Martin Brundle Interview re: BBC Commentary
Discussion
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88930
Autosport said:
Martin Brundle thinks his BBC commentary box tie-up with David Coulthard this year will prove to be a huge success - despite scepticism in some quarters about having two former drivers working alongside each other.
The BBC announced earlier this week that Brundle was being promoted to the lead commentator's role in 2011, with Coulthard slotting in alongside him to help provide expert analysis.
That move has led some to question whether having two drivers is the best policy for the BBC – while some have suggested that the new role will be too much for Brundle to take onboard.
Brundle himself is convinced, however, that he will have no problems in adapting to the new position – and is equally sure that Coulthard will really thrive alongside him.
"I read somewhere, this ridiculous article, that it would be an unimaginable strain," Brundle said on stage at the AUTOSPORT International Show.
"For me, an unimaginable strain is fighting in Afghanistan or bringing up a child in the middle of Africa – that is what means to me - not chatting to a few mates on the grid and then going and watching a sport I love from the TV commentary box. I have the best job in the world."
Brundle confirmed that his trademark grid walks would continue in 2011, but they would not take place at every race.
"I will do half the grid walks or something, and I am ready to change on that. I have done it for 14 years and there are only so many ways that you can run up and down 24 cars and a safety car and keep coming up with fresh material. It is not actually in my nature to go barging in and being rude in other people's interviews!
"99 out of 100 people who come up to me anywhere in the world say they love the grid walk. It has become my signature, so of course I will do it. There are some tracks where the geography from the grid to the commentary box [is quite hard]. Sometimes we have to walk a bit then we have to take a scooter through a tunnel, somebody is waiting at the bottom of a lift, we press a button I go up nine floors, and I get in the commentary box just before the race starts. I am happy to give up a few grids. At ITV I used to do two out of three, which is about right frankly."
Speaking about his new partnership with Coulthard, Brundle said: "I have got David coming up and between us we have started over 400 grands prix, and attended over 700.
"We know our sport, and we have got to entertain. We have to inform and I know we will be comfortable...I am very good mates with DC and we haven't seen the best of DC yet by a long way. That ping pong match is not his forte, he will still be doing that but that is not his best work.
"DC has got such a knowledge of F1 and such banter to go with it, that I am confident he will have plenty to say about a race. I can do the shouty bits when I have to, and yes it is a different job so I will do it differently - but I won't pretend I won't know what I am talking about.
"I won't give him gormless questions like, 'oh that right rear tyre looks a bit odd doesn't it David'. We'll discuss it among ourselves. We will agree, disagree, we will throw to the pit lane and we will tell the story of F1."
Is it just me, or is that last paragraph a bit telling of previous commentators?The BBC announced earlier this week that Brundle was being promoted to the lead commentator's role in 2011, with Coulthard slotting in alongside him to help provide expert analysis.
That move has led some to question whether having two drivers is the best policy for the BBC – while some have suggested that the new role will be too much for Brundle to take onboard.
Brundle himself is convinced, however, that he will have no problems in adapting to the new position – and is equally sure that Coulthard will really thrive alongside him.
"I read somewhere, this ridiculous article, that it would be an unimaginable strain," Brundle said on stage at the AUTOSPORT International Show.
"For me, an unimaginable strain is fighting in Afghanistan or bringing up a child in the middle of Africa – that is what means to me - not chatting to a few mates on the grid and then going and watching a sport I love from the TV commentary box. I have the best job in the world."
Brundle confirmed that his trademark grid walks would continue in 2011, but they would not take place at every race.
"I will do half the grid walks or something, and I am ready to change on that. I have done it for 14 years and there are only so many ways that you can run up and down 24 cars and a safety car and keep coming up with fresh material. It is not actually in my nature to go barging in and being rude in other people's interviews!
