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news
Tour de France Commentator Phil Liggett reveals the 2014 Tour de France route YouTubeITV ditch Phil and Paul... so how’s the new line-up doing?
A number of viewers have been taken aback to discover that ITV are no longer using Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen for commentary during this year’s Tour de France. The two long-serving stalwarts have been replaced by sports journalist Ned Boulting and recently-retired pro David Millar.
If you watch any other races on ITV, the departure of Liggett and Sherwen was no surprise. Boulting and Millar have been slowly phased in after making a somewhat awkward debut together commentating on last year’s inaugural Tour de Yorkshire, and all the pieces then seemed to be in place when cycling journalist Daniel Friebe stepped into Boulting’s previous role as roving reporter for last month’s Criterium du Dauphiné.
The Ride Velo blog reports that Phil and Paul have been working for American TV on a contract that ITV then opted into. This of course meant that ITV have had no editorial control over those commentating on the race.
As ITV’s Tour anchor Gary Imlach put it: “Can you imagine in any other sport, in football or anything, not having your own commentators and having to just opt in or out? It's just a nonsense. We've not been in charge of our own commentators… So it's been a nonsense and should've been sorted out a while ago."
Which isn’t to say that everyone’s happy about the change. Phil and Paul have been doing the job for as long as many of us can remember and the end of an era isn’t always embraced.
The one thing you can count on when it comes to people’s views on sports commentators is disagreement. This is particularly true in cycling where the long hours allow a degree of familiarity that many welcome – but which others find can easily tip over into contempt.
Millar certainly brings a different angle having only recently retired from racing, but Boulting himself points out that “part of the joy of the Tour de France is France” – an acknowledgement that for many people the sport itself is but one aspect of the experience of following the race (and not necessarily the most important one).
So how do you think the new team is performing? Does Boulting bring freshness and enthusiasm or do you miss Liggett’s distinctive timbre? Is Millar too monotonous or are you just happy to have someone who can make a better fist of pronouncing the riders’ names?
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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84 comments
People are free to be charming and quaint all they like. If there is an erosion, it's because society itself is becoming less insular and people are themselves acting less quaintly. It's called change. It's not good or bad, it just is. Also, what you consider charming, can be interpreted as standoffish or uptight by someone else. Charm has different forms for different people. This is especially unique in the UK where middle class charm can be seen as offensive to the working class (as it's a way of letting lessers know their place), and equally, working class charm can be considered crass to the middle class. So what you really want are newer savvier presenters that flout stereotypes and don't lay a stake as to their place in the class system.
Kirby and Kelly both do this amazingly. Millar too, his standoffishness and slightly posh toned down Scots accent is counterbalanced with his drug fueled, drunken, often troubled and loner past. He has a dandyish left-field streak too. Clearly a dark horse, his voice hides it well. These characteristics make Millar colourful enough to engage a newer generation who want anything but a reminder of sleepy Sunday afternoon 80s TV voices when watching a race. Millar's cool, in a raffish way.
This word erosion is insidious and most commonly used by bigots, which is why I'm offering a view. People who use it make it sound intentional or conspiratorial. Not that I'm saying that's you, but I'm laying the cards on the table in any case.
Maybe newer generations don't want to listen to slow rambling boring duffers who've nothing to add to what's an exciting, frantic, adrenaline rushing sport.
Ha. I feel your pain. Try playing "front end of the main field" bingo. Each time he says it, down a shot. You'll be off your face in about 5 minutes.
Godawful. Good riddance.
Rob is however a perfect foil for OJ Borg on BBC Bespoked.
Don't forget Chris Boardman he is a star with a gsoh too!
For me Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen were the sound of the summer and the voice of the Tour. In fact I enjoyed the commentary equally as much as the cycling. In a world of change, some things are good because they stay the same. Remember the late James Alexandra Gordon?
i actually emailed ITV4 and the person who replied didn't even know who they were. There has been no announcement by ITV nor any thanks given to Phil and Paul.
i had reason to contact Phil Liggett a few times for work and I have never had dealings with a more polite and helpful individual. His charges for his time were a few hundred pounds. I later spoke with Mark Cavendish for similar help with a promotion and his fee was £100K+ to do the exactly the same promotional task.
i do like Millar and Boulting but they are not the sound of summer. They are just commentators - albeit with superb knowledge in the case of David Millar.
Please do the decent thing ITV4 and do a special tribute and send-off for Phil and Paul.
I've known both Phil & Paul since I was 16 and I'm now 60....I know they both have more knowledge of top flight bike racing than any of the "commentators" posting to this article but that said, it's time for a change, Ned's great and has a solid TdF background and DM has the T shirt so no complaints. Nothing wrong with channel hopping during the live feed (Sean's priceless and a hero) but ITV's highlights are the best round-up of the day. Phil was the first and has done so much to get us where we are now with top drawer coverage - thanks from the people who really know!
David Millar's intelligent and informed analyses are a treat to listen to: he observes so well what is going on, and even a seasoned viewer will learn from his contributions. Ned Boulting has much improved from his 'yellow jumper' days... and has some informed contributions to make. However, Ned isn't yet comfortable with the live coverage - there are pregnant pauses, and where Duffers or Carlton Kirby will talk 'in passing' about some of the vagaries of where they are passing, Ned isn't as well prepared for the bits when the action is more or less static. He will improve with time, but does need more groundwork to make the live commentary run smoothly.
