I didn't rate James Allen as a commentator, however, he is extremely knowledgable about the sport - and was always good as a pit lane reporter. He does get a lot of flack - some of it undeserved.
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I didn't rate James Allen as a commentator, however, he is extremely knowledgable about the sport - and was always good as a pit lane reporter. He does get a lot of flack - some of it undeserved.
Absolutely, and in fact as I've mentioned several times his blog is excellent. Some people are unlucky that they don't have a good voice or intonation for public speaking, and unfortunately for James he's one of them. As a journalist he's right up with the best of them.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
Not a great orator but certainly he was good technically. He had an instant rapport with Damon Hill and Ant at the Hungarian GPs, knew when to shut up and let the other talk and ably filled dead air. Saying that, in the early days there was a sense Brundle didn't feel comfortable being partnered with Allen.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyRAC
I enjoyed the fact that they conducted group interviews, for example on the Forum and the one they did with Ross Brawn before qualifying.
On Legard, well I always think that great commentary is something you can choose to listen to if you want to. As in he's not all in your face like James Allen was, while remaining enthusiastic. I was impressed with him, and also I felt that his relationship with Martin Brundle improved a lot during the weekend.
Also he has a good speaking voice which IMO provides more authority than Allen did.
A lot of people have said he was still in Radio mode. This is true to an extent, but in a way it can be a good thing, because he does decribe a lot of things very well.
All in all a great start. The coverage really brought the atmosphere of F1 to the living room and I hope it continues on in the same vein.
I believe you are right about it being his first time on television.Quote:
Originally Posted by acescribe
Have always been intrigued as to why Jonathan Legard suddenly stopped being the radio commentator in (I think) 2005 with a couple of races to go, thus forcing 5 Live to use the woefully unsuitable Maurice Hamilton as main commentator — he's fine as an analyst, but no more, as that brief stint as the number one proved! But I digress.
At one point I actually wanted an advert break.....but only so I could go for a cigarette knowing I wasn't missing anything....then I remembered that I quit smoking the week before anyway.
You have to choose wisely when to go to the toilet now as well lol!Quote:
Originally Posted by tamburello
Likewise, every time the commentators went quiet, or ran through the race positions, I thought I was about to have time for a piss.Quote:
Originally Posted by tamburello
I found him too authoritative and lacked enthusiasm.Quote:
Originally Posted by woody2goody
It sounded more like reporting than commentary - which is where Legard's strengths lie because he was a brilliant reporter for 5live.
He sounded way too serious at the end of the qualy segments for my liking. I'm not saying he should be shouting and screaming with ecstacy but with the likes of Hindy, Murray, Ben Edwards, Martin Haven you know there's genuine and affectionate enthusiasm and I never quite got that feeling from Legard.
Quite difficult to get out of that mindset. For 12 years in F1 whenever the commentators ran through the positions it meant that they were going to adverts. But now they just keep going.Quote:
Originally Posted by BDunnell
Must have been a bit of a shock for Brundle too, all his commentating career he's been able to have a 3 minute break every 15 minutes or so, not any more!