Profile: Jonathan Legard

He's got the enthusiasm, but does he really have the appeal? The Scrutineer looks at BBC One's Formula One commentator, Jonathan Legard.

When Murray Walker retired after the United States Grand Prix in 2001, Formula One had lost an icon. He wasn't a driver, though. He wasn't even directly involved, really; he was just a very keen observer. Yet after commentating on the sport for over 50 years, his departure left a legacy that many of F1's so-called 'stars' could only dream of. Walker didn't just do motorsport commentary - he defined it.

How do you replace an institution like Walker? ITV tried the subtle approach. In the latter stages of Walker's career, he didn't attend every race. In his absence, his position was taken by pit-lane reporter James Allen, so when the legendary broadcaster hung up his mic, he was the natural replacement.

The problem was, despite being a competant voiceman and very knowledgeable, he was just extremely annoying. So annoying, in fact, that fans created a petition to have him removed. When the BBC regained the rights to Formula One coverage at the beginning of the 2009 season, they were granted their wish.

So Jonathan Legard was announced as the Beeb's lead commentator, with my initial response being a neutral one. I would have preferred 5live's David Croft to get promoted from radio to television, but I'd heard Legard covering football and he was good listen. Also, he had worked in F1 before, which would be key in helping him to get through those first few races. And my school of thought was that anyone was better than Allen.

Fast-forward two years, and sadly I'm not so positive. Legard hasn't developed a chemistry with co-commentator Martin Brundle in the way that viewers wished he would. I would even go as far as to say that Allen shared more in common with him. On top of that, The Welshman often finds himself behind Brundle, missing onscreen details that are so obvious to the armchair fan that it has them wincing with embarrassment.  I think I lost count of the amount of times he confused Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi in 2010. The awkward silence in the commentary box that followed these gaffes meant that Brundle had noticed as well.



It's not solely the errors, though. I just find his commentary dull. I look back to the days when I started watching Formula One, and there truly is no comparison. Walker made errors as well, but he brought the coverage into your front room with his personality. His excitable nature made the most mundane of Grands Prix still enjoyable to watch. It's a quality that Legard simply doesn't have.

I don't want to be too unkind, as it's not all negative. He does have in-depth knowledge of the sport, and his enthusiasm is plain for all to see. His colleagues have said that while they enjoy a relaxing evening during a race-weekend, Legard is back in the paddock, discussing tyre temperatures with engineers and ever-seeking to broaden his knowledge.

Raw enthusiasm can only get you so far though. Legard's a decent commentator, and I'm sure a nice guy in the bargain, but Formula One needs a change in this, the most exciting of eras. But please, let him down gently.

Forget Red Bull; the Beeb is the most successful team in F1

On Sunday, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel was crowned the youngest ever Formula One world champion, bringing to a conclusion one of the most entertaining seasons in the sport's history. British fans have been taken through it every step of the way by the BBC, and The Scrutineer casts an eye at their coverage from final race of the year in Abu Dhabi.

For sheer sporting theatre, it doesn't get more intense. Entering the final race weekend of a pulsating season, Formula One still had the opportunity to crown four drivers as its champion. Like all great storylines, there had to be a fitting finale; but for fans of the world's most glamorous sport, whatever the standard of finish, it wouldn't do justice to such a memorable year.

2010 was a season where F1 demonstrated each and every one of its endearing qualities: mesmerising driving, intense rivalry, controversy in abundance, on and off-track drama and wheel-to-wheel racing. When such a season unfolds, the quality of the television coverage becomes that little bit more important. Thankfully for British fans, the Beeb delivered.

Ever since it was announced  in early 2008 that Auntie had regained the rights to F1 coverage from ITV, I couldn't help but be excited. Despite the latter's coverage always being adequate and often being insightful, I had dreamed of the sport's return to its original home. For all of ITV's efforts, sport on the BBC has always had the edge. Having seen football, cricket, tennis and snooker enjoy superb coverage on our flagship broadcaster, the prospect of my favourite sport filling the airtime over summer weekends was mouth-watering.

They haven't disappointed. Entering the Abu Dhabi weekend, I was eager to see what gems the production team had mustered for the season finale. But for all of 21st century television technology, you still need that human touch for the optimum viewing experience. The likeable triumvirate of Jake Humphrey, David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan provide just that.

Humphrey, fresh-faced and eager in the typical Beeb mould, fronts the coverage. It's a role he's certainly grown into, meandering through the show with a successful blend of assured knowledge and boyish humour. Unlike his predecessors at ITV, Humphrey has the balance of affability and authority that is key in a role such as this. F1 is a subject evidently close to his heart, but his conscious effort to remain 'the link man' rather than spouting opinions left, right and centre is admirable.

That job falls to his broadcasting henchmen. 'DC' and 'EJ', as Humphrey affectionately calls them, are as diametrically opposite in personality as is possible between two human beings. If you were to travel to the deepest lands of Scandinavia and introduce the people to an Amazonian native from Brazil, they would share more common ground than these two.

Coulthard is ever the diplomat. Considered in his delivery, he is still struggling to shake off the management-speak style that rubs off on you after eight years with McLaren. Self-conscious yet confident, the Scot is the man Humphrey turns to when in need of some calm assurance.

Then there's Jordan. Controversial, excitable, bouncing Eddie Jordan. After 13 years of entertaining the paddock as chief of the vibrant Jordan GP, the colourful Irishman turned his hand to punditry. It always seemed the natural next step.

Their on-screen relationship has become the cornerstone of BBC's coverage. In the pre-race programme in Abu Dhabi, DC and EJ were dispatched to Red Bull and Ferrari respectively to try and sniff out some gossip before the action got underway. Coulthard politely enquired about the availability of a team member for interview; Jordan, brash and fearless, jumped about with excitement as he interrogated the Scuderia's PR guru Luca Colajanni.

There are more strings to the BBC bow, of course. Trusted former ITV employee Ted Kravitz joined Lee McKenzie as pitlane reporters, and each bring their own qualities to the party. Commentator Jonathan Legard didn't have big boots to fill with ITV's enthusiastic but generally unpopular James Allen, but his in-depth knowledge keeps viewers informed as the race unfolds.

The real jewel in the crown for the BBC, however, is summariser and grid-walker Martin Brundle. Using experience gained from 12 years racing in the sport, Brundle made his name as sidekick to Murray Walker in the ITV commentary box. Since then, he has become a master of his trade, able to impart his considerable knowledge in a way easily understandable to the average viewer. The term 'summariser' doesn't really do his job justice; for many years, Brundle has conveyed essential information with concision and expertise, and helped many an F1 fan, myself included, along the way.

Of course, what Brundle is most famous for is his 'grid-walks', where he spends ten minutes striding the busy grid, interviewing whomever he can get hold of. He confessed that his Abu Dhabi walk was the 'maddest' in all 14 years of doing them. In what made hilarious viewing, Brundle took Jordan with him, and proceeded in negotiating a track so crammed with photographers, team members, celebrities and Arabian royalty that it resembled raceday at Monaco.

That was just one of a few show highlights, the most memorable of which was an excellent feature showing Sir Stiring Moss and Murray Walker reviewing the season. To hear Walker, a man who is proud to have watched every Grand Prix since 1950, say that 2010 was the most exciting season he's seen just goes to prove that all the hype is entirely justified.

To finish, I'll leave you with a clip to the BBC's post-race Forum, which includes some brilliant scenes as Humphrey, Jordan and Coulthard struggle to get an interview with the newly-crowned world champion. It's well worth a watch.