we want charlie cox [Archive] - BTCC

runnyhunny

28th Sep 2004, 06:22 PM

Charlie Cox may be a nice bloke, but he's no-where near the level of Ben Edwards, or even Tim Harvey, as a commentator.

Charlie just deals-out the same old catchphrases, and if you ever listened to his live commentating, you'd see that he couldn't do it in 'real time'.

Of course, poor commentary is perfectly normal - just listen to James Allen or Martin Haven. :(

Ben Edwards may lack some of the 'charisma' of Charlie Cox, but he's the better commentator by far.

Peter

28th Sep 2004, 07:15 PM

Originally posted by runnyhunny
Charlie Cox may be a nice bloke, but he's no-where near the level of Ben Edwards, or even Tim Harvey, as a commentator.

Charlie just deals-out the same old catchphrases, and if you ever listened to his live commentating, you'd see that he couldn't do it in 'real time'.

Of course, poor commentary is perfectly normal - just listen to James Allen or Martin Haven. :(

Ben Edwards may lack some of the 'charisma' of Charlie Cox, but he's the better commentator by far.

Charlie should be used to live commentary by now. He has covered World Superbikes and Moto GP for the last three years.

I do find Charlie to be more entertaining than Ben when it comes to touring cars. As a fairly knowledgable viewer, I don't always need to be told seriously what I am seeing and have everything explained to me, I like to have a good laugh.

I think Ben is best at Formula 1 and Champ Cars, whereas Charlie is best at covering BTCC.

John

28th Sep 2004, 07:19 PM

how about......

Charlie for BTCC with Tim and Ben for F1 with Martin Brundle!

McKay

28th Sep 2004, 08:00 PM

That would be good, but ITV wont listen. I sent them an email and they never replied.

bramble

28th Sep 2004, 08:18 PM

I wouldnt be surprised to see Ben replace James Allen in the next few years, I'd be more likely to watch a whole F1 race if he were commentating.

Sunday Girl

28th Sep 2004, 08:57 PM

I just watched the race from Sunday whiched I taped. It was really great to hear Charlie Cox again. I felt that he was throwing in the old catchphrases one last time and I wasn't complaining ;) i realised how much he is missed. The coverage today may be more comprehensive than in the nineties but it lacks that something that CC brings.

John

28th Sep 2004, 09:11 PM

Te bits he did before the races we brilliant - often the highlight of the coverage.

Ray Stubbs or Steve Rider introduced BTCC, then there used to be 5+ minutes of CC doing some story (comparing the independent car with the works car... and driving them!, making a silly video in the woods in the dark at snetterton, racing Matt Neal on golf buggies etc etc etc) and throw in a bit of music and you have a brilliant bit of TV.

Not got anything against VBH - much nicer to look at than CC and certainly knows her stuff - but the intros lack something (especially the precorded highlights shows - can forgive the live coverage as the BBC were never any good at pre race stuff for live broadcasts).

As for Ben replacing Allen for F1..... not expecting it to happen - F1 doesnt seem bothered about what the public wants to see and ITV seem even less bothered about what it's viewers want! Although we've had less celebs on the grid walk, no black tie dinner reports and not seen Mark Blundell recently so maybe he's enrolled in an ENglish language course!

aldon

28th Sep 2004, 09:56 PM

The only interesting thing about ITV's F1 coverage is Brundle's grid walk. One the "racing" begins, the interest ends. There's not much you can do when you have such a dull sport to cover. Even snooker is more interesing. I hope Ecclestone moves F1 entirely outwith Europe to all of his beloved new anti-septic Asian tracks and he can sit and watch a nice neat procession on a nice neat track. It deserves to be dropped by British TV.

Anyone notice that Sunday's commentary of the last BTCC race was about 5 seconds behind the action? I thought it was supposed to be live, so how did they mess up the tape synch?

mondeoman

29th Sep 2004, 11:27 AM

Originally posted by runnyhunny
Charlie Cox may be a nice bloke, but he's no-where near the level of Ben Edwards, or even Tim Harvey, as a commentator.

Charlie just deals-out the same old catchphrases, and if you ever listened to his live commentating, you'd see that he couldn't do it in 'real time'.

Of course, poor commentary is perfectly normal - just listen to James Allen or Martin Haven. :(

Ben Edwards may lack some of the 'charisma' of Charlie Cox, but he's the better commentator by far.

Remember Charlies commentary of Mansells race 2 at Donnington in 98 when Mansell took the lead, his sheer excitement made the race so much better, I don't think I've heard any other commentator do that.

