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Murray Walker has died.

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
RO
rob Founding member


NJ
Neil Jones Founding member
No more stopping the startwatch.
JO
Jon
A legend in every sense of the word. Probably the most distinctive voice in commentary. Talking of which, don’t all motor racing lead commentators sound the same these days?
paul_hadley, bkman1990 and parrferris gave kudos
LL
London Lite Founding member
The man who introduced me to F1 with his distinctive delivery and Murrayisms.
MI
Michael
His 1996 video Murray's Magic Moments was a mainstay of my childhood. Will have to dig it out for another watch-through.

He still had it post "retirement" - his commentary on the zany European Grand Prix of 2007 for BBC Radio was much more exciting than anything being put out on TV.
HC
Hatton Cross
Oh, nooo - wheelnuts.

Legend is a word thrown around too easily in TV sports commentary, but in his case..

Gone upstairs to have many conversations with the great F1 fan, Clive James, who memorably described his commentary style as "a man unicycling around the rim of doom - with his trousers on fire".

His commentaries on Formula 1 hooked me into the sport when I was 8, and I'm still as bigger fan today as I was then.

But now I must stop - I've got a lump in my throat..

Night Murray. Sleep well.
BR
Brekkie
I don't think there is any commentator more associated with his sport than Murray was - and indeed 20 years after his last commentary still is.

Will be interesting to see where tribute programmes show up - I'd expect something on the BBC but possible also on ITV and Sky F1 too, and perhaps even C4 as well.
bkman1990, richard110888 and DE88 gave kudos
MA
Markymark
I went to see him give a talk at Meridian Studios in Southampton, about 20 years ago. He was late, got lost finding the studios, which was Murray all over, because he only lived 12 miles away in the New Forest! Anyway, he just walked into the studio, grabbed a mic, and started talking, for over two hours, non stop. Fantastic evening. RIP Murray 😞
HC
Hatton Cross
Brekkie posted:


Will be interesting to see where tribute programmes show up - I'd expect something on the BBC but possible also on ITV and Sky F1 too, and perhaps even C4 as well.

BBC definitely.
Sky Sports recorded an interview with him at Silverstone (off season) in the first year they had live coverage, so I'd imagine they'll hack bits of that, and add extra contributions.

Currently it's pre season testing in Bahrain, and whilst members of the Sky team are hosting for FOM and the world feed, Ted is doing his testing notebook for Sky, so I'd expect a tribute for him tonight or tomorrow.

Let's not forget is career outside of motorsport commentary. He was an accomplished advertising copywriter, and Trill and Mars would not have had a memorable advertising slogans without Mr Walker OBE.
paul_hadley, bkman1990 and DE88 gave kudos
DE
DE88
No! No! No! Sad Sad Sad Crying or Very sad Crying or Very sad Crying or Very sad

"Prost can see Mansell in his earphones!"
"Do my eyes deceive me or is Senna's Lotus sounding rough?"
"As you look at the first four, the significant thing is that Alboreto is fifth."
"We're now on the 73rd lap and the next one will be the 74th."
"He's obviously gone in for a wheel change. I say obviously because I can't see it."
The list goes on and on of course.

Let's not forget that Pizza Hut ad...



...or the time he commentated on snooker.



Thanks for everything, Murray, and have fun with James Hunt at the great circuit in the sky. Unless I'm very much mistaken, of course.
Last edited by DE88 on 13 March 2021 8:20pm
paul_hadley and London Lite gave kudos
JV
James Vertigan Founding member
Sky F1 ended their testing coverage with a dedication slide to Murray, Ted’s notebook included a tribute at the beginning.

Gutted about Murray’s passing as I grew up watching Formula 1 thanks to my dad. You always think legends like Murray will be there forever. May he rest in peace.
Last edited by James Vertigan on 13 March 2021 8:24pm
NJ
Neil Jones Founding member
Well, Mr Walker is now trending on Twitter.







Not entirely sure why Coulthard is responding through C4F1, I know he's president of the BRDC who released the original tweet, thought he'd have had an account of his own?

And for now, BBC Archive and the infamous time Walker tried to pull out all the stops not to stall the car and then went and did it anyway:


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