Television
Authorised version
Jeffrey Bernard
It seemed a good idea to send Richard Ingrams to the races for some fresh air this week. I know that when I finished my television stint in this journal I was covered in cobwebs. Worse, I don't think I've yet recovered from the brain damage inflicted by the likes of Michael Barratt, David Frost, David Vine and Nicholas Parsons oh, I could_ go on, but who couldn't? I won't bother to mention Melvyn Bragg.
Anyway, while Mr Ingrams was seeing it for real, I was reflecting on the television version of a day at the sports. Firstly, I've never understood why it is that ITV can't come up to the BI3C's standard of racing coverage, or ludo coverage come to that. I suspect that it's a matter of casting even more than that of production and technical expertise. The team of Peter O'Sullevan, Jimmy Lindley and Julian Wilson is a smooth performance and extremely knowledgeable one. ITV, on the other hand, in spite of John Lawrence and Brough Scott, present and comment on racing like a team struggling to avoid relegation. The BBC is Liverpool, ITV Arsenal.
The appalling and weak link in the ITV chain is the dreaded John Rickman. If my saying that rings bells with you, forgive me, I can't help mentioning the man again and again and he amazes me, fascinates me, amuses me, and in a way he very nearly revolts me. A man that can win the hearts ot thousands of housewifely viewers, as has been claimed, simply by a sycophantic show of good manners that consists of raising his hat to his invisible viewers, he reminds me of the sort of thing that you'd expect to see suddenly emerge from a German clock when it struck the hour. His parting line of 'Well, that's all from me' concludes the ramblings of a man paddling out of his depth. This might be all right if he were commenting and tipping at a two-year-old selling race at Folkestone, but they don't televise two-year-old selling races at Folkestone. If they did I don't suppose Rickman would look out of place. But as to that bit about good manners, I suspect that theITV bosses of World of Sport have issued orders to their teams that at all times they must keep smiling. If Rickman could, I'm sure he'd reach out of our sets and turn them off for us after the last race.
Of his colleagues I sometimes wonder if they're not a little embarrassed by the eminence blanche. They certainly smile in an embarrassed way, but I don't know whether they're thinking, 'Sorry about
John Rickman' or 'Sorry about bringing you such crappy racing from Pontefract.' It's a pity for them really that they're involved in the association because both John Lawrence and Brough Scott are very good in their public school way. They also have, very importantly, I think, actual race-riding experience. I have to own to knowing and liking them both, so suffice it to say I think they're wasted on ITV, but I suppose ITV could be persuaded to employ Lord Clark to take us on a guided tour of an outside lavatory.
And talking of race-riding experience you can see and hear how valuable just that has made Jimmy Lindley to the BBC team. Although he has long hung up his boots, Lindley still rides out regularly for the likes of Barry Hills and he is something of an expert on the French racing scene. All that makes him someone on television who really knows what he's talking about. With his 'country burr he is rapidly becoming racing's John A rlott.
O'Sullevan is O'Sullevan. Just the best race commentator in the world. Imagine picking them out in a cavalry charge like the Wokingham Stakes! Julian Wilson goes from strength to strength. I honestly didn't like him when he started, but I think it was a case of beginner's nerves on his part that made him a touch offputting. Now he's got confidence and that should increase even more with ownership of a top class colt like Tumbledownwind he's not only a good interviewer, he interviews the right people, which is what counts. Poor Brough Scott always seems to be lumbered with people imitating Monty Modlyn. How odd that ITV fixtures seem to be populated by these people. Can there be no bright sparks at their meetings?
I hope Richard Ingrams met a few at. Newbury. If not, he'll be as glad to get back to the box as I will be to get away from ITV on Saturdays anyway.
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