BBC’s 2009 F1 team: Legard, Brundle, Coulthard, Humphrey and McKenzie
Jonathan Legard, Martin Brundle, David Coulthard, Jake Humphrey & Lee McKenzie
Pitpass claims the BBC has named its 2009 F1 coverage presenters as Jonathan Legard, Martin Brundle, David Coulthard, Jake Humphrey and Lee McKenzie.
Legard has previously commentated for the BBC on Formula 1 on Radio Five Live and has an expert knowledge of the sport. Pairing him with Martin Brundle, who’s won awards for his ‘expert commentator’ role in 12 years with ITV, is an excellent decision.
David Coulthard, fresh from his retirement this year, is expected to be based in a studio with Jake Humphrey, to front the show.
Pitpass scoffs, “the budget is expected to be even less than ITV is spending - come on, how do you expect them finances garbage like ‘Bonekickers’?” But I think the BBC are sensible to see there is no value in flying their principle presenters around the world, especially on the licence-payers’ coin. Does having Steve Ryder and Mark Blundell struggling to make themselves heard in the pit lane add anything to the ITV show? No.
Humphrey’s background covers a range of sports including football, American football, cricket and athletics, with a high-profile slot in the BBC’s coverage of the recent Beijing Olympic games. As none of these sports involve four wheels and an engine I have no idea if he’s any good or not so please do tell me. According to this interview done while he worked on Childrens’ BBC if he had a million pounds he’d spend it on crisps.
Lee McKenzie has been fronting Sky Sports’ A1 Grand Prix coverage and is the daughter of Bob McKenzie, the Daily Express journalist. (He who famously promised to run a lap of Silverstone naked if McLaren won a race in 2004.) She is expected to work as a pit lane reporter, a role currently filled by Louise Goodman and Ted Kravitz. McKenzie won Jim Clark Memorial Award for people involved in motor sport.
Of the current ITV team only Martin Brundle will joining the BBC’s coverage, and not James Allen, Steve Ryder, Mark Blundell, Ted Kravitz or Louise Goodman. When ITV took over F1 from the BBC in 1997 it kept only Murray Walker and brought in an otherwise all-new team.
ITV won a BAFTA for its coverage of the Canadian Grand Prix last year, despite the fact so many fans had complained about them cutting the post-race discussion short ITV had to issue an apology.
Jake Humphrey biography (BBC press office)
Lee McKenzie official website
BBC Radio Five Live Presenters - Jonathan Legard
More on BBC’s 2009 F1 coverage
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coulthard and brundle are a dream ticket.
Just hope the rest shut up enough to let us hear them.
The 5-live commentary is quite reasonable, so I have
hopes.
P.
This looks like good news to me. Martin Brundle being retained is a very wise decision, and I think Coulthard would be superb in his new role, being extremely experienced and knowledgeable and, as a bonus, intelligent, articulate and witty. Losing Mark ‘the replay what we watched’ Blundell is also great news.
Plus, NO MORE ADVERTS, HURRAH!
IF this is true it is excellent news already.
I honestly prefer having the presenters at the event - I think it keeps the flow of the atmosphere rather than backing away from the buzz of the venue into a dry studio.
That said, keeping Brundle on board has to be a good decision for everyone and roping DC into a role for this is a huge bonus that I will look forward to seeing.
I will miss Ted Kravtiz and his Paddock Notes posted on ITV/F1 every week. In fact its one column I eagerly look forward to read and find “behind the scene” events. Of course there is one more “additional” source that feeds me tidbits.. I seriously hope to see Ted work in paddock in some role and continue to share his insights with Racing Fans.
Louise Goodman- that Lady is Serious distraction. Coulthard must have been praying for his “Jinx” to be sacked for years now.. his wishes are finally answered after his retirement though
Is there are way to start a Online petition for Ted
Think I agree with Jon. The presenters don’t say anything worth hearing anyway so why does it matter that they have to shout over the engines? It adds to the atmosphere.
I’m glad Brundle has been kept, he’s definitely the redeeming factor in the ITV team.
I will miss the ITV team. I can’t find fault with any of them (no, I’m not a herd animal and join in the pointless slagging off of the ITV team). I love Blundell and his Blundellisms (”he will join the teat at the high table, oops I mean seat”); I love Ryder’s enthusiasm and the chats in front of Lewis’ garage. The new presenters look like they’ve just left school, and the woman looks like a bimbo. Gosh, how disappointing. And I can’t stand DC - he’s so pompous. Oh well, I am deeply disappointed and really will miss ITV.
