Direct from the folk at BBC Television Centre, here’s the full details of the setup confirmed for BBC’s F1 2012 coverage. As revealed last week, James Allen is back in a commentator role with 5 Live F1 and Brundle’s role has been taken over by Ben Edwards. The Beeb must have been busy getting all these folk onboard, what with many of the faces from 2011 heading over to Sky F1.
There may only be 10 races broadcast live by the BBC in 2012, but they’ll no doubt be brilliant productions and a healthy competitor for Sky’s new channel.
Full Details from the Beeb:
Ben Edwards will lead the BBC’s F1 TV commentary team in 2012, taking up the mic alongside co-commentator David Coulthard, and James Allen becomes lead commentator for Radio 5 live.
Gary Anderson joins the TV team as technical analyst, providing expert insight from the pitlane on all the latest developments in strategy and technology from the team garages, and Jennie Gow is announced as pit lane reporter for Radio 5 live.
They join an expert line up whose unrivalled F1 knowledge and experience combines once again on the BBC for the 2012 season.
Jake Humphrey will once again lead the BBC’s Formula 1 coverage on television, with Eddie Jordan reprising his role as primary analyst and David Coulthard continuing to combine punditry duties with commentary commitments. Lee McKenzie returns to bring pit lane expertise, insights and interviews.
The BBC’s Head of Formula 1 Ben Gallop says, “We’re delighted to welcome Ben, James, Gary and Jennie to the BBC presentation team. They bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge, and huge passion for the sport which will help bring the season to life for our audiences on TV, radio and online.”
Ben Edwards is a hugely experienced commentator, well known to motorsport fans. As a former driver and mechanic, he has unparalleled knowledge of the industry and has commentated on F1 for Eurosport, F1 digital + and Sky Sports A1 Grand Prix. Edward’s credits also include Champ Car for Eurosport and ESPN, and is most recently known as the voice of Superleague Formula and of British Touring Car Championship for ITV.
Ben Edwards says “I’m thrilled to be joining the BBC F1 team; it’s a dream come true to be broadcasting from Grands Prix all over the world with such a prestigious broadcaster and such a talented group of people. My first stint as an F1 commentator coincided with David Coulthard’s first full season in F1 as a driver, and I am relishing the opportunity to work with him now in conveying the drama, excitement and passion that is wrapped up in each and every event.”
James Allen has been a respected and authoritative writer, editor and broadcaster in motorsport for over 20 years, and has worked for ESPN and ITV in a variety of roles including pit lane reporter and commentator. During his seven years as lead commentator for ITV the team won three consecutive BAFTA awards and the RTS Sports Programme of the Year award. In 2008 James received an Autosport Award for the coverage of the final laps of the Brazilian Grand Prix. In addition to his commentary role, as F1 correspondent James will bring reports on all things F1 across Radio 5 live throughout the season.
James Allen says “I’m really happy. 5 live is the default setting on my radio at home and in the car, it’s a great institution and I’m proud to be part of it. Anyone who has followed my career knows I love a challenge. This is a time of change in our industry and I see great opportunity here, thanks to the unique place Radio 5 live has in this sport.”
Gary Anderson is the former technical director of the Jordan, Stewart and Jaguar teams in Formula 1 and brings a lifetime of motorsport technical knowledge and experience to the BBC team. He has more than 30 years’ experience in motorsport engineering, starting with the Brabham F1 team, rising to chief mechanic, before moving on to McLaren. He then designed cars in various branches of motorsport before joining Jordan as their technical director for their F1 debut in 1991. He remained there until 1998, before moving on to Stewart, which became Jaguar. Anderson then had a second spell with Jordan before branching out into broadcasting and journalism. Anderson has also raced in Formula Libre.
Jennie Gow has an impressive pedigree spanning over a decade in motorsports broadcasting across both television and radio. Last season she stood in as pit lane reporter for Radio 5 Live’s F1 in Canada and Hungary and presented Silverstone TV at the 2011 British Grand Prix. Prior to that Jennie presented the BBC’s 2010 coverage of MotoGP, and the Jersey Rally for the past four years. Her other credits include presenting the ThunderSport GB bike series, Motocross and Speedway.
The BBC will bring all the key action from the season to viewers, including live TV coverage of ten Grands prix (including Monaco, Silverstone and the season finale from Brazil), extended highlights of the other ten races, and all 20 Grands Prix live on Radio 5 live.
BBC Radio 5 live’s Formula 1 coverage is produced by USP Content.
Quick Facts:
- The following Grands Prix will be live on BBC One and BBC HD in 2012 – China (15 April), Spain (13 May), Monaco (27 May), Europe (24 June), Britain (8 July), Belgium (2 Sept), Singapore (23 April), Korea (14 Oct), Abu Dhabi (4 Nov), Brazil (25 Nov).
- Network TV
- Live Grands Prix
- Qualifying sessions and races live on BBC One and BBC One HD
- One hour evening highlights programme on BBC Three and BBC HD,
- Sundays
- All races and qualifying sessions that start before 1000 to have full repeat on terrestrial TV later in the day
- Other races
- Extended highlights (90 mins) on BBC One and BBC One HD, 5.30pm for European time zone races and (120 mins) 2pm for early morning races and (90 mins) 10.30pm for American time zone races
- Qualifying
- Extended highlights (75 mins) BBC One and BBC One HD, Saturdays at 5.30pm for European time zone Races and 1pm for early morning races and 22.30 for evening races
- *Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying and highlights will be on BBC Two and BBC HD
- Radio
- Formula 1 on BBC Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra:
- Live commentary of every race plus coverage of practice and qualifying sessions
- 5 live Formula 1 on 5 live Sport every Friday night prior to a race previewing all the action with expert analysis and the latest news from the track
- Chequered Flag podcast available to download at bbc.co.uk/5live with expert analysis and reaction from the circuit
- Online/Red Button
- All live race on-track sessions streamed live on Red Button and on the BBC Sport website
- Interactive forum on Red Button for an hour after each live race
- The BBC has a seven-year deal to broadcast F1, which runs from 2012 – 2018 inclusive.
- All broadcast content will be available on the BBC iPlayer
