So the search begins for who will replace the BBC F1 anchor Jake Humphrey. As I wrote last week and has been announced today, Jake is leaving the BBC for BT Vision who have a contract to air 38 live premier league football games from 2013. Jake has been BT’s target to fulfil the anchor role for some time, add to that his first passion is football and now he and his wife are expecting their first child.
The problem for the BBC is that many of the die hard F1 TV personnel want to work for Sky, as the BBC only have 50% the races live. This was evident when Ted Kravitz, Natalie Pinkham, Anthony Davidson and Martin Brundle left the Beeb for Sky at the end of last year. Brundle explained his decision, “Recorded and delayed sports television doesn’t give me the adrenalin fix I crave.”
Some have suggested Anthony Davidson may consider such a mainstream front man media opportunity because he and Georgie do not attend all the races with Sky – their ‘skypad’ analysis they deliver is broadcast only from the UK for a number of the flyaway races. Davidson has impressed this year with a relaxed style in front of the camera, a very personable character and knowledgeable; but he’s a remote possibility as he still racing and works for Mercedes – maybe still harbouring F1 driving ambitions.
In fact, it’s difficult to see any of the 2012 Sky defectors returning to the BBC for the very reason it’s more like a part time F1 TV job. If it’s hard for the BBC to poach from another channel, they’ll have to recruit internally – so who could it be?