Nikki C

29th Sep 2004, 12:02 PM

Originally posted by aldon

Anyone notice that Sunday's commentary of the last BTCC race was about 5 seconds behind the action? I thought it was supposed to be live, so how did they mess up the tape synch?

It was fine on Motors - or at least I didn't notice anything of that nature!!

I think ITV have a policy when programmes are live of having something like a 7 second delay between the action, and it going out, to allow for any inadvertant swear words etc to be dipped. Maybe they managed to time delay the commentary, but, for some reason, had a prob with the pictures????

Charlie and Tim would be fab doing the commmentary on the BTCC, and Ben would be so fabby doing the F1 with Brundle. Anyone know anyone high up at ITV????? ;)

Peter

29th Sep 2004, 12:26 PM

Originally posted by Nikki C
I think ITV have a policy when programmes are live of having something like a 7 second delay between the action, and it going out, to allow for any inadvertant swear words etc to be dipped. Maybe they managed to time delay the commentary, but, for some reason, had a prob with the pictures????

They certainly did use that 7 second delay to much effect during the Chinese Grand Prix when Bruni had a problem... ;)

Nikki P

29th Sep 2004, 12:40 PM

Let's start an official campaign, we could get t-shirts printed, banners made, the lot! Surely they'd have to listen then. Maybe that's why they asked him to do the master, to try and entice him back? (Wishful thinking, maybe?)

Nikki C

29th Sep 2004, 12:44 PM

Count me in!!!!!

T-Shirts with Charlie Cox for BTCC on the front, Ben Edwards for F1 on the back! FAB IDEA!!!!

Anyone any good at designing???

Nikki P

29th Sep 2004, 12:49 PM

I know someone whose not bad, GEDsjt, are you listening? Get designing mate! :)

NoahsGirl

29th Sep 2004, 01:12 PM

There was definately a delay in the commentary when I was watching the last race on Motors TV, maybe there was a satellite delay to the ITV feed, as that is what was being used?

Anyway back to the topic, it was joyous to hear CC back where he belongs, his excitement in his commentary often makes a great race a fabulous race.

Murray Walker was the same, he would make a dull race exciting just by his "fly by the seat of his pants" style of commentating.

William E

29th Sep 2004, 01:17 PM

Charlie was great on Sunday. Ben and Tim are boring. Charlie added life to the commentary. I don't think ben and charlie could commentat together

inforacing

29th Sep 2004, 01:51 PM

he seems a little subdued at the beginning tho as tho he didnt want to say to much but as the race unfolded he got back into the swing of it and wouldnt shut up. brill.

Cleland Fan

29th Sep 2004, 04:06 PM

Originally posted by Nikki C
Count me in!!!!!

T-Shirts with Charlie Cox for BTCC on the front, Ben Edwards for F1 on the back! FAB IDEA!!!!

Anyone any good at designing???

Streetshirts are good value for money and make quality t shirts. We got our TURKINGTON 8 t shirts for £20 from them. Do a Google for them, as i can't post the address. :(

Nikki C

29th Sep 2004, 04:10 PM

Nice one!! Certainly think we could stretch to that!!!

Now all we need is a design, oh and a new season of races to wear them at!!!

Bill

29th Sep 2004, 04:34 PM

Charlie Cox back as BTCC commentator - top idea. I also agree with the bit about shoveling Ben Edwards off to F1, after all, they're both as dull and predictable as a day staring at the pavement !

Nikki C

29th Sep 2004, 04:59 PM

Ouch!!!!!!

Ben would totally be better than James flippin Allen though!

kevin ritson

29th Sep 2004, 09:33 PM

Charlie Cox must be enticed back at all costs, don't ITV normally take all of their TV people from the Beeb?:D

And then we can have all of the great preamble bits he used to do, another of my favourites was when he got Muller to describe taking the lead at Brands in 1999, with toy cars!

We need him back!!

GEDsjt

29th Sep 2004, 09:37 PM

so you want me to do a t shirt design eh??

give me a couple of days and i'll be right back to you!!!!

it would be great to see charlie back and i will endevour to do all i can to help

watch this space!

Volvo Superfan

29th Sep 2004, 11:36 PM

I would have to agree about bringing Charlie back to the BTCC. The whole thing has not been the same without him - he was alway so passionate about the racing and it was infectious.

bramble

30th Sep 2004, 10:57 AM

I have only just seen the coverage of the BTCC Masters race, and to be honest, as good as Charlie was when it was on the BBC, he really didnt make the race sound as excitng as Ben Edwards did.

