Martin Brundle at BBC in 2009
Martin Brundle has confirmed he will be commentating on Formula 1 for the BBC in 2009, continuing the role he began with ITV in 1997.
Speaking at the Autocar Awards in London he said:
I’m delighted to be able to tell you all that I’ll be joining the BBC next year. I’ve been commentating on F1 for the past dozen years and I briefly considered calling it a day, but in the end I decided to take up the BBC’s offer and I am now very excited about working for them next year.
Brundle was tipped to be the co-commentator alongside Jonathan Legard from an early stage. However rumours suggested the FIA was putting pressure on the BBC not to hire him due to his criticism of the Spygate affair last year.
Brundle is a first-class commentator and I’m very pleased he’ll still be covering the sport in 2009. Congratulations to him and the BBC.
More on the BBC’s F1 coverage in 2009
kev said on 11th December 2008, 13:08
great to here that Martin Brunble is joining the bbc. he would be a miss if he wasnt there. his knowledge in the sport & as a driver brings the public closer to understand what its all about,hope the rest follow him & the bbc take them on.itv had a good team but thank god its back on bbc no more stupid adverts
dave edwards said on 13th December 2008, 20:16
Is it true that Murry Walker is coming back with the BBC ? If this is true its grate news.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 13th December 2008, 20:58
Dave – I think he’s doing some stuff on their website, but not commentating.
dave edwards said on 14th December 2008, 12:10
thankyou keith fr your quick reply (shame that) still no adds brill..
David Thomas said on 4th April 2009, 11:19
It is great to have the F1 back with the BBC but this new commentator sounds as if he is commentaing on a horse race not F1, a very dull voice come back Murray all is forgiven.
John Daniel said on 29th April 2009, 12:06
I agree with DT that the Beeb have made a massive mistake recruiting Jonathan Legard to the TV commentary box – put him back on the radio! There is no chemistry between him and Brundle and I think that he is bringing down my opinion of Brundle. I can’t watch F1 anymore without Sky Plusing it and skipping through the boring bits that have now become unbearable! He makes James Allen sound like Murray in his hey-day!
Rick said on 15th May 2009, 19:18
Jonathan Legard is RUBBISH!!! Martin Brundle and James Allen were great on ITV….Sack Legard and get someone else in….anyone else! :o)
OM said on 25th August 2009, 19:50
I am now really frustrated by the quality of Jonathan Legard’s commentary.
From the first race of the season Legard appeared to know almost nothing about F1. His only style has been to use lots of really bad repeating phrases such as:
“And it’s Button in the front for Brawn, then team mate Barichello, from Webber, from Vettel, from…”
“Button from Barrichello from Vettel from Heidfeld. Brawn from Brawn from Red Bull from BMW”
“Knows the time to beat”
“Pushing On”
“He’s on a charge”
“Round the final corner”
“He’s battling on”
“Now what can this man do?”
“Down the hill”
“Can he make it?”
“Up the hill”
“Round turn 9/10/11 etc.”
I cannot think of one intelligent comment Legard has made so far in the 2009 season. I just get so frustrated trying to watch a GP with his constant nonsense background noise. Whenever anything does happen he is so busy ‘making noise’ that he misses it. Occasionally Legard stops to catch breath and Brundel is able to make an interesting observation before Legards excitedly butts in and starts making noise again.
I literally resorted to muting the sound on my TV for the last race (Valencia). This was an unbelievably boring race with one genuine overtaking moment, yet somehow all the way through Legard was stuck in a sort of frenzy of noise.
Surely the BBC will replace Legard… please… please
Lee said on 25th September 2009, 23:33
I’m hoping for a Martin Brundle / David Croft team next year. Not sure I’ll get it though!