"99 out of 100 people who come up to me anywhere in the world say they love the grid walk. It has become my signature, so of course I will do it. There are some tracks where the geography from the grid to the commentary box [is quite hard]. Sometimes we have to walk a bit then we have to take a scooter through a tunnel, somebody is waiting at the bottom of a lift, we press a button I go up nine floors, and I get in the commentary box just before the race starts. I am happy to give up a few grids. At ITV I used to do two out of three, which is about right frankly."
Speaking about his new partnership with Coulthard, Brundle said: "I have got David coming up and between us we have started over 400 grands prix, and attended over 700.
"We know our sport, and we have got to entertain. We have to inform and I know we will be comfortable...I am very good mates with DC and we haven't seen the best of DC yet by a long way. That ping pong match is not his forte, he will still be doing that but that is not his best work.
"DC has got such a knowledge of F1 and such banter to go with it, that I am confident he will have plenty to say about a race. I can do the shouty bits when I have to, and yes it is a different job so I will do it differently - but I won't pretend I won't know what I am talking about.
"I won't give him gormless questions like, 'oh that right rear tyre looks a bit odd doesn't it David'. We'll discuss it among ourselves. We will agree, disagree, we will throw to the pit lane and we will tell the story of F1."
Life Saab Itch said:
"I won't give him gormless questions like, 'oh that right rear tyre looks a bit odd doesn't it David'. We'll discuss it among ourselves. We will agree, disagree, we will throw to the pit lane and we will tell the story of F1."
Is it just me, or is that last paragraph a bit telling of previous commentators?At the moment, though this could well change come the day, DC and Brundle doing the commentary is something I'm really looking forward to for 2011. These words from MB only serve to add to this... 
However, his grid walks must stay and are "the stuff of legend" to quote myself from years ago. Let DC handle the starts if MB can't make it to the box in time I say.
However, his grid walks must stay and are "the stuff of legend" to quote myself from years ago. Let DC handle the starts if MB can't make it to the box in time I say.
This is the more telling regarding the last few years. " I can do the shouty bits when I have to, and yes it is a different job so I will do it differently - but I won't pretend I won't know what I am talking about"
Sounds just like the style we have been missing since the Walker/Hunt days where you had a conversation going on, good stuff.
Sounds just like the style we have been missing since the Walker/Hunt days where you had a conversation going on, good stuff.
Life Saab Itch said:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88930
It's a balancing of keeping the hardcore and lesser/casual fans attentive because motor racing is technical sport with numerous variables and whether he likes it or not there will be retards, newcomers, casuals watching.Autosport said:
"I won't give him gormless questions like, 'oh that right rear tyre looks a bit odd doesn't it David'. We'll discuss it among ourselves. We will agree, disagree, we will throw to the pit lane and we will tell the story of F1."
Is it just me, or is that last paragraph a bit telling of previous commentators?TVR Moneypit said:
johnfelstead said:
Sounds just like the style we have been missing since the Walker/Hunt days where you had a conversation going on, good stuff.
If MB & DC can be 90% as good as MW & JH then I'll be a very happy man.
Im with you Eric. The worry for me is not that MB feels the need to change his commentary style, he recognises that changing something before it gets tired is a good thing, but that he feels the need 'to do the shouty bits' at all, shirley this kind of potential contrived aspect faux passion is where Allen particularly and legard, in trying to out do each other and walker went partly wrong. I blame Jonathan Pearce!
If the excitement's there it will either come naturally, with or without deliberate shouty! Its sound like there's a commentators handbook or a producer in someones ear saying 'right, we need shouty on this bit, come on more, more'. Although that MB uses such a disdainful term as 'shouty' rather than the handbook's 'vocal enthusiasm' or whatever suggests that MB won't be doing it long, or will be doing it his own way shortly thereafter.
It's also plainly obvious, by being so public, that as expected Brundle hated, or quickly came to hate working with legard, and you can understand some of MB's motivation to lead, now, he was sick of the commentary (gormless) hospital pass questions, and and JL's lack of knowledge and/or (I wonder if JL was even a fan of msport before getting the job) a lack of enthusiasm (which Jake makes up with) or even if JL was not even a very good consummate 'professional'. I could see someone like MB having no time for that.
