The Official ITV4 Commentator Appreciation Thread

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Mon Jul 02, 2012 11:14 am

Well, I'll get us started (I feel 2012 will be a vintage year):

"David Zabriske is a vegan, which means he doesn't eat any meat, or anything else for that matter." Phil Liggett, Prologue

Dr Dave · Post by **Dr Dave** » Mon Jul 02, 2012 1:14 pm

Not heard that anyone has been dipping into the suitcase yet..

I mainly listen to the Harmon and Kelly version these days.

fatsprinter · Post by **fatsprinter** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 7:28 am

All hail the woodentops on IT4. Excellent. Love the tour for the scenary (tv footage gets better every year), love IT4 for the commentary. Very dry with lots of commentating bloopers. I'm sure they do it on purpose now. Excellent. Although the Harmon/Kelly duo run a close second.

Tobzlerone · Post by **Tobzlerone** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 7:56 am

What?!? Eurosport are MILES out in front, I had to listen to itv when in hospital, they frequently mis-named riders, seemed to think Bradley wiggins was going for the win when they saw him near the front, a finish he is not suited to, and many others

Eurosport all the way!

Ooh I wonder if this develops into another 5 page thread of arguing?

fatsprinter · Post by **fatsprinter** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 9:10 am

Eurosport is good, IT4 good for comedy value if you don't take it too seriously.

Dan · Post by **Dan** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 3:49 pm

Sean Kelly droning on for three weeks, drains the life out of me. He might know his cycle but he hasn't got the voice for commentry.

Tobzlerone · Post by **Tobzlerone** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 3:53 pm

He barely speaks

Jess · Post by **Jess** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 7:18 pm

Dan wrote:Sean Kelly droning on for three weeks, drains the life out of me. He might know his cycle but he hasn't got the voice for commentry.

This ^^^ exactly. Torturous.

paulM · Post by **paulM** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 9:59 pm

I like Eurosport - when there isnt a choice. But I find everything on Eurosport is presented with a really dull commentary and the adverts drive me a bit mad. Prefer to put it on pause on the old Sky + at the beginning just to zip through the adverts till you've caught it up at the end. Its a kind of poor mans time travel.
Have er grown up with Liggett & Sherwen - the "summer" ( I mean monsoon season) wouldnt be the same without them! But again record or pause to get through the dull bits, the adverts and the quiz.
But be thankful we have a choice!!

fatsprinter · Post by **fatsprinter** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:36 am

Well I remember when there was hardly any cycling on telly and we were lucky to get half an hour on channel 4. And British cyclists were the laughing stock of the world and didn't have a cat in hells chance of doing anything (kelly isn't british). Some minor exceptions - Millar (Robert) (Scottish) (where is he now?) and the odd super domestique (Yates) (just goes to prove southerners can be hard men).

The worlds had riders turn up and pull out 5 laps in etc etc. What a position now. British riders turn up and everybody else knows they are racing for second place, or third, or to be the best of the rest. Wiggo going for yellow overall, Cavendish winning millions of stages. How it has changed.

I thought at that time too, that cycling would never gain mainstream popularity as a sport, past time or method of commuting. Wrong again. It is good to be wrong and pleasantly surprised by how far things have come. Motorists may even start looking for cyclists soon, giving them room and being polite. Or is that a step too far?

Cyan Skymoos · Post by **Cyan Skymoos** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 4:10 pm

Bring back Duffield.
Older viewers may remember the tales of his time in the army in Italy, or carping on about cheese, whilst Pantani was going on the attack to win the stage.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:56 am

.... they've managed to keep fairly calm so far, but I think it's finally getting too much for them:

"Chris Froome is really screwing up the screw now.." Sherwen, Stage 10
"With 2 BMC riders up the road and 4 Sky riders on the front of the chasing group, this race literally becoming one on one." Liggett, Stage 10
Worth staying in for!

Dr Dave · Post by **Dr Dave** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:09 pm

'They're on the steepest part of the climb and it's going to get even steeper' - Phil Liggett

JSimon · Post by **JSimon** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 1:34 pm

Did I hear this right?
"A lot of viewers actually watch the Tour de France because of the cows..." Stage 14

MarkA · Post by **MarkA** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 8:31 am

And courtesy of my friend Mark:

Just a small selection from the daily strangeness of Paul Sherwen :

"unlike us, sitting in an air-conditioned armchair at the finish line"

( Evans ) "...really is in trouble , he's back to the tail-wheel of his own teammate "

(Voeckler ) " He was at the back of the pack on numberous occasions"