I expected it to be really cheesy but it was actually pretty good. It had a nice mixture of celebrities and the show gripped me from start to end. Louis Walsh was fun; shame he was first out.
I expect people who don't like Vernon Kay were probably happy with his presenting last night as it was quite toned down compared to how he usually presents.
I note that James Allen is commentating over proceedings. I wonder when he took the job if he was expecting ITV to regain the F1 rights with him as lead commentator.
I note that James Allen is commentating over proceedings. I wonder when he took the job if he was expecting ITV to regain the F1 rights with him as lead commentator.
He seems to be freelancing a lot at the moment, when Channel 4 screened Guy Martin's Wall of Death attempt, he covered that too. I did wonder if he was looking for a deal, but I doubt that it's to do with ITV specifically, he's just motoring's answer to Barry Davies nowadays.
JA was, of course, the main commentator for BBC 5 Live from 2012 through until the end of last season. But the BBC dropped him over the winter and Jack Nicholls (who filled in for JA previously) is now the main 5 Live commentator. Ever since ITV stopped showing F1, JA hasn't attended all the races (not even when he did the 5 Live gig). But at the races he does attend he does indeed do the FOM unilateral interviews (and has done since 2009). He also maintains his excellent blog, and does he still write for the Financial Times, also?
JA was, of course, the main commentator for BBC 5 Live from 2012 through until the end of last season. But the BBC dropped him over the winter and Jack Nicholls (who filled in for JA previously) is now the main 5 Live commentator. Ever since ITV stopped showing F1, JA hasn't attended all the races (not even when he did the 5 Live gig). But at the races he does attend he does indeed do the FOM unilateral interviews (and has done since 2009). He also maintains his excellent blog, and does he still write for the Financial Times, also?
Just to add to your post F1 Broadcasting Blog reported that it was decided before the last race of 2015 that James Allen's contract would not be renewed instead Jack Nicholls would be taking over and he as you quite rightly say has done about 4 races per season the last 2 years. The last few years he has been freelance anyway even when working for the BBC as he has also worked for Australian TV, the FT, his own website and FOM.
