Grand Prix (TV programme)

Grand Prix is a British television programme based on the Formula One World Championship. It had three main presenters during its history: Murray Walker from 1978 to 1996, Jake Humphrey from 2009 to 2012 and Suzi Perry from 2013 to 2015. Among the more occasional hosts were Steve Rider, Des Lynam, Sue Barker and Lee McKenzie.

Grand Prix
1994–1995 opening titles
Presented byMurray Walker (1978–1996)
Steve Rider (1985–1996)
Harry Carpenter (1978–1980)
Des Lynam (1980–1985)
Sue Barker (1994–1996)
Jake Humphrey (2009–2012)
Suzi Perry (2013–2015)
StarringJonathan Palmer (1990–1993)
Tony Jardine (1994–1996)
Ted Kravitz (2009–2011)
Lee McKenzie (2009–2015)
Gary Anderson (2012–2013)
Tom Clarkson (2013–2015)
Narrated byMurray Walker (1978–1996)
James Hunt (1979–1993)
Jonathan Palmer (1993–1996)
Jonathan Legard (2009–2010)
Martin Brundle (2009–2011)
David Coulthard (2011–2015)
Ben Edwards (2012–2015)
Opening theme"The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Production
Running time
  • First run:
    Qualifying: 80 minutes
    Pre-race: 5 to 15 minutes
    Race: 1.5 to 2 hours (depending on race length)
    Highlights 25 to 50 minutes
  • Second run:
    Qualifying: 90–150 minutes
    Pre-race: 40–60 minutes
    Race: 2 hours (depending on race length)
    Post Race 15–60 minutes
    Highlights 45–75 minutes
Release
Original networkBBC One
BBC Two
BBC Three
BBC HD
BBC Red Button
Original release
  • First run: 7 May 1978 – 13 October 1996
  • Second run: 27 March 2009 – 29 November 2015

Production

In the early days of the programme, all races were commentated at BBC Television Centre in London due to the high costs of travelling to races with live broadcasts done on location.[1][2] The team would not usually travel to non-European races to commentate unless another broadcaster paid for the travel expenses. Murray Walker would usually be flown to the location of the tracks to record a short scene before returning to England to watch the race from London with some broadcasts having commentary live with highlights aired or recorded commentary in highlights. On occasions the BBC employed a "ghost commentator" which was someone who would be in touch with the production team in London and gained access to timing monitors so that cameras could record what was occurring off the track. The first "ghost commentator" was Mark Fogarty with Joe Saward taking over in the early 1990s.[3]

Conception

Following the excitement and interest of the 1976 Formula One season, the BBC decided to cover all races from 1978. The BBC originally wanted to have Raymond Baxter as commentator but his commitments with Tomorrow's World and air shows that aired on BBC taking his priority, BBC had Murray Walker on their list as well and Walker got the job.

History

1978–1996

The first broadcast of the programme came at the 1978 Monaco Grand Prix.[4] The corporation had initially shown the odd race that featured on the calendar before they showed some of the races live in Sunday Grandstand and the rest as highlights in Grand Prix. The show had featured one of the most iconic theme tunes in sport, with Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain".[5] 1979 saw James Hunt join the commentary booth alongside Walker after Hunt announced his retirement from racing that year. By the 1990s all of the European races were broadcast live with the summer races shown as part of Sunday Grandstand, with highlights on the Grand Prix programme. Some races were shown on Grand Prix due to either race times in the morning/evening or because Grandstand was showing another major event at the same time. 1992 saw Jonathan Palmer join as a pit reporter for the live races but following the 1993 Canadian Grand Prix, Hunt died from a heart attack and was replaced in the commentary box by Jonathan Palmer. For the following race in France, BBC aired a tribute show to Hunt following their highlights show. In 1995, all the races were shown live and all qualifying sessions were shown live in 1996. previously qualifying was shown as a brief report during Grandstand, apart from qualifying for the British Grand Prix which was generally shown live and in full. Many of these live races were fronted by either Steve Rider or Sue Barker.

End of Grand Prix

In 1995 it was announced that the BBC had lost the television broadcast rights to Formula One to ITV for the 1997 season. Murray Walker would continue in his role as the lead commentator.[6] The final race broadcast by the programme was the 1996 Japanese Grand Prix in which viewers saw Damon Hill win his only world championship. The loss of coverage was an example of BBC Sport department's decline in the late 1990s.

2009–2011

In March 2008, ITV announced the coverage would be transferred to the BBC from the 2009 season.

