Murray Walker talks about talking about F1

Published Jun 19, 2008

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Murray Walker, now 84, is one of the world's best known motorsport commentators. He started his career in radio, covering the Isle of Man TT races, and graduated to become the voice of Formula 1, first for the BBC and later ITV.

Known for his unique commentary style and a voice that seems to rise and fall in tone along with the revving of engines, Walker dovetailed his media activities with a successful career in advertising before he retired to concentrate on his hobby, motorsport, in 1982.

A quarter century on, Walker is still a motorsport pundit. He lives with his wife near Salisbury, Hampshire, and drives a BMW 330d.

What inspired you to embark on a career in the media?

My father was my inspiration. He rode in the TT motorcycle races from 1920 until 1935, and when he retired he edited a motorcycle magazine. As a result of that, and being very eloquent, he became the BBC radio motorcycle commentator.

I suppose subconsciously I was trying to be like him. When my own attempt at being a motorcycle racer didn't meet my expectations I turned my hand to commentating.

Describe your career.

I worked alongside my father from 1949 until 1962 as the junior BBC motorsport commentator and when he died I slotted into his position. In those days we only did motorcycle racing but from 1979 the BBC started to cover the GPs properly and they asked me to commentate.

Back then I was travelling a lot in the UK. There was a period in the 1960's when I think my wife and I had 36 weekends in one year on the road, as well as the day job in advertising.

As the years went by I spent a lot more time abroad as more events were added to the F1 calendar. So right up to 2001 when I stopped F1, I was flying long haul regularly as well as writing columns for the News of the World and the Daily Express.

What is the best thing about your job?

I've been lucky enough to make a fantastic career out of my hobby.

And the worst?

The downside has been that I commentate on an extremely dangerous sport and inevitably people have been killed. Four people died before my eyes. Undoubtedly the worst moment for me was the death of Ayrton Senna at the San Marino GP in 1994.

What's the proudest achievement in your working life?

Receiving my OBE from the queen.

And what's your most embarrassing moment?

I feel mildly sad that my image at times has been of a slightly bumbling foot-in-the-mouth bloke. I'd like to be seen as someone more professional than that.

I regard myself as very professional, a person who goes to enormous trouble over doing the right research and knows what they're talking about. When I said things like: "There is nothing wrong with the car, except it's on fire," thank heavens people found it amusing.

But it's not something I lose sleep over.

Name the one career ambition you want to realise before you retire.

My one great ambition, which I had always thought was unattainable, was to interview the great Enzo Ferrari. I achieved it in 1988 when I went to Italy to interview him for the BBC.- The Independent

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