Jake's moving to BT Vision's Football coverage. So much for people thinking he was BBC through and through. This should present some interesting opinions! Personally I think it's a bit of a shame but then, perhaps it was inevitable with Sky gaining majority control over the F1 broadcast in the UK. Perhaps this is the beginning of the BBC also letting go of F1 altogether?
Hardly surprised, BBC's coverage this season has been appalling and the fact that they prioritised sending him to the Euros over covering F1 was a big sign that the beeb and himself were becoming disinterested with F1
With the fact that the BBC don't have to cover the Olympics next year I hoped they might reconsider their F1 coverage. Increasingly looks like they won't.
I hope that this move is more about BT's broadcasting ambitions than it is about the BBC letting go of F1. I can't say that with any confidence though.
I thought Jake was pretty good last season, but it was probably down to the whole team! This year the BBC have been pretty poor and Jake appears to have magnified some of his annoying traits that started to show at the end of last term.
I disagree with this, SRR. In my opinion, from what I have seen, the BBC coverage of F1 has been far superior to Sky's, notwithstanding that they 'sold out' to the F1 fan in the first place by doing a deal which effectively prevented other free-to-view channels â such as Channel 4 â competing for coverage rights with Sky. The BBC are extremely capable; but somehow this makes their apparent lack of long-term interest even more unpalatable. As for Jake Humphrey: I think it's a great shame. He was quite an asset. By his second appearance, he had convinced me that he was very good indeed. Genuinely enthusiastic, intelligent and acutely aware; yet at the same able to combine a quick wit, with interest and light-hearted humour, it is difficult to conceive of a better all-round front man. To me, he was (and is) vastly superior to Sky's equivalent.
The BBC still manages to make a live presentation something of an event, IMO, and Humphrey plays a significant part in that because he's very inclusive and connective. Sky's presentation is just tedious, distant and ordinary, like everything they produce, and the commentary team is dire. I've stopped watching F1 on Sky. You can't blame Humphrey, though, given the contempt with which his employer views F1 and, given Bahrain, unpunished rule breaking, bribery and corruption, the constant cheating, sniping and double-crossing from the teams, and what is, essentially, a complete waste - in the name of entertainment - of a resource that costs us £1.40/litre, you can't really blame the BBC for holding such an opinion. If the BBC presentation goes downhill without Humphrey, or if they give up on it altogether, I doubt if I'd be that bothered. Good luck to Humphrey - I think he's a decent human being and a pretty good TV presenter.
I thought ever since they decided to share with sky and only show 10 races that them pulling out of F1 altogether was inevitable. I thought we would get 2 seasons of BBC left maximum.
naaaah! get good ol' Jim Rosenthal I must say the BBC is so much better presented even without Jake and with sexy Lee <love> in the helm. The highlights programs are also very enjoyable and worthwhile to watch
I agree. He will fill that stupid, doesnt know much about F1 representation of the Fairweather fan Role Jake and Simon do very well.
I can't think of anyone currently on the BBC's books who could replace him. Actually i can, but it would divide opinion. Jeremy Clarkson.
You flatter me hugely, Westy. Thanks for the thought, but I'd be completely useless as a presenter. That said, I'm quite certain I could do a decent job of commentary when compared with Legard. Then again, so could you and at roughly half the membership of this forum! Thanks. But I'd let you all down doing Jake's job.
