I *MAY* need to re-think my position on the existence of a Supreme Deity.

From PITPASS.COM

In a shock move, Formula One Administration (FOA) has announced that it has done deal which will see F1 return to BBC in a five-year deal which begins next year.

Announcing the deal ahead of this weekend's Malaysia GP, Bernie Ecclestone said: "I am delighted to conclude this new deal with the BBC. I wish to thank ITV for their commitment to Formula One and the high quality of their coverage. It is an exciting time in Formula One and the BBC has some innovative new ideas to consolidate and expand our UK fan base."

The deal comes totally out of the blue, in much the same way as when Ecclestone did an equally secret deal with ITV twelve years ago. At that time, commentator, Murray Walker, then with the BBC F1 team, only learned of the deal on the radio news.

Even more surprising - given the fact that the ITV F1 team had recently used the services of Ecclestone's daughter, Tamara, is the fact that with the arrival of Lewis Hamilton there is renewed interest in F1 in the UK. And how.

Dominic Coles, BBC Sport director of sport rights, said: "The biggest motorsporting event in the world is returning home after 12 years. We were delighted when Bernie Ecclestone approached us about the return of F1 to the BBC.

"F1 is a crown jewel of sports broadcasting," he added, "so to bring the rights back to their traditional home from 2009 is tremendously exciting. "Fans will be able to enjoy uninterrupted, state of the art and innovative coverage from BBC Sport, across all of our TV, radio and new media platforms, for the first time since 1996."

ITV still has two-years of its current deal to run, which suggests that a behind-the-scenes deal has been done whereby ITV will get part of the Champions League (football) in return.

According to Pitpass sources, David Croft, currently Radio Five Live commentator and said to be a "shoo-in for the James Allen job", was being given a semi-audition for ITV by North One (who do the production for ITV) a year early by doing the GP2 commentary live on TV this year.

We understand that Mark Sharman, head of ITV Sport, is heading out to Sepang to explain to his crew why they've lost their jobs.

Word on the street is that Jonathan Ledgard is a possibility for commentator, of course, with Martin Brundle expected to be the only one retained from current commentary line-up.

Yup, this proves that there is a power that his higher than all others.

Does Bernie Eccleston win £40,000,000?

Thank God for that!

Snorri xxx

PS: Can I have 40 championship points?

Col: Yes Snorri: Yes

WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!

You know all I read in that whole article?

James, cuntface, ruiner of all things, talker of slimey wank, Allen is on the DOLE!!!!!!!!!!!

F1 will be safe to watch again.

Unless of course it's like it was in the 70's/early 80's "and on lap 23, we go from monaco, back to the 3rd test at lords". None of that. Now get baldy back on the case with Brundle, and failing that get Charlie Cox to do it.

Hey we were nearly right when we said that a third giant of modern culture died at the same time as Arthur C and the producer guy.

It wasn't Murray Walker though, the Findus Fisherman Fairy Cap'n Birdseye's OB was in the Guardian this morning.

We may still lose the Australian GP. Bernie wants them to race at night so you guys can watch them at brekkie time.

Great news. Can't see Brundle coming accross though, not after he upset Max last year

John Watson for lead commentator

Actually scrap that, how about Bernard Sumner? He could liven it right up: "Hamilton into the pits.....WHOOP, YEAH, FOOKIN COME ON"

I'm sure Max wont hold it against Martin, it's not like he's a petty, partisan, power-crazed, tin pot, littl........Ahhhhh yes, see your point.

GET BALDY BACK SO HE CAN DIE ON AIR LIKE WE ALL KNOW HE SHOULD

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNDDDDD HAMMMMMMMMIIILLLLTTTTT..croak. Thump.

Or Watty and Charlie, ToCA revisited.

"I tell ya what watty, plato needs that like he needs a third armpit".

Pricless.

I reckon Ben Edwards has to be a possibility. Think he commentates for an American station now.

Assuming James Allen gets the boot that is, can't imagine he wont, public opinion and all

Edd wrote: I reckon Ben Edwards has to be a possibility. Think he commentates for an American station now.

Assuming James Allen gets the boot that is, can't imagine he wont, public opinion and all

They can keep him, if he stays in the pits with his laptop, remember that? he was awesome. Commentating, he's as much fun as a prolapse. I genuinely detest him, he's RUINED so many races, Yoda Walker may have talked total bollox, but it was at least passionate and racing related.

I recall seeing the AllenCunt, get ANNOYED that an exploding Jordan had disturbed his riveting tale of the dress Frau Von Cobblers had been wearing at the Hello magazine photo-op party. Even Brundle's starting to hate him, you can hear it in the incredulous pauses and silent countings to ten.

Ben's great, but he's not the least bit silly, so they'd need a proper nutter in with him.

