Nov 2

Nov 2 The Best Sports Analysts and Pundits in the UK

The best commentators, pundits and analysts in British sport

Good sports commentators and pundits are hard to come by these days, with former sports stars thinking that their popularity alone will carry a television matchday or preview show.

Of course, dedicated sports fans know that it takes so much more than that to be compelling either on a television studio set or behind the radio mic.

Here are some of the best in the business working today, who put in the work to hone their craft and reap the rewards with millions of avid followers.

All these commentators and pundits can make a mic purr with their dulcet tones and turns of phrase

Calling the Long Noses

Fans of horseracing do not suffer fools lightly, so a radio channel or website always need to be certain of a tipster’s credentials before he or she is unleashed to make bold predictions.

Unfortunately with the demise of racing on terrestrial television, apart from the big races like Ascot and the Grand National, there are not too many pundits and commentators to write about these days, with many such as Simon Holt and Andy Holding turning a hand to giving tips, either online or in national and regional newspapers or magazines.

Of the current crop who are still managing to commentate on thoroughbred long noses, John Hunt is the heir to Cornelius Lysaght at the BBC, and is regarded as perhaps the best in the business at the time of writing.

Calling a horserace is no walk in the park, with the names of jockeys, trainers, and horses to remember.

Footy Pundits Still Get Big Bucks, But Are They Worth It?

The biggest earners in sports commentary and punditry are, by some margin, those who present football to the nation and beyond.

When it comes to being snug in a studio to give a roundup on the weekend’s action, Gary Lineker is still the man, presenting Match of the Day in exchange for a salary of well over £1m a year, which still pales in comparison to what is paid for top players these days. At least Lineker combines a smooth delivery and demeanour with a strong understanding of the game, unlike some others, such as the monosyllabic Michael Owen, Alan Shearer, or god forbid, Robbie Savage.

Martin Tyler over on rival platform Sky Sports is probably the best of the crop in the UK at the moment, although for something altogether different fans should also try and track down where Ray Hudson is currently plying his trade, being the man who was brought to tears by the genius of Lionel Messi.

The most famous Martin Tyler moment - Agueroooooooo

Cricket Commentary is in a League of its Own

Cricket is, of course, a massive sport in the UK, although it does tend to be quite seasonal and only captures the imagination of the nation when either the World Cup or an Ashes Series is being played.

Although the game might not be getting the traction it would like with large swathes of the general public, the sport still boasts incredible commentary teams who cover it both in the UK and all around the globe.

Sky’s array of pundits is exceptional with the likes of Nasser Hussein, Nick Knight, Michael Atherton, and Michael Holding, all providing the sort of in-depth insight that puts other sports analysts and commentators to shame. On top of all that they have exceptional banter in the commentary booth.

However, as good as Sky’s television offering may be, it pales in comparison to the TMS (Test Match Special) BBC radio team, who have charmed listeners – many of whom do not even like cricket – but who simply tune in to catch the likes of Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell and Jonathan Agnew. The only shame is that the booming voice of Henry Blofeld is no longer on the air. This is the man who delighted in recounting what pigeons were up to as much as he did calling a test match.

Perhaps more than any other sport, cricket lends itself to engaging and thoughtful commentary and analysis

Brian Johnston and Jonathan Agnew on TMS, August 1991. Classic broadcast when they lose it at the end of play summary.

Calling the Punches as They Land

Pugilism has a long history of great commentators from both sides of the Atlantic, but similarly, it has had some shockers, with part-time commentators dragged from other sports to make a hash of calling a fight. Nick Halling and Paul Dempsey come to mind in that regard. Having said that, there are other so-called boxing experts and insiders who also stink telescreens out, with Steve Bunce and Spencer Fearon being repeat offenders.

Thankfully there have been some new faces and voices come on the scene of late, with former Welsh world champion Barry Jones emerging as a voice of reason and other ex-fighters like David Haye and Andre Ward also stepping up to deliver good performances on the mic.

Ward currently commentates in the US, but it would be great to get him over to British shores to hand out some harsh home truths.

Darts Still Searching for a Replacement for Dave Clark

When Dave Clark announced that he would be stepping down as the face of live darts on Sky Sports it left a void that was always going to be tough to fill.

Nigel Pearson is now the man at the helm, trying to keep former players like Wayne Mardle and John Part in check. He seems to be doing okay so far, although there is a feeling that the big characters of the past such as Eric Bristow and Bobby George are missing from the darting commentary landscape.

www.oliveandmabelbook.com I usually broadcast actual sport: The Olympics, Wimbledon, The Masters, 6 Nations, that sort of thing.

Rugby Commentator Who Can Turn a Hand to Almost Anything

Running cricket close for its number of beloved commentators is the 'thug’s sport played by gentlemen' that is rugby, with well-heeled egg chasers often converting quite well into smooth-talking commentators.

Andrew Cotter is not a former player who recently shot to fame, not with his rugby commentary but some that he recorded of his everyday life, such as when he takes his dogs for a walk. The results are hilarious.