BBC confirms F1 2010 commentary line-up
The BBC has confirmed an unchanged commentary team line-up for F1 2010, as the corporation promised more 'great coverage across all our platforms' over the upcoming campaign.
The BBC replaced commercial rival ITV as the official British broadcaster of the top flight last year, thereby regaining television rights in the country to the world's most glamorous and high-octane sport. The Beeb has a five-year agreement due to run to the end of 2013, and until then is contracted to provide multi-platform coverage of F1 across TV, radio, online and Red Button.
All 19 grands prix and their qualifying sessions in 2010 will go out live on BBC1, and any that end before 10am UK-time will be repeated later on the same day. BBC3 will show an hour-long highlights package for every grand prix, whilst practice sessions will be broadcast live on Red Button. Fans will also have the choice of switching between BBC1 and Radio 5 Live commentary during races. All details, the BBC stressed, remain 'subject to change' in the event of unforeseen circumstances and major events such as the forthcoming general election.
In the BBC1 commentary box, popular ex-Benetton, McLaren and Jordan ace Martin Brundle will continue to be paired with Jonathan Legard, who drew a distinctly mixed reaction from viewers after switching over from radio to TV in 2009. In the studio, anchorman Jake Humphrey similarly stays on-board, flanked by 13-time grand prix-winner David Coulthard and colourful erstwhile team owner Eddie Jordan, enthusiastic and entertaining sparring partners last season.
Ted Kravitz and Lee McKenzie will reprise their roles as pit-lane reporters, as David Croft and Anthony Davidson team up once more on 5 Live, with Holly Samos in the pits. In addition, much-loved veteran commentator Murray Walker is again set to post blogs and thoughts online as the action unfolds.
"We're delighted with the way 2009 went, and we can't wait for the 2010 season to start," remarked the BBC's head of F1, Ben Gallop. "The BBC Sport team will once again be bringing great coverage across all our platforms, meaning F1 fans can follow the action and interact wherever they are, whenever they want.
"We're proud to offer our audiences the opportunity to follow the great stories and share all the excitement of this fantastic sport."
