Then I apologise pN. I don't watch that much live unfortunately, and as I hear her today on recorded stuff she seems to have her feet on the ground. From memory I thought it was a shock when Hislop left the BBC? Balding also gets her facts wrong I think.
Francome is going by choice apparently which is a shame. does make you wonder who else they will get rid of though
Bustino, don't apologise! Everyone is entitled to their opinion, mine is that Lydia is useless! Of course everyone gets their facts wrong from time to time, but Lydia is one of those (and others do it too, I agree) that seems to do it more regularly than others!
The current list is: John McCririck - Time to move on Tanya Stephenson - Terrible delivery Tom Lee - Bit of a non-event Jim McGrath - Capable of good insightful analysis IMO Mike Cattermole - Just book a hotel with Emma Emma Spencer - Just book a hotel with Catt Alistair Down - Fat Al not everyone's cup of tea but possible room, maybe doing some features, narrating something, etc... Alice Plunkett - Enthusiastic but so am I Lesley Graham - No. No. No. No. No. Derek Thomson - No. Time to move on. John Francome - I'd like to see him stay but he's a definite gonna out of loyalty to previous producer Nick Luck - Keeper. Ideal for the secondary presenter IMO. Who goes is relatively easy I think, who is brought in is much harder. I'd like to see Blading doing the anchor role, Luck doing the secondary presenter/interviewer/etc role. Then a couple to analyse the races/paddock/etc. Far from convinced that an additional 'betting bloke' is necessary. All within the team should be able to incorporate it into the programme without the need to show a page with all the prices and talk through them. I am assuming that viewers have eyes. Any thoughts? I think it is really important that we get this right. It has the scope and potential to drag racing into the more general conscious.
Nick Luck will not leave his ridiculously well paid RUK role Agree with all of your points - except Francombe he is completely useless. Sure he knows his stuff but the constant getting horses names wrong and last pieces of form is unacceptable and he does this every week. Complete laziness
Agree on both accounts. Luck is perfect for the role if they can get him but it depends whether his RUK commitments allow. As for Francome, yes but I think he is good and just needs a boot in the behind. To a certain extent McGrath is the same. The duo are capable of good stuff but fear both have become too 'comfortable' in their roles.
I thought Clare B did a great job during the Olympics. Nice to see her continuing to do the racing despite BBC losing their coverage. Has it been confirmed that Willie C will NOT be going over with her? Hope C4 keep Ted Walsh for the Festival. He's brilliant.
I'm very happy that C4 has got Claire Balding apart from her all the other presenters are an embarressment. So much so that now I record my racing coverage, except Cheltenham. That way I can fast forward to the important bits, the racing. I don't bet so I don't need to watch it live. Just wish there was a half decent commentator. Peter O'Sullivan spoiled it for everyone though because there will never be another. Can we have commentators like him who show no bias and treat every horse in the race the same. Simon Holt being the main culprit, especially with the Nichols and Walsh combination. How he got praise from Fat Al for saying a Midlands and Welsh National winner would stay on at the end of the Gold Cup amazed me. It wasn't rocket science.
I think Hoiles and Holt are excellent for what it's worth. The commentary team is the last of their worries.
I think Balding is a fantastic presenter and we should be grateful she has stayed with racing after her Olympics success. She also knows the sport backwards. Would love to see Big Mac and Emma what's her name go. But they should do all they can to keep Francome and Alastair Down. I also like Nick Luck but would not be surprised if he sought to raise his profile beyond racing. He is a very gifted broadcaster. Amazed that Bustino likes that Hislop woman.