I agree that being in a studio, or at least not in the pit lane, is a good idea, but does that compromise the interviews they do at the track?
I agree totally with Mahesh re Ted Kravitz. As a TV pitlane reporter he’s merely good, but his paddock notes show that he’s a superb journalist when it comes to the written word. Frankly his well-written columns rather show up the rest of the team, particularly Allen’s posts which can often read like a child’s “what I did at the weekend” homework by comparison.
Hopefully Ted will get picked up by one of the broadsheets and continue bringing us these stories.
Remembering of course that the actual pictures of the race will be from FOM, I don’t suppose it really matters where the presenters are. It would be more fun to have a BBC Motorhome in the Paddock, serving breakfast or lunch for anybody who drops in,and used as a ’studio’, but no doubt that would upset most license payers.
I think the 5live commentators are reasonably good, and hope they can keep up the standards. And of course the BBC will no doubt use its TV/Radio/Website/Red Button tie ins as it has with other sports events and major series.
Coultard and Brundle will probably work together quite well, I think they share a similar view about F1 and motor racing in general. I wonder if the BBC will be staying at DC’s hotel in Monaco next year?
Is ITV keeping coverage of GP2, or is that going to the BBC as well? If BBC do have it, I hope they will return to the earlier format and show the Porsche Supercup as well.
What, no more James Allen and his spastic reactions?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wif3Kr0y5js
You lucky buffs in the UK. In the Netherlands we’re stuck with TV ads, with RTL 7 broadcasting the races. Good thing is, though, that they have changed from full-screen commercial breaks, to some 75% of the screen, while the race footage remains visible.
I am bothered, though, with the fact that TV channels, and advertisers alike, cannot think outside the 30-second-commercial box. Think of something else that draws (some) attention, but does not drag the viewer out of the race.
Oh, and as for Ted and Louise - anyone who was at Goodwood Festival of Speed this year would have seen how closely she works with Jenson and Honda, so no doubt she will return to PR duties in some form or another. Ted I am sure will be snapped up by one of teams as one of the ’stataticians’ he keeps going on and on about! Personally I’m not impressed with his column on the ITV website, its only his take on the various press releases issued during the race.
Hi Guys,
wasn’t the hamster (Richard Hammond) going to be on the team? not that he knows much about F1, as clarkson put it.
just wondering….
Glad it’s back at the BBC, because the ad breaks drive me mad. But never mind the presenters, do you think we will get THE music back for the intro?
Thank the Lord.
James Allen & Louise Goodman will no longer be invading our homes on a race weekend !
ITV have slowly sucked the life out of their F1 coverage, we all knew they’d never be able to find a replacement for Murry Walker but JA is possibly the worst sports commentator working today.
Good to see Martin Brundle kept on, the lone voice of sanity in an otherwise amatuer line up on ITV at the moment and I think Legard will compliment him well.
Don’t know about Humphrey as never seen him on anything but Lee Mckenzie has been doing a decent job on A1 GP and at least she doesn’t throw herself at the drivers like an excited schoolgirl.
DC will be an interesting choice, his colums for ITV are generally interesting and he’s still close enough to the sport to have some up to date insider knowledge.
Good choice BBC.
The facts: Martin brundle is a twenty six year veteran of formula one both as a driver and commentator, Eddie Jordan had his own team for fourteen years and David coulthard has fifteen years experience in this most prestigious of sports, all of whom i would listen to for hours, if not for their unique insights into the world of formula one, then just out of respect! Even Jonathan Legard and Lee Mckenzie have motorsport on their resumes but i must point out that the mindless, condescending diatribe that falls from the lips of the so-called anchor is better suited to some third rate, low budget, “scientific” analysis of the different kinds of dust, which would of course be aired at three in the morning on an obscure satelite channel with just three viewers, his mum, his girlfriend!? and his dog!!!! I am offended that jake humphrey is even allowed to breath the same air as the rest of us let alone be given a prime time opportunity to patronize and even blatently ignore some of the biggest names in the cutting edge of motorsport! A very, very poor decision indeed….
