[TV] BBC F1 coverage in 2010

[jondownunder]

I'm no great Croft fan but during practice there's so much more chemistry and personality evident between him and Ant than between Legard and Martin. And Brundle's not the problem.

At least James Allen, for all his crimes against humanity, seemed to be pretty perceptive (like Murray Walker) about when to let Brundle have the mic. Legard is utterly hopeless, devoid of personality, humour and insight and it mystifies me why they're keeping him.

[Hepatic]

i'm starting to manage to tune him out. what really ****ed me off today was the shocking TV direction. i don't know what muppet was doing that but why the hell do we need to see a picture of that miserable spanish prat every 30 seconds? they missed i dont know how many yellow flag incidents and it took ages to get replays. it was truly bloody awful today.

[duke_toaster]

That muppet wasn't the BBC's muppet, or for that matter Bernie's - the director was Tele Monte Carlo's muppet. Supposedly they're like the French version of Dave. The crazy thing with Bernie taking over production (mainly a good thing, we need to remember how awful the local hosts were) is that the two races that haven't been produced by Formula One Productions have two of the worst host broadcasters - Tele Monte Carlo and Fuji TV ...

[ghinzani]

Originally Posted by Hepatic

i'm starting to manage to tune him out. what really ****ed me off today was the shocking TV direction. i don't know what muppet was doing that but why the hell do we need to see a picture of that miserable spanish prat every 30 seconds? they missed i dont know how many yellow flag incidents and it took ages to get replays. it was truly bloody awful today.

Agreed - the constant shots of Alonso - I mean we all like to see his pained face once but constantly? I ended up feeling sorry for him, he did a good job not to mouth the words "f**k off" to the camera.

[Peat]

The Director(s) has/have been awful all weekend. Surely when the Yellow Flag caption appears, that would be a que for the director to scan his monitors for a spin/accident? Nope, for example in Qualy, he kept on following Algersuarddvhajvdjasvdjasi around half the lap until he arrived at the scene of Petrov's accident. The renault was almost totally blocking the track ffs! Pretty significant in qualifying. Also, in FP3, they ajudged 1 replay of the tail-end of Fernandos shunt to be sufficient. It really wasn't.

It was the same story in the GP2, a chap had a big one on the the way into Casino, took him about a minute to pick up on it.

Nothing to do with the BBC of course. My only gripe with them is always Legard, and now i spot Jake Humphrey has an iPad instead of a clipboard, tart. I hope it crashes on him during the live show, that'll teach him.

[dyewat808]

Originally Posted by jondownunder

I'm no great Croft fan but during practice there's so much more chemistry and personality evident between him and Ant than between Legard and Martin. And Brundle's not the problem.

At least James Allen, for all his crimes against humanity, seemed to be pretty perceptive (like Murray Walker) about when to let Brundle have the mic. Legard is utterly hopeless, devoid of personality, humour and insight and it mystifies me why they're keeping him.

I'm all for Ben Edwards and Tim Harvey, personally. Best commentators ever.

[ralf fan]

I am now able to watch the f1 forum and can I say I am decently impressed. Brundle, DC and even good ol' EJ are pretty informative and there's some good analysis. OK it isn't highly technical and is dumbed down but it isn't entirely the worst thing in the world. Kravitz and Mckenzie are pretty decent with their interviews as well and with the availability of interviews, highlights etc. online I think its a fantastic package. Much better than ITV ever managed.

One negative is Legard who is starting to get on my nerves. Especially when he keeps emphasizing the "Butt" when he says "Button". Still nowhere as bad as James Allen.

[ECW Dan Selby]

Legard made alot of mistakes during the GP last weekend. I don't usually notice but there were some just really stupid ones.

Also when Legard (and Brundle) both completely missed Button overtaking Alonso was a bit of a howler. They both questioned what'd happened despite the action being right in front of them.

Selby

[Try Hard]

Originally Posted by Peat

My only gripe with them is always Legard, and now i spot Jake Humphrey has an iPad instead of a clipboard, tart. I hope it crashes on him during the live show, that'll teach him.

And thats a big thing if you ask me... Listening to MWM on RLM, Hindy made the damm good point that the BBC is not a commercial station, and the way he was waving that thing round at Monaco was as ridiculuos as it was blatent!... Nice to see in Canada he's covered it up, no doubt having a had a talking to from on high...

[fourWheelDrift]

Originally Posted by ralf fan

I am now able to watch the f1 forum and can I say I am decently impressed. Brundle, DC and even good ol' EJ are pretty informative and there's some good analysis. OK it isn't highly technical and is dumbed down but it isn't entirely the worst thing in the world. Kravitz and Mckenzie are pretty decent with their interviews as well and with the availability of interviews, highlights etc. online I think its a fantastic package. Much better than ITV ever managed.

