I Don't Want a Commentary Box

The new Indian Formula One circuit has 35 commentary boxes, but not one of them has a view of the circuit. There is an argument to say, why does it matter? I was out in Delhi in December commentating on the Formula MRF Championship from one of these sound-proofed rooms and, if I’m honest, it didn’t have a huge impact on my commentary. Certainly, the particularly violent symptoms of Dehli Belly I was suffering from were more of a concern. The question therefore is; does it matter where a commentator commentates from?

One of the boxes at the Indian F1 Circuit

Aside from telling the story of an event, it is a very important responsibility to try and bring the audience to the venue, to make them feel involved. That may sound like a bit of a wishy-washy arts graduate opinion, but it’s what I attempt to do. Off-tube commentary for example – where the commentator is hundreds of miles from an event, commentating from a TV studio – will never be as good as that same commentator working on-site in my opinion. Often the audience wouldn't be able to tell the difference, but I much prefer working at the event. Facilities like those in India, though, are pretty much off-tube rooms that happen to be on-site. But not only would I like to see the end of commentary boxes in stupid positions, or with limited views of any aspect of the circuit, I’d like to do away with commentary boxes all together.

Football commentary doesn’t come from boxes. The commentators are sat in the crowd, with the best view in the house, but why? They too are just commentating on the TV pictures from the monitor in front of them. So the argument becomes that it helps them bring the atmosphere to the viewers. I love football, but atmosphere essentially consists of grown men shouting and insulting each other like children. You can’t hear the players talking to each other, can’t see the nuances that the TV cameras may have failed to pick up, all you get is chanting.

Guy Mowbray's commentary position at a football ground

What got me thinking about all this was last weekend in Dubai. I was out there commentating on the XCAT Powerboat World Series for the first time, and instead of a box I was plonked on the race control boat, open to the elements save for a canopy above my head on the top deck of this yacht, perhaps 50 metres from the finish line where the boats were skimming over the waves at 120mph. Suddenly, you’re involved. You’re there. The boat is rocking as each powerboat speeds past, you can hear the sound, smell the oil and see the drivers working the wheel. It invigorates you and excites you, and as a result allows you to better communicate the spectacle to the viewers. It was fantastic. We all know how intoxicating it is watching motorsport, so why should we be excluded from that environment whilst trying to convey it to our audience?

Powerboat commentary position in Dubai

Which made me a happy chappy

Motorsport is the most spectacular of sports. My job is brilliant. But being locked up in a small sterile room is the worst part of it, and doesn’t provide the right environment for good commentary. If I'm commentating at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire, I will often take the microphone outside of the box and sit on the grass bank outside. Murray Walker apparently commentated from the pitlane at Monaco in the 1980s, what an absolute thrill that must have been. Noise may be an issue, but frankly technology is advanced enough for that not to be a particular stumbling block. I'd love to commentate from in the grandstand with the fans, just like football commentary, and I think it would create a better environment for my work.