P.S: I would also like to say that as an avid formula one fan since the early nineties the BBC are doing a sterling job of delivering the current Formula one season. Well done guys it’s good to be home!
Great news about Martin Brundle. He really makes the commentary.
Ron - As far as I know the whole Top Gear thing was a rumour put about when the BBC got the coverage in the first place, but there’s nothing to back it up. Hammond isn’t very interested in F1, so I’d be surprised.
Beneboy - Goodman’s alright, she wasn’t taking any nonsense from Luca Colajanni over the pit lane exit lights yesterday. I’ve got nothing against her or Kravitz really, although I think some of Kravitz fuel analysis from the pits during races can be a bit misleading. But then it’s not his fault the fuel rules are as silly as they are.
A pity that David Croft won’t be involved, though I suppose they need to keep the Radio 5 side also at the top and their coverage (with Maurice Hamilton) is excellent.
Jonathan Legard is an excellent and logical choice and thank goodness Brundle’s ‘pikey’ comments in Canada didn’t turn the BBC off him; Brundle is fantastic at what he does.
Goodman is great, and I don’t mind Ted Kravitz. Blundel has an amusing but sometimes irritating grasp of english with his ‘wots’, and lets just say James Allen’s time has come to a rightful end.
I must say that I’m getting quite nervous about what’s been speculated to be done in general by the BBC. Lets hope we get a first class production with reasonable and substantial pre and post race analysis and features that allows for flexibility with over-runs and isn’t put at the mercy of silly lothesome programs like Dads Army, Eastenders, Songs of Praise, etc. Lets hope the beeb streams all the practice sessions as well.
I am however a little confused. Will the studio be UK or circuit based? I hope its the latter as I can’t see Coulthard being happy to sit in the UK for each GP.
I think Anthony Davidson should also join this new team. I’m really happy about Coulthard and Brundle.
they could broadcast it with jade goody F1 without adverts is a distant memory from childhood……
In F1 Racing this month they’ve done a piece on what the BBC have planned and although it’s only rumour and speculation so far they suggest that it will look like what Bernie tried to do with his digital channel a few years back (and possibly Sky as well).
I can’t see how I’d use it myself, but apparently you will have the choice of commentary, get to choose whether you just want onboard shots, etc. etc.
Should be exciting!
Jake Humphrey was crap at the olympics. I kept expecting Goldie the dog to walk onto the set and him to stroke it.
If he’s got the enthusiasm and love of F1, then I think Jake Humphrey could be a pretty good choice as host. If he’s just a rent-a-presenter doing F1, then he will be no better than a youthful Grim Rosenthal.
I was discussing this yesterday with my girlfriend, and we both agreed Brundle and Coulthard would be a great match, however the BBC organised it.
Brundle says deal not done yet: story
I think it is a shame David Croft is not going to get the job, he has done a good job on radio 5 and on GP2. I actually like the Anchormen being in the pitlane with all the noise and atmosphere that comes with being there. If there are chatting in the studio it can seem very bland and dull - A bit like Eurosport or Sky’s coverage of the Indy 500.
Not sure about Jake either, his experience is nil and he will be asking some pretty dumb questions of DC. At least Steve Rider has some 20 odd years of experience working around motor sport. I would keep with Steve Rider.
Won’t DC want to be over at the races where the action is anyway, especially if he is still going to be involved in the Red Bull programe in some way, rather than in Woodlane in London?
Lee McKenzie - hmmm not sure either. I am slowly coming round to Holly Samos - despite her history of working with Chris Evans on Radio 1 in the 90’s, I think she has a solid understanding of F1.
Eeeek - Never thought I would come to say this, perhaps it’s “better the devil you know” Except for James Allen!!!
Jake Humprey originates from Kids TV - I could be wrong but he might struggle to get his head round the the complexities of the sport.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKYMPXYcmo4
Now where is Goldie the dog….
I like this line-up. Of the ITV presenters I’ll be sad to lose Ted Kravitz, who I think should have had a more prominent involvement in their coverage. I won’t be sad to lose James Allen, as I think he’s mediocre at best. When Murray retired, ITV advertised Allen as ‘The New Murray Walker’ and I knew from that moment we were doomed. Brundle’s commentary is excellent, and I’m pleased to learn we haven’t seen the last of DC
very good news all round,
i have to strongly disagree though, the studio format is complete rubbish, i quite like seeing rider outside the pits i think it adds to the occaision,plus not having coulthard there is a mistake surely, how will he be able to interview massa for example,
i say no to thr studio idea, what does evryone else think?