One negative is Legard who is starting to get on my nerves. Especially when he keeps emphasizing the "Butt" when he says "Button". Still nowhere as bad as James Allen.

The forum is great and refreshingly relaxed and informal. The low point of recent broadcasts however has been hearing the sound of Martin trying to interrupt JL, knowing that he has something interesting to say as JL systematically talks over him with a stream of meaningless drivel, lost count of the number of times it has happened now. Someone in the BBC ought to tell JL that Martin is a great asset and an expensive one at that, when he has something to say the public should be allowed to hear it.

[Fox89]

Originally Posted by fourWheelDrift

The forum is great and refreshingly relaxed and informal. The low point of recent broadcasts however has been hearing the sound of Martin trying to interrupt JL, knowing that he has something interesting to say as JL systematically talks over him with a stream of meaningless drivel, lost count of the number of times it has happened now. Someone in the BBC ought to tell JL that Martin is a great asset and an expensive one at that, when he has something to say the public should be allowed to hear it.

That wound me up so much in Canada. Brundle would start to say something and Legard would cut across him, often emphasising the same irrelevant point three times before stopping for breath and allowing Martin to get a word in. Quality, not Quantity please Jonathan.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by jondownunder

At least James Allen, for all his crimes against humanity, seemed to be pretty perceptive (like Murray Walker) about when to let Brundle have the mic.

I had completely the opposite impression.

Legard isn't good, but he doesn't enrage me. He has never shouted inanely like buffon. Legard doesn't add value, but he doesn't detract.

[Derwent Motorsp]

I reckon they all do a very good job. I've done a little bit of commentating at minor events over the years and it's not easy. These guys have to watch what we are watching, plus all the data that's coming up on their other screens, also looking out their window and listening to directors as to when to cut to the pit folk etc. They are also at the mercy of the director as to what is being shown so you many well get more Alonso in Spain etc.
I think JL is OK to be honest. Think of the mistakes Murray made and we enjoyed!
To be honest I have no time for Twitter, Facebook and the mass of pointless info that seems to appear. Despite being a lifelong motorsport fan and competitor, I do have a life!

[dyewat808]

Originally Posted by Derwent Motorsp

I reckon they all do a very good job. I've done a little bit of commentating at minor events over the years and it's not easy. These guys have to watch what we are watching, plus all the data that's coming up on their other screens, also looking out their window and listening to directors as to when to cut to the pit folk etc. They are also at the mercy of the director as to what is being shown so you many well get more Alonso in Spain etc.
I think JL is OK to be honest. Think of the mistakes Murray made and we enjoyed!
To be honest I have no time for Twitter, Facebook and the mass of pointless info that seems to appear. Despite being a lifelong motorsport fan and competitor, I do have a life!

No idea about commentating myself, but the rest of your post would be my words exactly.

People are too harsh I think, treasuring the "olden days", when instead you look at Murray Walker and the number of mistakes he made, and is yet set a legend in commentary.

Totally agree with Twitter etc. Watch the race, read any news afterwards, perhaps comment on this forum, move on.

[ECW Dan Selby]

I agree to a certain degree. I don't follow on Twitter or anything like that either, but what I think it does do quite well is allow more input from the teams to the fans. Even if you don't follow them yourselves, you'll often hear any important 'tweets' repeated over news sites or on forums. It's good that the teams (if you choose to use them, but i'm thinking of someone like Mike Gascoign who updates fairly regularly with live information over the weekend) have a perminant open mic.

Selby

[dyewat808]

Originally Posted by ralf fan

I am now able to watch the f1 forum and can I say I am decently impressed. Brundle, DC and even good ol' EJ are pretty informative and there's some good analysis. OK it isn't highly technical and is dumbed down but it isn't entirely the worst thing in the world. Kravitz and Mckenzie are pretty decent with their interviews as well and with the availability of interviews, highlights etc. online I think its a fantastic package. Much better than ITV ever managed.

One negative is Legard who is starting to get on my nerves. Especially when he keeps emphasizing the "Butt" when he says "Button". Still nowhere as bad as James Allen.

I'm glad it isn't just me!

It gets worse when his voice rises , and then the emphasis is almost unbearable.

[jondownunder]

Originally Posted by dyewat808

People are too harsh I think, treasuring the "olden days", when instead you look at Murray Walker and the number of mistakes he made, and is yet set a legend in commentary.

I could handle the Murrayisms, as he was utterly passionate and genuinely interested in the sport. Still is now even though he's hung up the mic.

