pettition to itv f1 to sack James Allen
Discussion
I don't think it would be difficult for ITV to dispense with his services; "James, unfortunately we're letting you go. It's been a tough decision, but as soon as we saw the first of the current series of 5th Gear, we knew exactly what we had to do. May we introduce you to Mr Tim Lovejoy".
You see, things could be worse!
You see, things could be worse!
flemke said:
BadgerBenji said:
Just one thing about this bothering me, if ITV were to sack him, what would they write, Dear Mr Allen, we have received a large petition asking for your removal by the general public, bye bye have a nice life.
Is this a fair method for dismissal?
Is this a fair method for dismissal?
Surely, surely, by now Allen has heard from many quarters that his work is deeply unpopular.
If ITV in their unwisdom choose to retain him, that's their problem. If he were sacked, however, the man could hardly complain that he had no idea that there was a problem.
s7paul said:
I don't think it would be difficult for ITV to dispense with his services; "James, unfortunately we're letting you go. It's been a tough decision, but as soon as we saw the first of the current series of 5th Gear, we knew exactly what we had to do. May we introduce you to Mr Tim Lovejoy".
You see, things could be worse!
You see, things could be worse!
Could you imagine? He'd be too busy commentating on some soccer match that he'd switched one of the circuit TVs to...
snotrag said:
The best commentary imo is not someone who can read out accurate facts
Absolutely. Anyone remember that boring, supercilious arse who they had before Allen or Brundle? Simon Taylor, I think his name was. Lasted a season as I recall.
Edited by JonRB on Tuesday 19th December 14:08
Actually, I have a terrible sense of deja vu about all this. 
Nope, Simon Taylor was part of the ITV F1 team when they began in 1997. Murray was the comentator and Brundle his expert. Allen and Goodman were the pit lane reporters. Tony Jardine was also a pundit.
Jardine and Taylor have been involved in motor racing since the 1960s and certainly know their stuff. Taylor was once editor and co-owner of Autosport and still commentates for Lord March's Goodwood event DVDs.
Jardine and Taylor have been involved in motor racing since the 1960s and certainly know their stuff. Taylor was once editor and co-owner of Autosport and still commentates for Lord March's Goodwood event DVDs.
Simon Taylor definitely commented / commentated for a while. Are you sure it wasn't Murray Walker and Simon Taylor initially with Brundle coming on board afterwards?
Edit: Wasn't for one moment saying Taylor doesn't know his stuff. Trouble is that I found he deluged me with boring minuate in a way that turned me off rather than engaging me. Perhaps it is different for others.
Edit: Wasn't for one moment saying Taylor doesn't know his stuff. Trouble is that I found he deluged me with boring minuate in a way that turned me off rather than engaging me. Perhaps it is different for others.
Edited by JonRB on Tuesday 19th December 14:53
JonRB said:
Simon Taylor definitely commented / commentated for a while. Are you sure it wasn't Murray Walker and Simon Taylor initially with Brundle coming on board afterwards?
Edit: Wasn't for one moment saying Taylor doesn't know his stuff. Trouble is that I found he deluged me with boring minuate in a way that turned me off rather than engaging me. Perhaps it is different for others.
Edit: Wasn't for one moment saying Taylor doesn't know his stuff. Trouble is that I found he deluged me with boring minuate in a way that turned me off rather than engaging me. Perhaps it is different for others.
Edited by JonRB on Tuesday 19th December 14:53
Simon Taylor never commentated on F1 for Itv. He used to do the F3000/Porsche Supercup show. He has commentated on F1 for radio 5 in the past though.
Marc W said:
Simon Taylor never commentated on F1 for Itv. He used to do the F3000/Porsche Supercup show. He has commentated on F1 for radio 5 in the past though.
Oh.
Maybe he was in the studio with Jim "I'd rather be doing football" Rosenthal then, giving technical explanations of stuff before or after the race?
JonRB said:
Marc W said:
Simon Taylor never commentated on F1 for Itv. He used to do the F3000/Porsche Supercup show. He has commentated on F1 for radio 5 in the past though.
Oh.
Maybe he was in the studio with Jim "I'd rather be doing football" Rosenthal then, giving technical explanations of stuff before or after the race?
Yep he used to do that with Tony Jardine. I always got the impression the two of them didn't get on and then one season Simon got relagated to just doing the F3000/porsche show. Now he doesn't even do that and we get James commentating on that too. I don't tend to watch it anymore though as I try and catch the races live on Eurosport.