I think the new line-up looks great. I have no idea who Legard and Humphrey are so I’m hoping they’re alright. I’ve always like Brundle and therefore am happy that he’s still gonna be there. I think DC would be a great commentator as he’s very dry and it will be nice to have the perspective from a modern-day F1 driver. I don’t know who that Lee McKenzie is but if that photo is anything to go by, she looks hot, and that’s always a plus.
I’ll be glad to see the back of the mighty sycophants Allen and Rider but I’ll actually miss Blundell’s terrible grammar and I enjoyed listening to what he has to say. I’ve never had anything against Kravitz or Goodman but at the same time never felt that they brought anything interesting to the show.
Glad to see that Martin Brundle is being kept on. His input and opinion is vital. I also hope that the BBC keep his grid-walk slot too.
Only time will tell whether this new team are any good. To be honest they can’t do much worse!
@Gareth - Well Brundle’s gridwalk is one of my sore points. Its sad to see Brundle being shooed away by teams and drivers. And its surprising that ITV had official contract with FOM. On the other hand Peter Windsor, who is Trackside reporter for SpeedTV, is treated well on his grid walk, nobody shoos him away. That maybe because he is part of FOM and conducts the post quali and post race conferences.
Anyways Enjoy this classic repartee by Brundle -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9VdSCQ0gbk
I live in greece and I would like very much to know if there will be online coverage of the races (practice,qualifying,race) and if someone who doesn’t live in England could watch them through the internet like ITV F1 player
Keith, regarding Brundle, if the ‘deals not done yet’, then why did YOU start this thread???? If I want made up stories, i’ll buy the Sun…
Snooperigdog - I think you will see on the very first two letters of the first paragraph that Keith is reporting another site has claimed to know the BBC line up, not this site and lets also be fair, as soon as Keith know he posted a link to news that Brundles deal is not yet done.
I think that is fair an balanced!
at least the bbc are trying to get brundle. what bugs me about the itv coverage is the lack of coverage for the drivers, the only one they interview is lewis hamilton, it does annoy you after the 30th race in a row. Im a hamilton fan but it does my head in so you can imagine what it does to the hamilton-haters.
keeping brundle is the key, he explains the very technical stuff about driving an f1 car in simple english. His analogies are great and witty. James allen had to go he is a complete berk, mark blundell doesnt seem to say anything intresting he just narrates the replay itv just showed you 20 seconds ago.
Who actually presents the show doesnt really bother me id rather the bbc spend the time beofre the race for features on drivers, teams etc and maybe abit brief preview of the race.
My main concern however is how much time the bbc will give f1 before and after the race, thats one thing where itv got it right. An hour build up and half hour or so after the race (most of the time) if anyone has any intrest in football will no doubt have watched a few games on the bbc and other than the fa cup final every game has 15 minutes build up to it and 15 minutes after the game before switchiong over for the eastenders omnibus.
soooperpigdog - As Scott said, I couldn’t have made it more clear that this is what another site is reporting - look at the first two words of the article.
Did Jake Humphrey specify what kind of crisps he’d spend a million pounds on? Because if they were Walkers then surely he’s in the wrong sport.
Poor joke.
Ted Cravitz couldve been kept, he was actually half decent. What would be we’d not be missing (all sic) is Blundles blundellisms. i give you 2 classics
“The people who worry me is BAR. I don’t think they can withstand what they did last year with getting that great Championship position.”
and
“I think you gotta take all the ingredients what went into the move.”
Trouble is it wasnt funny, we want insight we got Blundell!
Great new team potentially and shes defo fitter than Mumsy Goodman.
Having said that itv as a whole raised the bar and james allen isnt that bad, he is an enthusiast its just hes on the geeky side “ggggoooooooooooooooo” as he himself geeked many a time.
schumi the greatest, you don’t sound like an LH fan to me. I look forward to the weekly LH interview - highlight of the weekend! They didn’t do it this weekend (anyone notice?) probably down to the probable hate mail. I learnt that he was contracted to do an exclusive interview with the ITV team before every GP and is thus fulfilling that contract. Little did he or the ITV team know how loathed he is by British TV viewers(until now I suppose) and how his every appearance prompts howls of outrage and anger, so I guess ITV are attempting to ignore the current BRITISH World Champion F1 leader to please the vocal and vociferous Hamilton-haters. Oh well, I forward wind my tape past the droning smug Button and watch the famous and cringe-makingly amusing grid walk and then the race.