In my small way i found sometimes with when media professionals are thrown together with enthusiasts coming from a sport to the media, who really know their sport, and have a genuine passion, that they both can end up resenting each other, one cos they think other don't deserve to be here, and are just interested in pickin up the cheque & the other for going the extra mile but don't have all the technical knowledge or make them look bad by doing more than they are contracted to do, cos they are clearly "into it". Not always but sometimes.
I wonder if JL was never on the red button, never did a interview on a race weekend cos he would only do what he was contractually obliged to do. And was straight out of the circuit after a broadcast? Or had his relationship with MB deteriorated so quickly and to such an extent that they could only bear being tOgether in the comm box for the qualifying session or race, before MB was out the door, and JL off to the hotel/airport/media centre?
If the excitement's there it will either come naturally, with or without deliberate shouty! Its sound like there's a commentators handbook or a producer in someones ear saying 'right, we need shouty on this bit, come on more, more'. Although that MB uses such a disdainful term as 'shouty' rather than the handbook's 'vocal enthusiasm' or whatever suggests that MB won't be doing it long, or will be doing it his own way shortly thereafter.
It's also plainly obvious, by being so public, that as expected Brundle hated, or quickly came to hate working with legard, and you can understand some of MB's motivation to lead, now, he was sick of the commentary (gormless) hospital pass questions, and and JL's lack of knowledge and/or (I wonder if JL was even a fan of msport before getting the job) a lack of enthusiasm (which Jake makes up with) or even if JL was not even a very good consummate 'professional'. I could see someone like MB having no time for that.
In my small way i found sometimes with when media professionals are thrown together with enthusiasts coming from a sport to the media, who really know their sport, and have a genuine passion, that they both can end up resenting each other, one cos they think other don't deserve to be here, and are just interested in pickin up the cheque & the other for going the extra mile but don't have all the technical knowledge or make them look bad by doing more than they are contracted to do, cos they are clearly "into it". Not always but sometimes.
I wonder if JL was never on the red button, never did a interview on a race weekend cos he would only do what he was contractually obliged to do. And was straight out of the circuit after a broadcast? Or had his relationship with MB deteriorated so quickly and to such an extent that they could only bear being tOgether in the comm box for the qualifying session or race, before MB was out the door, and JL off to the hotel/airport/media centre?
Edited by Northern Munkee on Saturday 15th January 10:49
I'm keen to hear them. My first reaction was that it would be good, but that Coulthard is better as a pundit. Has there been mention of who will fill in with Jake & EJ - will DC just be doing a lot of running in between? Like most I'd have liked to have heard David Croft try it, and I wonder if there'll be a bigger place for Anthony Davidson now because again during the Practice Commentary & Forum his opinion is usually pretty good.
Having two drivers though and the comment Brundle made does sound like it could drive away the average punter for watching? F1 has had a patch where many people - even die-hard motoring enthusiasts completely lost interest due to the processions. Recently the likes of Hamilton and Button's success have no doubt helped bring people back to it. I wonder how many need the commentary to be almost like being spoon-fed. I guess what I'm trying to say is also like saying can you imagine what would happen to the audience figures of Top Gear if it tried to be all technical and information about reviewing cars again?
Having two drivers though and the comment Brundle made does sound like it could drive away the average punter for watching? F1 has had a patch where many people - even die-hard motoring enthusiasts completely lost interest due to the processions. Recently the likes of Hamilton and Button's success have no doubt helped bring people back to it. I wonder how many need the commentary to be almost like being spoon-fed. I guess what I'm trying to say is also like saying can you imagine what would happen to the audience figures of Top Gear if it tried to be all technical and information about reviewing cars again?
I don't read that it will be now the purist only and huge lumps of technical jargon at all, turning off the general populace at all. What he is saying is you will have 2 guys who know their subject, where as legard didn't, furthermore the implication is legard for his lack of know how was not the great communicator either.