As much as I hate watching/listening to his 'Ken Livingston on speed' tones he does make compelling viewing for his next faux pas.[/quote]
nah he is un-bearable.
get rid thrice fold and 4!!!!
always tries to be on a par with MB who just out classes him in every department..
sorry about the "his dad " comment but you know.. for a while i wasn't sure.. enzo/ mussolini!!!! classic
I think what I most enjoy about Allen's commentary is the underlying but very perceptible hatred that he has for the fact that Martin Brundle used to drive in F1, and as a consequence, that Brundle has more ability to describe and inform on what's going on in a race in his middle finger than Allen will ever achieve simply by reading stat sheets.
Maybe it's me, but it really does seem noticeable that, after MB offers some knowing insight into how an F1 car actually feels throughout a challenging complex, there is a definite pause, and then a noticeable change in Allen's tone to whatever drivel he comes out with to follow. It never fails to amuse.
Maybe it's me, but it really does seem noticeable that, after MB offers some knowing insight into how an F1 car actually feels throughout a challenging complex, there is a definite pause, and then a noticeable change in Allen's tone to whatever drivel he comes out with to follow. It never fails to amuse.
stumartin said:
Maybe it's me, but it really does seem noticeable that, after MB offers some knowing insight into how an F1 car actually feels throughout a challenging complex, there is a definite pause, and then a noticeable change in Allen's tone to whatever drivel he comes out with to follow. It never fails to amuse.
Allen's follow-on waste of oxygen often starts with, "When I was at Brabham's...".
He doesn't complete the picture by adding, "...and I was a PR flunky who had nothing whatsoever to do with the cars, the technology or the driving and the team was in the process of becoming extinct..."
Simon Taylor did indeed do the studio bit with Rosenthal and Jardine. He and Jardine didn't appear to get on at all and for me, Taylor was inanely boring. I was glad when they dumped him. Jardine (for me) rarely added anything of note too - but he was vastly better than Blunder though.
James Allen used to write for Autosport didn't he? Perhaps I am in a minority here, but I find him no more useless than Muddly Talker. I met Brundle when he was in F1 and found him arrogant in the extreme - but then I guess that's what's needed to get the job done?...he now seems to have shed that - (although I haven't personally met him since). But he is head and shoulders bove anyone else and his gridwalks ought to be expanded to an hour!...I also think that Ted Kravitz asks some good tough questions too.
Ben Edwards - I saw him win the inaugural FFirst championship, but his appearance and haircut remind me of the kid at school that the bullies would deadleg
Charlie Cox and Stavros have me in stitches for MotoGP but I can't think of anyone else who could do the same job in F1.
Does anyone remember Allard Kalf from the Screensport days?
James Allen used to write for Autosport didn't he? Perhaps I am in a minority here, but I find him no more useless than Muddly Talker. I met Brundle when he was in F1 and found him arrogant in the extreme - but then I guess that's what's needed to get the job done?...he now seems to have shed that - (although I haven't personally met him since). But he is head and shoulders bove anyone else and his gridwalks ought to be expanded to an hour!...I also think that Ted Kravitz asks some good tough questions too.
Ben Edwards - I saw him win the inaugural FFirst championship, but his appearance and haircut remind me of the kid at school that the bullies would deadleg
Charlie Cox and Stavros have me in stitches for MotoGP but I can't think of anyone else who could do the same job in F1.
Does anyone remember Allard Kalf from the Screensport days?
JonRB said:
rubystone said:
Simon Taylor did indeed do the studio bit with Rosenthal and Jardine [...] [and] was inanely boring.
Yes, that was my recollection too. I was beginning to think I was imagining things.
Didn't Simon Taylor also do a stint on the pay-per-view Sky F1 channel? Along with John Watson?
Nothing wrong with the bloke in my opinion.
Anyone following Murray Walker was obviously going to get slated but lets face face it MW was not averse to the odd howler was he?
Fact is he's on a hiding to nothing - F1 ain't exactly wildly exciting at the best of times!
Who would all you armchair experts replace him with? Lets here some names so we can all have a laugh
Anyone following Murray Walker was obviously going to get slated but lets face face it MW was not averse to the odd howler was he?
Fact is he's on a hiding to nothing - F1 ain't exactly wildly exciting at the best of times!
Who would all you armchair experts replace him with? Lets here some names so we can all have a laugh
kinetic said:
Who would all you armchair experts replace him with? Lets here some names so we can all have a laugh
I've often thought that some of the circuit commentators would be good - Brian Jones from Brands maybe.
Brundle i think, is also good enough to carry the "lead role" so why not pair him with another former driver - Warwick? McCarthy? Herbert?
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