Formula One fans in the UK will enjoy start-to-finish, uninterrupted races for the first time since 1996 next year as the BBC regains the rights to televise the sport once again. But for those of you who currently have ITV coverage, who would you like to see kept for the BBC and who you want replacing and why?
To me, it seems blindingly obvious that Martin Brundle should keep his job. He is a fantastic commentator, with an impressive understanding of not only how the cars work, but also having the ability to "knock it down a notch" so that the fans who don't understand the technological aspect can pick up on what is meant. Given a good co-commentator, this guy could easily be a stranglehold on the commentator's box until he wants to give it up. Blundell too is also someone who can give a fairly balanced and reasonable viewpoint on discussions. For example, just look at the build-up to Italy - unlike every other form of UK media, he actually stuck his neck out on the ChicaneGate issue and said "whilst it seems odd, there are cases against Lewis such as...". These two should stay by far.
Those who I'm not entirely sure on are Ted Kravitz and Louise Goodman. I'm worried that they will be replaced next year, but they too (when not ordered to bark on about Hamilton) can excell in their respective fields in gaining pit lane info and driver's comments. As it is, the duo combined are a lot better at getting driver's pre-race thoughts than Brundle's Grid Walk!
And then, it leaves the last two - James Allen and Steve Ryder. Sorry guys, but there's playing to a UK audience and then there's doing it too much. I understand as part of a British organisation it is their jobs to spend a lot more time focused on the Briish drivers, but the amount of airtime they have given Hamilton since his debut is completely out of hand. Yes, the kid's special. Yes, he'll be a multi-time World Champ, but it's getting tiring now of every two minutes in every story having to know what the family think. In Ryder's case this applies to especially, as you can so easily notice how whenever it's "Lewis this, Lewis that", Steve always mentions just him and Blundell actually makes an effort to name other drivers in his responses.
James Allen... there's no need to go into detail here. Too many errors, too much bias, too many patheticly stupid comments ("Oh no, it's all gone Pete Tong!") makes not for what a commentator should be. Hopefully, if he has the time available, I'd like to see Coulthard behind the mic alongside Brundle. A former driver who drove the previous year's car competetively and someone who, even 12 years after hanging his helmet still steps into modern F1 cars just to explain to the audience how each component works could be a very intriguing situation.
As for Steve Ryder... it's difficult. It's clear that right now, ITV pushes Lewis Hamilton and Ryder just accepts it. We need a journalist who is willing to push the powers that be and say "maybe we could take a little time off that and focus on..." and is capable of doing so without being fired. Sadly, that'll be a difficult task to do.
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