It remains to be seen whether MB and DC are great communicators, but think of it as (Dr.) Brian Cox (not the fine scottish actor) being put on TV to front a tv prog about the origins of the universe rather than... say Jonathan Ross. Though that's unfair on Ross, for all his faults he be way more entertaining commentating F1 than legard was! Although reading ph would be frightening...
It remains to be seen whether MB and DC are great communicators, but think of it as (Dr.) Brian Cox (not the fine scottish actor) being put on TV to front a tv prog about the origins of the universe rather than... say Jonathan Ross. Though that's unfair on Ross, for all his faults he be way more entertaining commentating F1 than legard was! Although reading ph would be frightening...
If DC and Brundle dumb down their commentary, then it'll be a massive mistake. TV companies love to assume that 90% of their audience is moronic and whilst that might be true of the X-factor, dumbing down sporting commentary is a dangerous game.
Would you assume that football fans need to have the offside rule explained every game? No? Then why should F1 fans need to be spoonfed?
I'm looking forward to these two getting in the commentary box for precisely the reason that they won't treat the viewer like a complete monghead unlike Legard.
Would you assume that football fans need to have the offside rule explained every game? No? Then why should F1 fans need to be spoonfed?
I'm looking forward to these two getting in the commentary box for precisely the reason that they won't treat the viewer like a complete monghead unlike Legard.
I'm just glad the BBC haven't stuck their formula of 'expert' and 'commentator' and are prepared to give this a go. I'm remaining open-minded about the whole thing, but given Brundle seems an intelligent sort of chap I think he'll find the right balance pretty quickly. DC just needs to avoid being too PC I think.
Regardless of the support that Legard seems to have had coming out in the media over the past few weeks, with other (NUJ...) journalists prattling on about needing professional journalists in commentary roles, I'm simply not convinced that there was ever a need for that.
Provided they're not completely personality-less muppets, let the experts talk about what they know but only *when* they need to say it. Doesn't need constant background drivel and 'scene-setting' at the beginning. That used to drive me up the bloody wall when either Legard or James Allen did it.
Anyhoo, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Brundle told the BBC to make a choice between losing Legard or losing Brundle.
Regardless of the support that Legard seems to have had coming out in the media over the past few weeks, with other (NUJ...) journalists prattling on about needing professional journalists in commentary roles, I'm simply not convinced that there was ever a need for that.
Provided they're not completely personality-less muppets, let the experts talk about what they know but only *when* they need to say it. Doesn't need constant background drivel and 'scene-setting' at the beginning. That used to drive me up the bloody wall when either Legard or James Allen did it.
Anyhoo, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Brundle told the BBC to make a choice between losing Legard or losing Brundle.
I have no doubt that MB will be first-rate as the lead commentator. He is a clever chap and will know what is required. I hope DC will be able to relax a little; he can occasionally appear dour, but I think the partnership with Brundle will work in his favour. There is plenty of potential for some class banter between the pair of them.
I'm not too fussed about losing a few grid walks. Apart from conveying a bit of atmosphere, it is rare that much of interest is gleaned.
I'm not too fussed about losing a few grid walks. Apart from conveying a bit of atmosphere, it is rare that much of interest is gleaned.
I think that the partnership could work very well. I like both of their efforts in their current roles but DC needs to stop being the Red Bull spokesperson. If he can sort out that conflict of interest, it should be a great partnership. Perhaps MB can pull him up on it now and again in a way that only MB can get away with - sort of a "ok Mr Red Bull, but what do you think really without the bankroll".
Could be a good year.
Could be a good year.
IforB said:
Would you assume that football fans need to have the offside rule explained every game? No? Then why should F1 fans need to be spoonfed?
I guess the reason is that there are a lot more casual viewers of motor racing for broadcasters to attract than there are casual viewers of football.Without attracting these viewers, it wouldn't be worth the BBC spending so much on their coverage or even paying for the rights.
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