Classic GP on the BBC

[Scrap Thistlethwayte]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... d-2-monaco

Incredible to see how much has changed especially in the marshalling.

[Barbazza]

It's a shame that they're throwing these out without any warning. When was the first one on?

I'm particularly excited by the fact that they're using a picture of Andrea De Cesaris in a Dallara to advertise it (while simultaneously aware that the idiots that pass for BBC Sport staff these days almost certainly think that they've sourced a picture of a Ferrari)

[DemocalypseNow]

Jonathan Palmer really never knew what he was talking about did he?

"This will be about a minute and a half pitstop here from the Sauber team, replacing that nose" - Frentzen's pistop actually takes 14.8 seconds.

[AndreaModa]

Has he done any commentary at all since 1996? I certainly don't recall any. It's a shame Murray's tenure at the BBC was brought to a close in a partnership with Palmer after such a good relationship with Hunt. Anything would have struggled to match it but jesus did they not approach Warwick or try and lure Watson over from Eurosport? Poor old Jonathan must have been bottom of the list!

[DemocalypseNow]

Has he done any commentary at all since 1996? I certainly don't recall any.

I've heard him do it once since. Vue Cinemas did an experiment years ago (2007 I think), they broadcast the British GP live at a bunch of their cinemas. I had been dragged along on holiday to Yorkshire by my family, and without a TV to hand, nipped across to Leeds to see the race.

I was disappointed to find out they had gone down their own route for commentary instead of borrowing better commentary from elsewhere. Jonathan Palmer was one half of the line-up. I can't remember who the other bloke was. But anyway, he was still utterly hopeless. Even more so than in the nineties, most likely thanks to having spent so much time away from the booth.

[dinizintheoven]

But without Jonathan Palmer in the commentary box, we'd never have had that "he's there because of his money" comment that was immortalised in the podcasts...

I had him down as odds-on to move into the commentary box while the black armbands were still on for James Hunt, because he was the pitlane reporter at the time and it seemed like the logical choice. I seem to remember his pitlane job was taken by Tony Jardine...

[CoopsII]

I thoroughly enjoyed the program especially how interested we all were with DC using MSCs helmet in 1996. The way the footage looked through those old cameras are a million miles from what we have today but they were certainly evocative, memorable and vivid.

[WeirdKerr]

I thoroughly enjoyed the program especially how interested we all were with DC using MSCs helmet in 1996. The way the footage looked through those old cameras are a million miles from what we have today but they were certainly evocative, memorable and vivid.

Funny to think if that happened these days, it wouldn't be allowed "David you cannot use Michael's helmet as it constitutes a change in your helmet design"...,.

[Barbazza]

Has he done any commentary at all since 1996? I certainly don't recall any. It's a shame Murray's tenure at the BBC was brought to a close in a partnership with Palmer after such a good relationship with Hunt. Anything would have struggled to match it but jesus did they not approach Warwick or try and lure Watson over from Eurosport? Poor old Jonathan must have been bottom of the list!

Not exactly a TV commentary, but I went to a club meeting at Donington Park in 2001 and he commentated over the PA on one of his own Formula Palmer Audi (or whatever it was called) races. He was actually pretty good at that!

[WeirdKerr]

Has he done any commentary at all since 1996? I certainly don't recall any. It's a shame Murray's tenure at the BBC was brought to a close in a partnership with Palmer after such a good relationship with Hunt. Anything would have struggled to match it but jesus did they not approach Warwick or try and lure Watson over from Eurosport? Poor old Jonathan must have been bottom of the list!

Not exactly a TV commentary, but I went to a club meeting at Donington Park in 2001 and he commentated over the PA on one of his own Formula Palmer Audi (or whatever it was called) races. He was actually pretty good at that!

Kinda like the vicar doing the same at a church fete or something....

[James1978]

Hearing Palmer now, it feels like he was always just a stopgap between Hunt's death and Brundle stopping racing so he could commentate.

[CoopsII]

Hearing Palmer now, it feels like he was always just a stopgap between Hunt's death and Brundle stopping racing so he could commentate.

Topically, I remember Palmer twenty years ago declaring that now Alesi had got his first win in the bag, now he knew what it took to win, it was the beginning of the winning phase of his career.

He kind of got that wrong but his heart was in the right place.

[Spectoremg]

Great to see all those virtually forgotten names, drivers and cars in the '96 race. And the Brabham (I think) with Patrese at the wheel without a front wing.