BBC version of the story has a picture with the caption. "hamilton's battle with Ferrari will be on the BBC next year". Wrong! Super Aguri's battle with Ferrari will be on the BBC. Todt gone, Brawn gone, Italians are back weeeyyyyheyyyyy it's back to the days of ceasare fiorio and the Italian keystone team.

Doctor? wrote:

Edd wrote: I reckon Ben Edwards has to be a possibility. Think he commentates for an American station now.

Assuming James Allen gets the boot that is, can't imagine he wont, public opinion and all

They can keep him, if he stays in the pits with his laptop, remember that? he was awesome. Commentating, he's as much fun as a prolapse. I genuinely detest him, he's RUINED so many races, Yoda Walker may have talked total bollox, but it was at least passionate and racing related.

Italians are back weeeyyyyheyyyyy it's back to the days of ceasare fiorio and the Italian keystone team.

Yeah totally agree with that. When Jenson Button won in 2006, Allen ruined the moment with his silly over the top shouting. Murray would have dealt with it so much better. As for Ferrari, most new fans dont seem to have any concept of just what a joke the team was 12 years ago. I remember at the British GP in 1996 when both of them retired in the first 2 laps and it was the 3rd race in succession where that had happened. We were all really respectful though and didnt laugh when Schuey came limping past with smoke pouring out

Uh huh, then Nigel Mansell appeared in a lotus and won the race.

My fave silverstone banner was at Club (I think), can't remember the exact wording, but it was in 93 and referred to Senna's running out of fuel there two years running, it said something like "91, 92,.......93?" And the bugger did too I think.

There was also the wave of joy when swerv helped von cobblers into the wall at stowe in 99, but in fairness it quieted down once it seemed he was actually hurt and not just out of the race.

Funny, I've never been to a GP, but I've had a Jordan EJ191 run over my foot, been exhaust spattered by an EJ199, stood by an FW07 while it was started, and best of all, got to touch and drool on an Ex-Clarke Lotus 49 (which, frankly scared the plasma outta my blood).

Also went to local racetrack, a shithole which Senna loved for some reason, and on the program, amongst karts and FFords, was a race called "Formula Libre", an open race with one rule....no roof, the stated purpose of which was to prevent people entering large GT's and thrashing all comers.

So the grid was, 3 or 4 Sevens of various makes, a few Crossley sportscars, an old-ish ferrari, and.....a formula opel car, a formula 3 car, a late 60's/early 70's F5000 car.......and a 1992 Footwork F1 car. My mate's kid got to sit on the back wheel while the crew were setting up. Boss mechanic said to her "I think you should move him back a wee bit now love, we're starting it" to his ma, she just stared like "errrm why". Silly cow, it nearly ried my eardrums out and I was 100yrds away.

It started last from pitlane, and despite never going over about 14000 rpm, and never using the brakes (just the wing drag), it lapped the entire field in 2 laps, AND while the entire rest of the field was running past us, all we could hear was the F1 half a mile away on the back of the circuit. AWESOME!

James Allen out.

The Chain back in.

Marvellous scenes.

As muchy as I dont want to piss on anyones parade, I'd just like to remind everyone about how fucking awful BBC sport coverage has become over the last few years.

MOTD is now unwatchable. The Rugby is terrible when John Inverdale isnt involved Wimbledon was all about Tim Henman, and now its only about Andy Murray.

The only thing thats any good is the Snooker. The BBC will obsess over Lewis Hamilton.

And Steve, if you hate James Allen so much, why dont you just have the TV on with the Radio Commentary on in the background. Its what I do for most things now.

Doctor? wrote: AWESOME!

I'm disappointed in you Doc

Uncle Liam wrote: As muchy as I dont want to piss on anyones parade, I'd just like to remind everyone about how fucking awful BBC sport coverage has become over the last few years.

MOTD is now unwatchable. The Rugby is terrible when John Inverdale isnt involved Wimbledon was all about Tim Henman, and now its only about Andy Murray.

The only thing thats any good is the Snooker. The BBC will obsess over Lewis Hamilton.

And Steve, if you hate James Allen so much, why dont you just have the TV on with the Radio Commentary on in the background. Its what I do for most things now.

Brundle aint on the radio you see. ITV suck Lewis off already, it can't get any worse. The BBC will not be making the pitcures anyway.

Minx, it was a perfectly valid use of the word.

Minx wrote:

Doctor? wrote: AWESOME!

I'm disappointed in you Doc

Yes Minx,I'm feeling your disapointment in our Timelord friend,it has to be said.....

Doctor? wrote: Col: Yes Snorri: Yes

WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!

You know all I read in that whole article?

James, cuntface, ruiner of all things, talker of slimey wank, Allen is on the DOLE!!!!!!!!!!!

F1 will be safe to watch again.

Hi Doc,

You and I don't normally see eye to eye on many things, but that's funny stuff. :D

I'll miss the adverts though!

There is only one gay-ity and that is sir rocket mick O.B.E (order of the browntight empire)

Hail sir riocket