I swear the only thing that will make F1 fans happy is if LH is TOTALLY ignored, like he’s not there at all. Pah!
I do find it amazing that British commentators are allowed, nay encouraged, to drone on endlessly about Andy Murray, or the English football team, or the British Olympians in an extremely biased way, but when it comes to Lewis, that patriotic bias is just not tolerated. I do wonder why…
hughes. hes a marmite man is why. black with a yellow top just for starters.
btw- i am a huge Lewis fan, and Alonso… and the above comment is meant as a light heartedly
We all discussed this when it was first announced by the BBC. At the time we said Brundle and DC would make a good pairing. And the ‘chain gang’ brought back. I reckon the BBC have a spy watching Keith’s site!!
Just a follow on from S Hughes, I’m a big fan of both young sportsmen, Lewis Hamilton and Andy Murray. I just don’t understand why so many British people want to slag them both off all the time. They are both British, one a Scot the other an Englishman and they are taking the sports world apart at the moment. I’m looking forward to see how well they’ll do next year. Lewis, I hope will win the DWC this year, but being an Olympic year he won’t win the BBC’s personality of the year award. Then when Murray wins Wimbledon next year he can go into a head for head with Lewis who will lift his second title.
Ah, we can dream.
Keith, I can see where your coming from about Goodman, I’m sure she’s not too offensive for most people.
I just think she’s a waste, her comments are normally blindingly obvious & for someone with such a high level of press access she doesn’t seem to use it to much effect.
Don’t want to suck up just because it’s your site but I’ve read more insightful, interesting & detailed information in the last few weeks since finding this site than in the years she’s been on the team & I’m sure if you (or many of the other contributors to this site) were given the access she has you’d be able to come up with a damn sight more than she does.
I know the TV companies have to give a show that is accessible to the non-expert fan but ITV have gone way too far and, other than Brundle, they have all forgotten that some of us actually know what’s going on.
LG’s first few years fawning over Jenson put me off her big time & she’s never recovered in my estimation of her.
Oh, and how good will it be not missing all of the action during the ad-breaks ?
The BBC I-Player will be a great way to re-watch the race & if they manage to bring in the camera options with the red button then that will be awesome !
Sorry guys, this turned into a bit of a long rant again :~)
@ Beneboy:
Ah, but who remembers the days when the BBC cut away from the on-track action to show some snooker, bowls, darts or a ball plopping in a hole on some remote windswept Scottish golf course for some inconsequential point in a dull-as-ditchwater golf tournament? If that sort of malarkey goes on next year the sound of F1 engines will be drowned out by the sound of thousands of TV Licences being ripped up the length of the country
@ade
I think (and hope) that the beeb have learnt their lesson on that one, with the advent of BBC3 & BB4, plus the interactive services we should be able to see the whole race as any other sport will be on via the red button.
I’m guessing the races will be on BBC2 like in the old days.
DC is an inspired choice and Brundle was a no-brainer but for the love of god why have they signed up the 6 feet of vacuity that is Jake Humphrey.
BBC viewers might remember his reports from the “fanzones” in Euro 2008:
“Yes the atmosphere’s absolutely bouncing here” (repeat for every game of tournament)
He’s a sad indictment of the dumbing down of the BBC in general. The BBC used to have David Coleman, Cliff Morgan, Desmond Lynam. Now it’s Jake sodding Humphrey.
Shame they couldn’t find room for Ted Kravitz.
Like most, if Brundle is kept then it’s all I care about, in terms of the team. I welcome the change in everything else, although I do hope they do proper build ups and post-race discussions - maybe even during free practice, which I hope they will show on one of the freeview channels, at least.
Kravitz was alright, but I won’t miss him. Goodman I think had the worst job come race day - find the driver who’s guts have just been wrenched and try getting a candid word out of him…for that, you would need a woman I guess! But despite her efforts, I won’t miss her either.
DC, if confirmed, would be great at this, he’s perfectly candid with many an issue and can be pretty funny at times.