Tune

Oasis are a top band and they're playing this summer, I wanted to go and see them up in manchester but i've already bought tickets for the twenty/20 cricket at the Oval so I can't go, gutted!

Does anybody know this?

+1

Last year, during an inteview with Belgian TV, he refused to answer any questions that weren't specifically about the Belgian GP. He eventually declared the interview as "a waste of my time" and walked out! so I don't think either that the blame should all be on EJ for a bad interview.

Tony.

and yet so little attention was paid to them that I had to import their second album from the states


Whilst making a cup of tea I just got all excited about the start on Sunday again

I trust you didn't see the EJ interview then?

Irrespective of Ecclestone (who actually looked like he was being nice to EJ to help him along) EJ was utterly abysmal and as I said earlier the interview should frankly never have been broadcast. It was atrocious. Worse than the level of presenting you see on local community television.

So. Again huh?

Of course I saw it. I don't think EJ was that good either but he is not a Journalist/Interviewer. Tear strips off him now at the very beginning of the season all you want. maybe he'll improve, maybe not. :\
I suppose next you'll be calling for someone at the BBC to be sacked!!

Tony.

yeah, eddie jordan !

Get them to sack Bernie while their at

I think Lee McKenzie is doing alright so far, its only 2 races, she pretty fit also

exactly!

I like to switch to BBC when it is advertising time on the Dutch broadcast (RTL), and after two races I have reached the following conclusion:

* jealous on the extent of coverage on the BBC (in the netherlands, we don't even have a pit reporter!!)
* Lee McKenzie in her BBC outfit looks pretty hot!

Who are the idiots responsible for having Legard as lead commentator? The most annoying thing about him is that he seems to think he has the right to interrupt Brundle with trivial nonsense whenever he sees fit...

Legard may improve (I doubt it), but there is not a chance in hell he's better than Allen (who was not great) and Legard has absolutely zero chemistry with Martin. Furthermore, Jake, David and Eddie come across as the most wooden figures imaginable, why are they even there they're just incredibly annoying.

The problem with British F1 coverage is that Murray was the gold standard by which all other try to emulate, but Murray was awful and all that have come after are even worse. I think the Beeb are failing miserably at the moment.

I've enjoyed the BBC coverage so far.

Legard does not offend the viewer like Allen, although his reading of the race has been a little poor at times. I hope this will improve over the course of the season.

Ditto. Love it. Really makes you realise how cruddy ITV sport was. Have to say there is ZERO chemistry between Brundle and Legard but hey, it could develop.

It's hard to offend the masses when all you're doing is stating the bloody obvious!

according to you everybody is rubbish, but at different levels of rubbishness?
That's ok i agree that Allen was rubbish, but Legard is better he offers intelligent opinons which have been unbiased. I can't imagine Legard creaming his trousers if Hamilton ever overtakes someone again.

BBC is much better.........just cast your mind back to a typical ITV GP weekend last yr. The build up was all about Hamilton they just kept going over and over the same stuff weekend after weekend and then just when you think you will get a break from it when the race starts you had James Allen.

Me too. If Legard does make the odd mistake, he does so far less annoyingly than James Allen. I like the fact that he concentrates on commentating the race, something Allen seemed to do as a last resort. Thumbs up for the entire team, excepting Eddie Jordan.

Well i for one am quite happy with the coverage so far. Yes things could be improved, but if they feel the need to im sure the BBC will after a few races. Id like to think they would anyway....

What i like about it so far is im not 'on edge' waiting for the next cheesey feature, the next daft competiton, the next 'question/ask Mark a bloody silly question question, the sillier the better' or waiting for the Hamilton love-in between Rider and Blunders. Or the Jenson love-in that would more than likely be happening now. Im not expecting the James Allen outburst, squeaky no emotion screams nor silly obvious questions when he hands over to Martin. Im not screaming at the TV anymore, well not as much...

Yes, Legard still seems in 'radio' mode, but give them a little time....im sure they will gel. Yes, EJ and DC seem to be at odds somewhat but i find it quite interesting to listen to for some bizarre reason. That other guy seems a little weak as the 'anchor' man but i quite like his style, so far anyway.

But i am really appreciating the practice sessions with commentary instead of a small stuttering stream online, all the red button features during the race, the iplayer highlights, and the fact i can watch the race and/or highlights on the red button later in the day. The well put together 'info' dittys are a nice touch, and Im really liking the 'no adverts' and its difficult to get used to despite the fact i can clearly recall there been no adverts in the past- i find im sort of waiting for them to appear just when somthing really good happens, but im sure that will pass and my bladder will enlarge 5 or 6 times over the course of the season

I think it could have been a lot lot worse, and so far it gets the thumbs up from me

I always have that feeling, everytime Brundle summarises the positions, I brace myself for an ad-break only for the coverage to continue. That in itself is a real bonus.