Nikki C

30th Sep 2004, 11:15 AM

Originally posted by GEDsjt
so you want me to do a t shirt design eh??

give me a couple of days and i'll be right back to you!!!!

it would be great to see charlie back and i will endevour to do all i can to help

watch this space!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you! :D :D :D :D :D

John

30th Sep 2004, 09:14 PM

Originally posted by mondeoman
Remember Charlies commentary of Mansells race 2 at Donnington in 98 when Mansell took the lead, his sheer excitement made the race so much better, I don't think I've heard any other commentator do that.

Murray walker Hungary 1997..... "Aaaaand Damon Hill leads...." (in an arrows after passing Schumacher........ during an advert break on live coverage if I remember correctly! oops!)

Peter

30th Sep 2004, 10:19 PM

Ben Edwards was pretty special on the final lap of the Michigan 500 in 2000:

"THEY TOUCH WHEELS. IT'S GONNA BE A PHOTO FINISH. THEY'RE SIDE BY SIIIIIDE. AND MONTOYA GETS IT MONTOYA WINS AT MICHIGAN!!"

Sends shivers down the spine!

NoahsGirl

1st Oct 2004, 01:07 PM

Originally posted by John
Murray walker Hungary 1997..... "Aaaaand Damon Hill leads...." (in an arrows after passing Schumacher........ during an advert break on live coverage if I remember correctly! oops!)

there was always Murray's near hysteria when Damon was leading in the Jordan in 1999 in his last British GP, even though 30 seconds later he calmed down and said "Yes, yes, I know!"

tsunami99

7th Oct 2004, 12:16 PM

well after charlie's commentary on the masters race we need him back. My favourite was when Plato ran wide at old hairpin came back on and "its a goal"

Nikki C

7th Oct 2004, 12:48 PM

That was hilarious!!!! The race itself was fantastic, but the commentary had me in stitches!!!!! First time I've near wet myself watching a race!!

BRING BACK CHARLIE COX!!

arthurdent

7th Oct 2004, 12:49 PM

I have to lend my voice to this whole Charlie Cox thing too.

As someone who hadn't heard him before, I thoroughly enjoyed his Masters coverage - very funny but informative enough too.

CC for BTCC !!!

bramble

7th Oct 2004, 01:31 PM

i thought his commentary sounded patronising and sarcastic - it really wasnt what I was expecting from him at all. Funny one liners are one thing, but he really didnt sound like he was taking it seriously. not his usual form at all.

Nikki C

7th Oct 2004, 01:55 PM

To be fair though, I don't think the drivers were taking it all that seriously. It was a bit of fun at the end of the season was how it came accross to me from the drivers, so for me, in that context the commentators keeping it light worked.

bramble

7th Oct 2004, 02:36 PM

its ok to have a little fun, but I didnt like the way he reacted to the Plato shunt - which at those speads on that corner could have been serious.

Reidy_fan

7th Oct 2004, 07:58 PM

count me in I'll have a shirt to show support

John

7th Oct 2004, 08:30 PM

Originally posted by arthurdent
As someone who hadn't heard him before

Haven't heard him before?! Suggest you go out and buy 1998-2001 reviews!! Then 97 but I dont think he really got into it til 98 - bit overshadowed by Muzza

Novastar

19th Oct 2004, 11:37 PM

Nikki P

20th Oct 2004, 09:48 AM

Originally posted by Novastar
Here in Belgium Charlie Cox is our "God" of al commentators, so very disappointed to read this stuf...

But that's just the opinion of the Belgian fans...;)

I think you'll find that the majority of us agree with you on that score!!

As for the T-shirt design GEDsjt was working on, his PC has broke but as soon as he's back on line (which should be any time) he'll post it on here for us all!! I can't wait!

Nikki C

20th Oct 2004, 11:20 AM

Excellent!!! No manic rush though - we've got just under 6 months to get sorted!!!! We totally all have to wear them to Donny though!

Knock-on

21st Oct 2004, 11:44 AM

I haven't got anything against Tim or Ben but Charlie gives the commentating that entertainment edge. A sort of Murrayism.

Nikki C

21st Oct 2004, 01:13 PM

Exactly, Knockie! Ben is ten times the commentator James Allen is, so he needs to get the gig at F1, then Charlie needs to come back to BTCC and commentate with Tim. Or if ITV don't go for it, have Ben, Tim and Charlie commentating. HOORAH!!!

mark

25th Oct 2004, 09:50 AM

Sadly, I can't see Charlie moving from BBC and Superbikes etc, he seems very suited to it and even though i'd like to see him back commentating on the BTCC, I can't see it happening.

With Ben, Tim and Vicky, I think we have a good team which is suited to the BTCC, atleast all of them are very enthusiastic about it, which is important.

What Ben and Tim don't bring to the coverage, Vicky certainly makes up for it!!! ;) :D