BBC Formula One TV coverage

In March 2008, it was announced that the BBC would take over coverage of Formula One from ITV after a 12 year absence since they lost the rights at the start of the 1997 season. It was later revealed that ITV had opened a "get out clause" in their contract with rights holder Bernie Ecclestone to stop covering the sport in 2009. This gave ITV the budget to televise more football, having just won a contract from the BBC to televise the FA Cup and England internationals.
History
The BBC held the rights to Formula One between 1976 and 1996. Over the years the BBC coverage developed around a strong team, particularly the commentators. Murray Walker was the lead from 1976 to 1996 (till 2001 on ITV). His co-commentator originally was James Hunt and later Jonathan Palmer. By the end of its tenure the BBC had various features such as a pre-race show, pit lane reporters and live qualifying (on Grandstand).
Intro
The famous theme by Fleetwood Mac (the end section of their song, The Chain) returned for the 2009 coverage. It was originally used as the BBC Formula One theme tune from 1978 through to 1996. The 2009 introduction was shot in High Definition and made extensive use of CGI.
Team
Jake Humphrey
Jake Humphrey anchors the BBC's Formula 1 coverage, assuming the equivalent role of ITV F1's former anchor Steve Rider. Having started his BBC career on CBBC, Humphrey more recently made the move to sports broadcasting, initially presenting Newsround spin off Sportsround. Over the course of 2006, 2007 and 2008 his sport experience grew; he anchored the BBC's coverage of the Women's FA Cup Final on BBC One, and deputised for Ray Stubbs and Manish Bhasin on Final Score and Football Focus (making him the youngest ever BBC Sport presenter to host all three shows). In October 2007, he became the BBC's first ever American Football host, subsequently presenting Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLIII live. He also had a major role in the BBC's coverage of the 2008 Olympic Games.
David Coulthard
Over the course of a long career, David raced for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull. Having achieved 13 career wins and second place in the championship in 2001, David retired in 2008, and jumped straight in to the BBC Sport team as a pundit alongside Eddie Jordan. David still tests for Red Bull Racing as well as being a consultant and reserve driver for the team. In 2010, he is also making a return to racing, competing in the DTM touring car series.
Eddie Jordan
Eddie Jordan, ex-principal of the Jordan F1 Team appears alongside David Coulthard as a pundit for BBC Sport. Jordan was team owner of Jordan from 1991 to 2004, guiding the team to third in the Championship in 1999. Jordan is well known in the F1 paddock for his lively character and opinionated nature.
Coulthard and Jordan replace ITV F1's Mark Blundell.
Jonathan Legard
Jonathan Legard is the main commentator for BBC's coverage, replacing the role of ITV F1's James Allen. Jonathan is a BBC Sport veteran, having been Radio 5 Live's first ever sports news correspondent. He was then 5 Live's F1 commentator from 1997 to 2004, before handing the role to Maurice Hamilton and subsequently David Croft. He became 5 Live's Football correspondent from 2004 until 2008, before taking up the role of BBC F1 Commentator in 2009.
Martin Brundle
Martin Brundle retains the role he had with ITV F1, this time being partnered by Jonathan Legard in place of James Allen. Brundle started in the role in 1997, when ITV first acquired the rights to Formula 1 from the BBC. He formed a popular partnership with Murray Walker until he retired in 2001. Brundle became an extremely popular part of ITV's coverage, winning multiple awards for his commentary. His "grid walk" in which Martin, whilst live on air walks along the grid interviewing whoever he can find provided some excellent television and became a highlight of ITV's pre race show. This feature continues on the BBC coverage.
Ted Kravitz
Ted Kravitz, alongside Lee McKenzie, continues the role he played in ITV F1 as F1 news and pit lane reporter. Along with Brundle, they are the only two members of the ITV team to make the transition to BBC Sport. Kravitz took over the role of ITV pit lane reporter in 2001 following James Allen's move to commentator, replacing the retiring Murray Walker. Prior to this, Kravitz had been ITV's commentary box producer.
Lee McKenzie
Daughter of Bob McKenzie, Lee McKenzie assists Ted Kravitz in her role of reporter. She is the only female member of the BBC F1 team, effectively replacing ITV's Louise Goodman in the roles of providing features for pre- and post-race shows and interviewing retiring drivers during the race.
Murray Walker
The 'voice of F1', Murray Walker, at the age of 86, returned to the BBC F1 coverage on the BBC Formula 1 website. He has his own video blog previewing and reviewing each race, and answering fans' questions. Walker previously commentated for the BBC and ITV before retiring in 2001. Whenever Walker is absent from his blog, Jonathan Legard fills in.
Mike Gascoyne
Mike Gascoyne is a designer of Formula One cars. Gascoyne has worked for several grand prix teams including McLaren, Force India and Renault.
He was a temporary replacement for Eddie Jordan at the 2009 Chinese Grand Prix (19 April 2009), and is currently the Chief Technical Officer at the new Lotus F1 Racing (due to make its debut at the start of the 2010 season).
Anthony Davidson
Former Super Aguri driver teams up with David Croft and Maurice Hamilton to cover all sessions on Radio 5 Live. He has also appeared on the F1 forum substituting for Martin Brundle.
Coverage
BBC coverage starts the week prior with 'Classic' Grand Prix of that particular circuit being shown on the red button and the website. There may also be a preview done by Murray Walker or another member of the team. The two Friday and one Saturday practice is shown online and the red button with commentary by the Radio 5 Live team (occasionally a guest commentator such as Sir Jackie Stewart). There is then usually a 130 minute qualifying programme that includes, qualifying and various other features. The race day programme usually lasts 170 minutes with various features such as the grid walk and uniterupted coverage of the race. There are various features available during the race such as different commentary and in car camera angles. After the programme there is an hour long 'F1 Forum', with Jake Humphrey, Eddie Jordan, David Coulthard and Martin Brundle (substituted once by Anthony Davidson), along with some of the drivers or key members of the Teams who drop in for an informal chat about the race. For the 'early morning' races (lights out before 8am UK time) the race is repeated in full during the afternoon of the same day. After the race a 90 second summary is usually produced on the website and a highlights show can be seen on BBC Three. Monday after a race Martin Brundle will complete his analysis, and Murray Walker will review the race. Murray will also respond to viewers questions in between Grand Prix.

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