Legard needs time to gel with Brundle, he doesn't seem to be in tune with everything.

Christ, it's not that bad surely?

Also, was watching the BTCC highlights and ITV and Ryder got in a few little digs at F1 -

"Here the racing is decided on track and not in courtrooms and offices".

I had to laugh.

EJ has know BCE many years, he could have made it more of a jovial affair which would maybe prompt Bernie to loosen up a bit, Eddies mistake was to try and be a serious interviewer instead of being more like an old pally associate of Bernie. But you can't blame EJ - he was offered a job and took it - blame instead the producers for thinking he could add anything to the show just 'cos he's an ex-team owner.

Also, during the stopped period of the race - why use their own cameras in the Brawn garage to film DC and EJ whilst the FOM feed was showing the drivers, teams, FIA, etc on the grid? Sure, let them talk in the background but keep showing pictures with something other than those three in a garage? Thank god for the red button where I could watch the teams and drivers. But how could the BBC producers think it would be better to use theor own cameraman in that garge then the feed in those circumstances? Shows a total lack of judgement /common sense- unbeleivable!

I CANNOT BELIEVE PEOPLE ON THIS FORUM RATE LEGARD HIGHER THAN ALLEN! The guy has not got a clue, talks over Brundle and when he does not know what to say either stays totally silent or says somethung stupid. Brundle is forced to be the lead voice (which although he can do with ease is NOT right). Two quietly spoken voices in the box does not work as well as raw enthusiasm (Allen) mixed with authorative analysis (Brundle). Legard's boring unenthusiatic voice makes me cringe and I think he is in the odd position (for a commentator) of actually being scared of saying too much for fear of embarrasing himself.

Instead of whinging and worrying about the bloody theme tune (who gives a monkeys whether it's the chain or anything else for gods sake!) petition the beeb to drop Leg-end and bring back Allen! And quick!!

Isn't that all about the word 'chemistry'? I suspect that Brundle or Legard have yet to 'hit if off' as it were. They seem a bit unsure of eachother at the moment. I suppose given time this may become a partnership* rather than two people in a booth.

*No, no that kind of partnership.

Allen and Brundle had that relationship but they worked togethor for a while, come the end of the season I expect these two to be finishing each other's sentences.

It won't happen!! Allen and Brudle gelled from day one (although Allen had been in the ITV team prior to taking the lead role of course) but it is clear from the word go that Leggard is uncomfortable, un-natural and in the wrong sport.

Legard is better? Offers more intelligent opinions? What are you talking about?

You know, you should start a campaign against patriotism in sport. I think the 2010 FIFA World Cup is a good start... Honestly, what is wrong with supporting the countryman anyhow? Absolutely nothing. James Allen bashers like you aren't the majority at all, just the outspoken minority.

The BBC television coverage has been piss poor for a publicly funded corporation in my opinion.

I wouldn't say so, he has the knowledge and the common touch, just needs to brush up a little and get up to pace with the races.

Simply because he doesn't make you grind your teeth the moment he starts to speak. I do actually respect JA's knowledge of the sport, but he comes across really badly on TV - as did Simon Taylor, who probably knows more than the pair of them put together. Doesn't make him the man to do the commentary though.
I think it's fine for MB to adopt a slight more "trousers on fire" approach to balance JL and he seems to have started to do so.
Early days but given all the extras, top marks so far from me.

The presenting style doesn't bother me, I kind of like not having someone trying to hype up the race. But could you please pay attention? I don't need you explaining all the little bits and pieces I can see on screen but at least look at it so when you do speak you're talking about what's going on at that moment. You can almost hear he's looking somewhere else. Helloooooooo, another car has gone off, come back to the light.

The BBC is not a sports channel. It cannot direct all of its TV hours to F1 coverage. What we are getting at the moment, is a lot better than ITV's... yes, there are things which can be improved, but saying it is "piss poor" must mean that ITV's coverage was "absolutely atrocious".

Yes it is. I'd rather download and watch Speed's coverage!

Authoritatively stated, but bollocks.

Well your in a small minority.

As for the claim that Allen and Brundle hit it off straight off.. please, come on, can you even remember it?

From what I remember Allen didn't STFU and talked across MB constantly. Since the first session on the Beeb the Legard-Brundle partnership has improved greatly, JL has stopped talking across MB (I presume they instigated a system like Martin had with Murray where he had his hand on his shoulder and squeezed when he had summat to say).

If anyone watched the BTCC on ITV on Sunday they will have seen how much better Jake is than 'Sycophant Steve' at presenting motorsport.

