblazing career.

The BT Sport Film charts his remarkable journey, from humble beginnings to a legendary status that transcended the world of sport. Fearless to the end, he diced with death on numerous occasions on the way to consecutive World Championships in 1976 and 1977, eventually becoming a household name.

The documentary focuses on defining moments from Sheene’s life, both on and off the track, from his title wins to his near-fatal crash at Silverstone. Using evocative archive and featuring contributions from some of those that knew him best, Sheene paints an emotive picture of this sporting superstar.

Sally Brown, Executive Producer, BT Sport Films, said: “Sheene’s name resonates beyond motorcycle racing. His ability on the circuit was matched only by his charisma off it. Sheene serves as a fitting eulogy to one of sport’s first truly global superstars.”

The film is narrated by actor Philip Glenister, well-known for his roles in dramas, such as Life from Mars, which reprise the 1970s. Other contributors include Alwyn Turner, author of a series of books about Britain in the 1970s featuring many of the key players in Sheene’s era including Tony Benn, Shirley Williams and Dennis Skinner.

The film also features Mick Grant, a motorsport contemporary of Sheene, whose style was in sharp contrast to the playboy image presented by Londoner Sheene.

Stuart Barker, the only journalist to have ridden on the roads with Sheene and author of a bestselling biography on the legendary rider also features alongside Steve Parrish, former team mate of Sheene at Suzuki, who latterly managed a successful Yamaha team and became a well-known TV motorsport commentator.

Sheene is directed by Daryl Goodrich and produced by Nicholas Unsworth. It continues a compelling set of releases from BT Sport Films, including After the Roar which explores the mental health toll of retirement on elite athletes and The Boot Room Boys which charts the engine room and personalities behind Liverpool’s period of unprecedented success in the 1970s and 1980s.

Sheene will premiere on Sunday 26 March and will be available to watch on the BT Sport app and website at any time thereafter. Many previous BT Sport Films are now available with British Sign Language (BSL).