James Allen

[durbster]

I simply can't bear him any more, so I made this in the hope it inspires a TV manufacturer:

[Motown Junk]

if only.

One of the weekend papers described him as 'underated' and 'does hours of preparation' before each race.

What? weighing different size domestic pets?

[MrKipling43]

That's ace - you should post that on B3ta.

Motown Junk said:

One of the weekend papers described him as 'underated' and 'does hours of preparation' before each race.

Linky?

[durbster]

MrKipling43 said:

That's ace - you should post that on B3ta.

Motown Junk said:

One of the weekend papers described him as 'underated' and 'does hours of preparation' before each race.

Linky?

Already did

[Plug550]

Interesting piece hidden away in the Mail yesterday, writen by Charles Sale:

"James Allen, ITV's underated F1 commentator, who puts in many hours of research before every race, is in competition with Five Live's David Croft to be behind the GP mike for the BBC next season"

I'm not quite leaping to Allen's defence here, as I would much rather see Edwards get the gig, but I find Allen's commentary generally quite interesting - just not exciting in the way good old Murray's was. Commentating on what is usually 1.5 - 2 hours of tedium takes some doing. The other contenders mentioned in other threads as prospective commentators, do at least have something to commentate on! You can't just blame the commentator for lack of entertainment in F1 these days, but that's another topic.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-1021845/I...

[durbster]

I don't think putting in "hours of preparation" is a big ask of a commentator. I'd say research is a bog standard and critical part of the job. If my job was to talk about a subject for 2 hours, I'd do a bit of reading too.

A test of a commentator is the important moments, as their voice will be associated with those moments forever. So let's see:

- Jenson Button's first win is forever tied to JA embarrassingly squealing "BUTTON! WIIIINS!"
- Lewis Hamilton's first win is forever associated with JA not knowing where the start line is, and shrieking "HAMILTON... pause ... pause ... WIIIINS!

I'd already started to dislike him before Ham started to shine, but his sickly drooling has become unbearable. Monaco started with Kimi getting a bad start, and Hamilton slotting in behind Massa. Enthusiasm is one thing but describing this as "A BRILLIANT MOVE INDEED" by Hamilton, and describing 2nd place at T1 as "A DREAM START FOR HAMILTON", is cringeworthy.

A good commentator informs and enhances but doesn't distract.

He also was involved in ITVs Pulling Power - a shooting offence if ever there was one.

[homer3uk]

durbster said:

I simply can't bear him any more, so I made this in the hope it inspires a TV manufacturer:

Do you have patent pending, lol.