I love that people expect it to be perfect from the word go, if you think you know better there are hundreds of ways to make your complaint or suggest constructive new ways of doing things to the team as DMN has persistently pointed out to the morons who refuse to bother to listen but just want to whine annoyingly. Whereas the chances of giving suggestions to a member of the ITV team were slim to non-existent. ITV sport is a laughing stock in this country atm, you just have to look at the amount of complaints people have about it's football output.

You get FP!,2 and 3 ON TV, WITH COMMENTARY now, before you got a low quality internet stream without commentary.

What would you rather have? A commentator who does his job (describe the action) or James Allen SCREAMING EVERYTHING IN A FORCED MANNER, I reckon he even types with caps lock on before it's edited. People are reacting and warping their own memories of the awfulness of James Allen commentating.

Authoritatively rebuffed: prove your comment isn't bollocks.

I'd love to see your proof for that.

well said

Someone on here started an online petition for James Allen. Last time I looked it had fewer than 100 signatures, most of which were either porn spam or blatant pisstakes. Support for JA has been nearly non-existent. Now compare and contrast with the campaigns to oust him while at ITV: I seem to remember those attracting 1000s of signatures, and a T-shirt campaign!

So in other words fractions of a %, or a minority?

A large percentage of the F1 fans who use bulletin boards, which probably reflects a similar percentage of the wider F1 fan base.

BB's don't scale well.

I assume you mean you're also happy to lose about 30% of the race to adverts, which is what you get with Speed's coverage? If so, you're probably one of about 0.0001% of the five-odd million people that watched the Malaysian GP that would want it, and that's where you'll stay.

Anyway what on earth are we doing arguing about who's the worst commentator; we all know enough about F1 to know what's going on in the races anyway without needing anyone at all... don't we?

G'day folks - I'm back from a superb holiday to Melbourne and Sepang, and I've just finished watching the BBC coverage of the Australian GP weekend.

Here are my thoughts:

Jake Humphries = wooden. Promoted too early in his TV career. Doesn't generate any warmth atm. Steve Rider was a bit of a boring old fart, but he seemed more likable and rather less uptight. Maybe I'll get used to Jake as time goes on... but atm, I'm not impressed.

DC = very disappointing. I'd always thought David was a charming guy with a great sense of humour. But it's as if he thinks he has to be really 'serious' now he's a professional commentator. Again, he's lacking obvious warmth. I have to admit, I'd have preferred Blundell.

Wiggy Jordan = we all know that EJ's capable of saying some hilariously stupid shit, so why is he so boring in his new role? I was expecting him to say the same ridiculous things as in his F1 Racing pieces. I assumed he's there for comedy value, and on that basis he's failing to deliver. He's just boring.

Brundle = same as before, interesting and quite funny at times.

Leggard = clearly not as god as James Allen. The first sentence he said he mucked up with "Formula Lone" or something like that. Very serious voice, very boring comments, keeps interrupting Martin. It's such a pity that the BBC bosses took notice of the nasty people who wrote such vicious things about James. He was clearly better and far more knowledgeable than Jonathan.

Lee McKenzie = she seems alright so far, but I'm a bit sorry for Louise that she didn't keep her job.

Ted Kravitz = I've always thought he was good, quite unintentionally funny sometimes.

Finally, I was listening to the Five Live commentary in Sepang, and I must say that Anthony Davidson is a superb commentator. He and David Croft are a great pairing. Witty, clever and extremely informative.

Overall then I think the BBC has a lot of room for improvements, and the only thing that's clearly better than ITV is the airtime.

Good post. Totally agree about Leggard, messing up the very first sentence he uttered. And it had to be the words Formula One as well...

No, FULL TRUTH actually.

Most people had no problems with JA, which is why he lasted until the end.

Actually I think a lot of people had varying degrees of problems with James Allen. Myself included. At times he uttered total tripe. He was more interesting than Leggard though. I remember in the first race when Heikki Kovaleinen's car was buggered on the first lap, Leggard sees it and all he can say is "Heikki Kovaleinen....Heikki Kovaleinen....Heiki Kovaleinen..." Presumably Brundle had to punch him to shut him up.

I have never had a bad word to say about James Allen, everything that he was disliked for were all the same things that Murray Walker was loved for.
Allen had a passion for F1 and an encyclopaedic knowledge of F1 to boot, he was a an F1 trainspotter, so to speak.
In my opinion the BBCs coverage has been superb, but with two major black marks, the first being listening to the internet hate campain against Allen and hiring the sub-standard Legard in his place, and the second being the loss of GP2.

Murray was/is a silly old fool with a massively inflated opinion of himself. James was far more humble and had an infinitely greater understanding of F1.
Leggard is obviously better than Walker, but Allen was a top-notch commentator who was highly respected by his co-commentator, Martin Brundle.