JONATHAN Legard is the biggest casualty, as the BBC has decided to make some changes to its F1 coverage. Legard, who has been the main face of the BBC’s F1 commentary team since it won back the UK TV rights from ITV at the end of 2008, has been dropped. Reportedly, it is due to his lack of gelling with co-commentator, Martin Brundle. Brundle, an ex-McLaren, Benetton and Ligier driver in his distinguished F1 career, which spanned twelve years, has been promoted to the top commentating job.
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| NEW TEAM: David Coulthard joins Brundle in the commentary box |
Martin will be joined in the box by his good friend David Coulthard. Coulthard, who won 13 races in his F1 career (1994-2008), will combine his new role with the punditry position he has had for the last two seasons. Eddie Jordan will have more of a bigger role in the races now, whilst Jake Humphrey continues to anchor the show. Ted Kravitz and Lee McKenzie remain in the pitlane reporting roles.
There have been changes to the BBC Five Live team too, as Natalie Pinkham becomes their new pitlane reporter. Pinkham takes over from Holly Samos, who left at the end of last season to spend more time with her family. The dynamic duo of Anthony Davidson and David Croft will remain as the voice of radio.
For F1 fans, all 20 races in the 2011 season will be broadcast in HD for the first time. The commercial body for the sport, FOM (Formula One Management) confirmed on Tuesday that the technology would be available for all international broadcasters. Unsurprisingly, the BBC has added the HD element to its growing portfolio list. Ben Gallop, the head of Formula One for BBC is delighted with the HD move; “We're delighted to be broadcasting in HD, something we know fans have been waiting for and it will really add something extra to our coverage for 2011."
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| OUT: Jonathan Legard is no longer the voice of Formula One |
The Beeb have decided to make these changes to keep the show fresh and new. I wish Jonathan Legard the best for his future journalism career, and it will be interesting to see how the new dynamic of Brundle and Coulthard works out in the commentator box.
The new season begins in Bahrain on March 13 2011.
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