Comments on: ITV want more respect?

By: BlogF1 - Your Regular Blog and Guide to Formula One » ITV F1 Theme & Jim Rosenthal

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 01:48:25 +0000

[...] to Desmond Elmes who commented on DoctorVee, the theme tune to ITV’s F1 coverage this year is Moby’s “Lift Me Up”. In [...]

By: John Booker

John Booker — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 21:59:57 +0000

We’ve had five full seasons of James Allen now, since the great Murray retired after the 2001 US GP, and I’m still not sure about him. He’s clearly passionate about the sport, and you can’t criticise him for that, but sometimes he goes a bit over the top and overemphasises minor issues. I would say it’s probably the case that if after a GP has taken place you can’t remember anything he’s said, it’s not a bad thing. I don’t mean this in a bad way, it just means he probably hasn’t said anything annoying. We shouldn’t criticise him for being different to Murray, no-one could be like him.

As for Steve Rider, I thought he did a decent job, but then he is a seasoned pro. Mind you, I also liked Jim Rosenthal, particularly in his later years in F1, since he didn’t take any rubbish from the senior people he was interviewing (Bernie, etc.)

Brundle knows his stuff but is a bit too pro-Schumacher at times (possibly trying to big up his own achievements as a team-mate to MS at Benetton in 1992?). Mark Blundell is OK but his use of colloquial English is a bit strange at times.

By: Desmond Elmes

Desmond Elmes — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 08:44:51 +0000

The end of the 2006 season, the end of Steve Rider’s first year as ITV presenter – and you can’t say he’s been awful. Having the experience of presenting Formula 1 when it was on the BBC was always going to be a plus for him. And he appears to be coping very well at ITV – he has, of course, been presenting their football coverage, which he is also very good at. Let’s hope he keeps up the good work.

By: Desmond Elmes

Desmond Elmes — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 15:07:37 +0000

It’s now been one year since this post first appeared. When it did, the knives looked to be out for James. It doesn’t seem to be that way now, as unlike last year there doesn’t appear to be any rumours of him being replaced at the end of this season.

By: Desmond Elmes

Desmond Elmes — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 15:53:15 +0000

I would consider Ben Edwards to be the most suitable replacement for James, as he is quite good at commentating on the British Touring Car Championship. However, it is hard to see anyone commentating on F1 being anywhere near as brilliant as Murray was.

By: doctorvee

doctorvee — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 20:44:28 +0000

I seem to remember ITV doing a competition like that for young budding commentators several years ago. I wonder what became of the winner of that!

By: Simon Stiel

Simon Stiel — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 16:43:00 +0000

To be fair to James Allen, Murray Walker left an indelible mark on F1 commentary and it is a tough act to follow. However, I feel that he does not get excited enough and make a race even more fascinating to watch.

However, if we get rid of Allen who should we put in his place. I suggest ITV do a “Commentator Idol” where wannabe commentators are given a clip and are told to commentate for a period of time and are then assessed by a panel including Murray Walker and the ITV F1 team.

By: Desmond Elmes

Desmond Elmes — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 17:10:02 +0000

On the other hand, I don’t think James should be savaged for yelling out “JENSON BUTTON HAS WON THE HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX!!!” It was an emotional moment for him as well as for Jenson and his fans. Murray or any other commentator would have pretty much done the same.

By: Desmond Elmes

Desmond Elmes — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 17:25:19 +0000

David, I’m not sure what other channels in the UK provide Formula 1 coverage but if Eurosport does it I wouldn’t recommend it. Their coverage of just about every sport they show is below par, even football. By the way, another James Allen incident that got on many people’s nerves was the mistake he made with simple arithmetic a few races ago, when he said that 70 and 23 make 103. (Imagine if it was a numbers game on Countdown…)

By: David Brenner

David Brenner — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 15:21:46 +0000

Post German GP, I am FED UP with ITV’s F1 coverage . The adverts ruin the flow of the race. Can you imagine football fans having to put up with this crap? There would be riots! James Allen is getting on my nuts:

1) “Michael Schumacher has won 89 Grand PREEEEEZ.” This is “Delboy French”. “Grand Prix” is pronounced the same regardless of it being singular or plural! Murray always got these basic things correct, and he’s an old-timer!

2) “The McLaren team made some progress during their test at JEREZZZZZ”. “Delboy Spanish”, anyone? Jerez is pronounced “Hair-eth” …. not Jerezz.

3) There was one race a few years ago where he started his infamous “GOOOOOOOOO” five seconds after the start :-/

The ITV-F1 show might as well be renamed “The Jenson Button Show”. The Button-bias is blatant. They cut Kimi Raikkonen’s podium press conference for Jenson’s interview. He finished an incredible FOURTH Never mind Ferrari’s incredible victory or Kimi’s fine fight up to 3rd place …. let’s talk to Mr Fourth Place!

Can I watch F1 in the UK WITHOUT listening to the “Button Grand Preez” Brigade?