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yesorno March 20, 2008 4:15 PM

Great News.

Keep Brundle on BBC dump the rest of the ITV crew.

Get Eddie Irvine. He will say it as it is.

Gary Anderson and David Kennedy on Setanta Sports could be poached

6th.replicant March 21, 2008 5:41 PM

Good to hear that we're returning to F1 without ad breaks.

But will the BBC have a stand-alone F1 show, as ITV does, or will F1 be simply shoehorned into the BBC's Saturday & Sunday general sports coverage, as it was in the old days, without the 'race build-up hour' or after-race press conference etc?

Also, could there be more to this BBC-Ecclestone tie-up than £s & $s?

Consider that Ecclestone wants F1 to be broadcast in hi-def, which is a format that the BBC is well savvy with, already has all the kit & is very experienced at outside broadcasts (eg the Proms, FA Cup, Wimbledon, Grand National etc). Perhaps the BBC is to become F1's permanent hi-def global production team? What are the chances we'll have F1 in hi-def & for free (ie via Freesat) for the start of the 2010 season? Yes please!

Meanwhile, let us pray/beg/use blackmail & extortion to ensure that James 'a face you'd never tire of punching' Allen is given his P45 & Martin Brundle is retained. And if Mark Blundell also keeps his role, then the BBC teaches him the basics of spoken-English grammar.

walsh100@gmail.com March 21, 2008 10:51 PM

It seems harsh but I share Ed's view that the prospect of having uninterupted coverage PLUS NO JAMES ALLEN is wonderful! There's been an aching void ever since Murray Walker stepped down and if we never hear James Allen's voice again it would still be too soon!

argiers March 22, 2008 11:07 AM

I don't understand why there is such an anti James Allen tone to this thread. Yes, he may not be the most charismatic presenter, but he does his homework and his enthusiasm certainly comes across. I dont think Mr Keohane's sarcasm is justified or appropriate.

rbolesworth March 22, 2008 9:38 PM

Thank god or whoever you want that F1 is back on BBC.

I used to watch all the races on the bbc and it was them not itv who would give the best "race build up" and itv would very rarely show the official press conference after the race until Button started getting on the podium occasionally and now only because louis hamilton is on it most the time.

ITV just give varying decrees of garbage with "lets make loads of money" phone in competition adverts every 10-15 minutes before the race starts normally and heaven forbid there is a red flag start or something that slows the race down so we have to cut immediatly after the chequered flag to bloody coronation street or something, and then with no post race interviews or anything oh except for the phone in competition number. And for james allen, well he tries but to me he fails... his enthusiasm seems forced at does not seemvery natural. He is making murray like mistakes and he has not got 50 years of commentating to blame it on. For me I would love to hear murray again as his style is unique and irreplacable and i don't care if he makes mistakes as he is one of a kind. If he is not able to do it then I always liked ben edwards when he was on eurosport but that was a long time ago now. So it would be martin brundle and whoever else is good enough.

Bring it on in HD too, can't wait for that.

toby2449 March 24, 2008 10:23 AM

good to hear, & hopefully BBC won't be so biased towards one driver like ITV, i know Hamilton is english & an english tv station will always be slightly biased, but ITV might aswell call it the Lewis Hamilton show, hardly any of the other drivers are given a look in!

grandslamms March 24, 2008 11:44 PM

Looking forward immensely to having no adverts - but, much as I loved Murray, 'the voice of F1', it was a long time ago and I rather suspect that people have a pleasantly nostalgic view of it all !

ITV, adverts aside, in our view have moved forward the viewers experience.  Indeed they may be rather patriotic in their coverage and some of the presenters are more 'presenters' than hardened, well informed petrolheads but overall I've enjoyed the whole package sufficiently to get up in the muiddle of the night - regularly !

I would keep Martin Brundle, Mark Blundell and Steve Rider but would have possibly Damon Hill with occasional inputs from Murray.......

JJBoxster March 24, 2008 11:51 PM

Why the excitement? With respect F1 is a procession from start to finish! I know I'm not the only one to switch on for the first 5 laps, then change channels and change back for the last 5 laps. What happens in between, ads or no ads, is desperately dull with the 'Gentlemans Agreement' of no overtaking (ie. no racing).

Bernie wants hi-definition so the dullards that watch the whole race can see more clearly the advertising messages which fund this commercial circus. Sorry this is from a car fan who was turned off (bored to tears) years ago!!