2012–2015

In July 2011, BBC announced that half their races would be live from 2012 and got a contract to 2018 with Sky Sports covering all races. Martin Brundle and Ted Kravitz left BBC for Sky and the end of 2011 and were replaced by Ben Edwards as lead commentator and former Jordan Grand Prix designer Gary Anderson joining as reporter and technical analyst. Jake Humphrey continued to host, Eddie Jordan analysed on live races and David Coulthard stayed as colour commentator. Humphrey was forced to skip Canada and Europe due to him hosting Euro 2012 for BBC's Match of the Day and then skipped Germany and Hungary due to him hosting the 2012 Olympics for BBC, Lee McKenzie filled in for him at these races and her role was taken by Tom Clarkson. Humphrey left at the end of 2012 to join BT Sport and was replaced by Suzi Perry, Allan McNish joined as analyst and Clarkson joined full time. BBC aired all three practice session for their live races on BBC Two or BBC Three. Anderson left at the end of 2013. The BBC kept their remaining staff for 2014 and 2015.

Grand Prix axed

In late 2015, BBC wanted a budget cut of £21 million to the sports department. In December 2015, BBC axed Grand Prix as part of their budget cuts and was replaced by Channel 4 from 2016.[7]

Some episodes are still available but hidden on the BBC's website.

Broadcast history

Races

Here's the history of the broadcasts BBC did on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC HD, or BBC Red Button.[8]

Year Grand Prix Coverage Channel Host Lap-by-lap Colour commentators Pit reporter
1995 Brazilian Live BBC Two Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer
Martin Brundle
Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Argentine Live BBC Two Dougie Donnelly Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
San Marino Live BBC Two Steve Rider 1 Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Spanish Live BBC Two Sue Barker Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Monaco Live BBC Two Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC One Murray Walker
Canadian Live BBC Two Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC One Murray Walker
French Live BBC Two Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
British Live BBC Two Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two
German Live BBC One Sue Barker Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Hungarian Live BBC One Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Belgian Live BBC One Sue Barker Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Italian Live BBC Two Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Portuguese Live BBC Two Sue Barker Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
European Live BBC One Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Pacific Live BBC Two Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Japanese Live BBC Two Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Australian Live BBC Two Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer
Alan Jones
Barry Sheene
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
1996 Australian Live BBC Two Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Brazilian Live BBC Two Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Argentine Live BBC Two Sue Barker Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
European Live BBC Two Sue Barker Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
San Marino Live BBC Two Sue Barker Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Monaco Live BBC One Sue Barker Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Spanish Live BBC Two Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Canadian Live BBC Two Sue Barker Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
French Live BBC Two Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
British Live BBC Two Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
German Live BBC One Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Hungarian Live BBC One Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Belgian Live BBC One Sue Barker Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two Murray Walker
Italian Live BBC Two Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two
Portuguese Live BBC Two Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two
Japanese Live BBC Two Steve Rider Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer Tony Jardine
Highlights BBC Two

^1 Because these races were aired live on Sunday Grandstand, Steve Rider hosted on site and Sue Barker hosted from BBC Television Centre in London.

Documentaries

Date Documentary Channel Host Guests Programme Information
25 December 1992 Nigel Mansell 1992 BBC Two Steve Rider Nigel Mansell
Frank Williams
Nigel Mansell's Dominance in 1992 driving for Williams.
4 July 1993 James Hunt Tribute BBC Two Murray Walker Lord Hesketh
Niki Lauda
Nigel Mansell
Ayrton Senna
Sir Jackie Stewart
Tribute to James Hunt.
4 May 1994 Ayrton Senna Tribute BBC Two Murray Walker
Steve Rider
Richard West
Ron Dennis
Sir Jackie Stewart
Nigel Mansell
Tribute to Ayrton Senna after his death at the San Marino Grand Prix.
30 December 1995 Schumacher BBC Two Steve Rider Damon Hill
Flavio Briatore
Martin Brundle
Murray Walker
Michael Schumacher
John Watson
David Coulthard
Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Ross Brawn
Jochen Mass
John Postlethwaite
Mary Spillane
Johnny Herbert
Jonathan Palmer
Willi Weber
Michael Schumacher's dominance in 1995 driving for Benetton.
15 October 1996 Damon Hill World Champion BBC Two Steve Rider Damon Hill
Eddie Jordan
Bette Hill
Johnny Herbert
Jon Nicholson
George Harrison
Nigel Mansell
Patrick Head
Frank Williams
Alain Prost
David Coulthard
Damon Hill's Dominance in 1996 driving for Williams.

Notable moments

References

  1. Taylor, Simon (April 2011). "Lunch with...Murray Walker". Motor Sport.
  2. F1 Racing, Issue: April 2012, Page 35
  3. Saward, Joe (1 September 1996). "Behind the scenes at the BBC". grandprix.com. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  4. "BBC Two England - 7 May 1978 - BBC Genome". bbc.co.uk.
  5. "BBC F1 - Formula One Racing". www.crash.net. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  6. F1 Racing, Issue: September 2011, Page 33
  7. "The BBC wins rights to UK Formula One coverage". formula1.com.
  8. "F1 ratings". Autosport.com.
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