[TV] Commentators for the BBC 2009

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by mjstallard

For those (such as myself!) who hadn't really heard Ben Edwards do any commentary before, I think this is an excellent example of how to do "excited but not annoying":

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=K5AoTROb0H0

Great clip regardless!

That just did it for me at the time. He does knowledge and he does excitement. He is the obvious choice. However he was the obvious choice last time, so I don't hold up much hope. Obviously people at ITV aren't that bright, but I fear BBC is now too full of media studies types to get this one right.

[mjstallard]

Well a little bird has told me (completely unofficially of course) that the BBC has received nearly 20 requests not to employ James Allen and none requesting that he's kept on. Quite a few voices calling for Brundle to be retained and Ben Edwards to be taken on. It's still not too late to let Auntie know who you want and what you don't want - it's far more effective to sound off to them than to an Internet forum.

Let's wait and see what happens anyway, I'm still holding out hope that they won't be silly - remember, the folk who work in BBC Sport are sports fans and they will have been watching F1 from the same perspective as us. They'll have shared the same frustrations as us too, so will more than likely want to fix that.

[Hubble]

Can we please lose Louise Goodman.....if I hear her ask any more stupid questions like she did of Martin Whitmarsh today I think I'll explode......

[minimangler]

Originally Posted by Hubble

Can we please lose Louise Goodman.....if I hear her ask any more stupid questions like she did of Martin Whitmarsh today I think I'll explode......

Amen to that, she's not an F1 girl by any means. Yuck.

But please not another girl just there for her looks.

We need a Suzi Perrie for F1!!

[ScotsBrutesFan]

[Quote:Originally Posted by Hubble]
Can we please lose Louise Goodman.....if I hear her ask any more stupid questions like she did of Martin Whitmarsh today I think I'll explode......

Originally Posted by minimangler

Amen to that, she's not an F1 girl by any means. Yuck.

But please not another girl just there for her looks.

We need a Suzi Perrie for F1!!

Very strange statement to say Louise Goodman isn't an F1 girl....she's been involved in motorsport for 20 years starting as a Press Officer for the Leyton House F1 team...remember them?

[John Turner]

I don't think minimangler was born then, and I agree that it was a tad harsh a comment about LG.

[Alan Raine]

Originally Posted by minimangler

But please not another girl just there for her looks.

We need a Suzi Perrie for F1!!

Are saying Suzi Perrie is ugly

[Peter Mallett]

Murray Willis, or was that Wincey? Anyway either a Willis or Bruce Walker. I think I've got that right.

[CDK 7]

Originally Posted by Alan Raine

Are saying Suzi Perrie is ugly

never

[Asp]

After just seeing a clip of (Indian F1 provider) Star Sports commentary, I heard a voice I've not heard for a while - that of Steve Slater.

Not sure how long he's been commentating on the F1 for, but I remember hearing him on "Chequered Flag" (DTM and TOCA Support coverage on Channel4 in the small hours with Will Hoy presenting IIRC). He's excitable, but very knowledgeable - getting that balance right that we see in Ben Edwards and of course Murray.

One to throw into the (totally hypothetical) pot for consideration?

[chunterer]

I've just thought of an outside bet for the anchorman slot: Chris Hollins off of BBC Breakfast. He's been a very abkle sports reader for a few years, done plenty of interviews seems to have plenty of personality and is now actually co hosting the main programme - he is clearly being groomed for bigger things.....

[shambles]

I'll do it.

[JamesRamone]

Originally Posted by shambles

I'll do it.

Me too

Can i ask why you say F1 RIP 1950 - 1997

Just wondering why 1997 ?

cheers

[Cuckoo]

Ben Edwards would be OK!
Can't see the Hamster doing it

Coulthards not doing anything next year!!

As long as it's not Keith Hewen off Sky, although that would at least take him off the NASCAR coverage

Cool I'm starting a campaign for Hewen to the BBC

Having said that the BBC have to get their monies worth, so it's Graham Norton for Steve Ryders Job. Jonathan Woss to replace James Allen. And Gary Lineker to replace Brundle as the pundit

[nickyf1]

Originally Posted by JamesRamone

Me too

Can i ask why you say F1 RIP 1950 - 1997

Just wondering why 1997 ?

cheers

Twas when slicks were last used and also the final season where wider cars were used.

[Aslak Vind]

Originally Posted by mjstallard

For those (such as myself!) who hadn't really heard Ben Edwards do any commentary before, I think this is an excellent example of how to do "excited but not annoying":

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=K5AoTROb0H0

Great clip regardless!

Originally Posted by AdamAshmore

That just did it for me at the time. He does knowledge and he does excitement. He is the obvious choice. However he was the obvious choice last time, so I don't hold up much hope. Obviously people at ITV aren't that bright, but I fear BBC is now too full of media studies types to get this one right.

Just read through the thread, very interesting as I am a commentator myself. But not in the UK, so dont worry !

This clip is just PRICELESS!

Ben Edwards is a very, very skilled commentator. Can remember when he made F1 on Eurosport, was it together with Mark Cole?

Love his enthusiasm!!

[ScotsBrutesFan]

I have to say that Jake Humphry's performance on the Olympics must place him very high on the F1 presenters list.
He's relaxed, very much at easy and has totally outshone Adrian Chiles (some people's suggestion) who has muttered and fumbled just about every link I've seen him do on Olympic Breakfast...actually he's quite embarassing when next to the consumate professional that is Hazel Irvine.

[Graz]

Just had a thought, in the MotoGP, Dorna have not renewed Eurosports contract officially because they want to make it more accessable to individual countries blah blah blah but the real reason being, the Eurosport commentary was so good that nobody was watching the Dorna feed.

Currently, Toby Moody, Julian Ryder and Randy Mamola will be out of a job. The Beeb could do worse than sign these guys up and allocate them to the F1 & Moto Gp as necessary. Toby M has a history of motorsport commentary. Julian R and Randy M could do the Moto Gp (along with Steve Parish) and ditch Charlie Cliché Cox and Matt whatever his name is (who has no idea what he is talking about). Keep Suzy P - I rather like her I have to say, not sure why...

Check out MotoGPod.com (great podcast of all things MotoGp) for a recent podcast 'Pepsi Challenge' where they compared the various commentaries. Eurosport won hands down.

So:

F1 will be:
Toby Moody and Martin Brundle

Moto GP will be:
Julian, Steve & Randy with the delightful Suzi doing what she currently does.

And the best bit - no feckin' ads!!