Legard comes across as just a sports hack given the gig. From the lack of insight his commentary brings, I find it hard to believe he's been covering F1 for the BBC since 1997.

I've just read he has kids called Piers, Arabella and Crispin. I'm afraid that doesn't endear him to me.

[Knowlesy]

Crispin!

Walker was irritating towards the end (persistent mistakes and terrifying TGF bias) but he at least quit when he felt it was going downhill. The likes of Allen and Legard would never do that, although for Allen it is difficult to imagine a downward curve!

[Super Hans]

Originally Posted by Derwent Motorsp

I reckon they all do a very good job. I've done a little bit of commentating at minor events over the years and it's not easy. These guys have to watch what we are watching, plus all the data that's coming up on their other screens, also looking out their window and listening to directors as to when to cut to the pit folk etc. They are also at the mercy of the director as to what is being shown so you many well get more Alonso in Spain etc.

I gained a new found respect for all commentators back in May when I tried to watch the Indy 500 without any sound.

I didn't have a clue what was going on.

It was hard enough trying to work out what was happening myself without having to relay the info to millions of viewers live.

All those who love sticking the boot into Allen, Kirkby, Legard...et al should mute their televisions next time a race is on. You'll be amazed how difficult it is to follow without commentary.

[Knowlesy]

An F1 race is easy enough. They also have timing screens bear in mind.

[jondownunder]

Originally Posted by Super Hans

I gained a new found respect for all commentators back in May when I tried to watch the Indy 500 without any sound.

I didn't have a clue what was going on.

It was hard enough trying to work out what was happening myself without having to relay the info to millions of viewers live.

All those who love sticking the boot into Allen, Kirkby, Legard...et al should mute their televisions next time a race is on. You'll be amazed how difficult it is to follow without commentary.

I used to watch a lot of racing on German satellite TV channels. Though I picked up a few words along the way, the language remained a mystery to me. And it certainly was harder to follow than without a commentator, but providing the on-screen graphics were satisfactory, it wasn't that much harder.

As Knowlesy says, watching a race with the aid of live timing (as I do occasionally on the PC), it's much easier to follow, especially with respect to pitstops, drivers being lapped on ovals etc.

Still, I agree, there's no way I'd be any good at comprehending all the action and relaying it to the audience. But that doesn't excuse people who are paid and supposedly qualified from getting away with spouting bland inanities ("up the hill, around the corner") or Carlton Kirby gibberish, when there are other commentators (Ben Edwards, Martin Haven, Murray Walker in his prime etc) who do/did so much better a job.

[VIVA GT]

I've recently unearthed and re-listened to an audio recording (taped directly from the TV) of the BBC Coverage of the 1981 Dutch Grand Prix.
I was astounded just how laid back Murray Walker sounds (maybe James Hunt had taken him for a smoke in Amsterdam before the race?), certainly not the trousers on fire delivery I was expecting.
(I was also amused to be reminded just how well spoken and articulate James Hunt was, he does sound Very BBC!)

[ECW Dan Selby]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

I've recently unearthed and re-listened to an audio recording (taped directly from the TV) of the BBC Coverage of the 1981 Dutch Grand Prix.
I was astounded just how laid back Murray Walker sounds (maybe James Hunt had taken him for a smoke in Amsterdam before the race?), certainly not the trousers on fire delivery I was expecting.
(I was also amused to be reminded just how well spoken and articulate James Hunt was, he does sound Very BBC!)

I miss that combination of 'pants of fire' Murray and the strictly BBC James Hunt. I just always loved that traditional English gentlemanly voice that harked back to the days of Sir Sterling Moss and Graham Hill, the old school gentlemen who used to race for fun. And success

Selby

[Chris Y]

Stirling.

Originally Posted by Super Hans

I gained a new found respect for all commentators back in May when I tried to watch the Indy 500 without any sound.

I didn't have a clue what was going on.

For an extra challenge, try actually commentating! Even with on-screen readouts, just try recording yourself speak - give the run down on the places in the race, and describe what's happening in front of you. You'd be amazed how hard it is.

I've done some commentary, and I'm unashamedly crap at it But I was ok, because I had Alan Hyde alongside to help. And Matt James too.

Mind you, I still don't like the styles of Kirby and Legard...

[JackN]

I think perhaps the biggest frustration comes from the fact that there ARE better alternatives out there. Obviously the often mentioned Edwards, Haven and Addison, but there are also circuit commentators out there and commentators on rarely watched Motors TV shows and that sort of thing that are much better alternatives to those criticised in this thread. The problem often is that in Motorsport (and life!!) it's about WHO you know, and not WHAT you know...