I'm not David Millar's biggest fan, he can have an abundance of arrogance at times, but he and Ned have saved the Tour for me this summer. I couldn't bear listening to the clichéd, trite, repetitive and nonsensical rubbish coming from Phil and Paul any more.
Eurosport's only saving grace is Sean Kelly. Kirby is, for me, the single worst commentator I've ever had the misfortune to listen to. Worse even than Phil and Paul. Annoying, stupid, garbled, and that's only when I can hear him over him laughing at his own jokes or almost combusting over Froome or Sky.
I look forward to Eurosport realising how out of date he is and permanently repacing him with Rob Hatch, who is far and away the best cycling commentator out there, and who is expert at the topic, the laguages, the culture and at getting the best out of King Kelly.
Until then, Ned and Dave will do for me. Far better knowledge and infitnitely improved delivery. They'll only get better too.
Arrrgh God no! Yes Kirkby can be irritating and witter on but I can't stand listening to Rob Hatch: He feels the need to fill every second of silence with his own voice, which he absolutely loves. Constantly interrupting his co-commentators. Ridiculous over-pronunciation in the local accent of the rider's native tongue. Sure, I'm all for accurate pronunciation but just because you can roll your 'r's' well, doesnt mean you should! Just totally off putting !! ....
(rant over!)
Absolutely spot on. You read my mind.
Kirby is Marmite but I like him. Declan is the best commentator IMHO.
As has been mentioned - Rob Hatch and Rob Hayles do a fine (albeit short) turn on BBC radio 5 live sports extra
Need Boulting is a refreshing change but David Millar is a droning bore who makes seemingly arrogant insightful comments generally realised as twaddle. How can people be so critical of the likes of Armstrong yet accept this drugs cheat with open arms
Millar got caught and when the evidence was laid on him he threw his hands up. Par for the course, doping and cycling have been hand in hand before I was even born. Cocaine, amphetamines, you name it, they were on it.
Armstrong is unique, that guy wrecked careers, bullied riders and their wives, fought legal battles to cover his industrial scale doping.
Athletes takes drugs at some point in their careers, far more than will ever be outed. That's a fact. I don't look at athletes and categorise them as clean or unclean, they're either caught or questionable. Either way, they're all incredibly hard workers and talented. That's why I watch them, not because they're idols or some balls. They don't need to be perfect to be inspirational.
Which of Millar's comments did you consider twaddle can I ask?
Because he repented and now works for cleaner cycling. A bit like a criminal who is tried, imprisoned and on coming out works to stop others from doing similar. To be applauded, not derided.
Because he repented and now works for cleaner cycling. A bit like a criminal who is tried, imprisoned and on coming out works to stop others from doing similar. To be applauded, not derided.
You reveal yourself and your view is really based on your resentment of his druggie past. I don't like it either but you know what the guy tried to repent, still apologises and is now retired. The judge and jury likes of you would slap him in irons, stick him in solitary and poke sticks at him for eternity and actually he did no wrong to you (so far as I know). You seem to have a lofty view of your own opinion.
Can't beat Sean 'bonifications' Kelly on Eurosport IMHO.
I prefer ITV4 with Ned and David .
I can't understand Sean Kelly. He was a great rider but commentaries drive me nuts.
Phil Ligget gets my vote and was superb, I loved his commentaries on ITV4 he's a super guy.
Jack Burnickle who commentates on Superbikes is another great commentator. Different sport but still two wheels lol .
Are people listening to the same Ned Boulting? I have infinite respect for David Millar; his insight into the sport and the riders is immense and his commentary always enlightening. Ned; a refugee from football who seems incapable of even identifying riders in a bunch and doesn't seem to know his left from his right (unless of course he's watching a different video stream eg helicopter vs motorbike, in which case why is he not watching the same stream that is televised?)
When I first started watching the highlights this year I was muting the sound as Ned Boulting was so annoying! But I found David Millar great right from the off, now a few days in Boulting seems to have calmed down a bit but he does seem to get his lefts and rights mixed up but I think he is talking about the right and left sides of the road not the peleton as we look at it.
I found Paul Sherwen patronising, then again he was commentating for the Americans!
25 years I have been listing to Phil and Paul, since the days of 30min shows on C4. But at that time I liked Rolf's cartoon club, Big Break, and Noel's House Party too. Time for change.
I enjoyed ligget for many years but the change is welcome.
Millar really knows his stuff as does kelly on ES and the Boardman chats are always useful too.
Phil & Paul had long since outlived their usefulness. A string of trite clichés, misnamed riders and teams, château descriptions read verbatim from the tourist brochure and a telling of the action that boiled down to "look at the pace now!"
Ned spent several years as a pundit and interviewer so he knows the riders well. Millar was one of the best road captains in the world, he can describe what's going on almost before it happens with insight and clarity. They're a great team and will only get better.
Liggett and Sherwen didn't appear to be even trying to fake interest in the sport for many years now . I deserted to Eurosport long ago (which comes with its own unique irritations). I just hope this is a permanent change for Itv4.
I am enjoying the change of commentary. I had taken to watching on mute for the last few years.
Not nearly enough chateau description for me. I don't think I've heard a square keep mentioned once.
It used to really boil my piss everytime Phil said "Boyson Hagen".
Welcome change.
Agreed. It's such a relief to have commentators who are able to think on their feet and actually pronounce riders' names properly. Yes, Ned's bedding in but you try talking for four hours interestingly and see how you get on. Much better than Kirby, Liggett and Sherwen. No more 'traffic circles' and stupid African proverbs. Add to this Sarah Connolly commentating on The Women's Tour and I heart ITV!
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