Three BBC presenters have been dropped from their Boat Race roles as coverage switches to Channel 4, with only one member of the original presenting team making the transition.
History will be made in more ways than one when the 171st annual rowing contest between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge takes place on Saturday afternoon. Not only does this year mark the 80th edition of the women’s race, but for the first time, coverage of the event will be broadcast on Channel 4. The race was initially televised by the BBC in 1938, after the corporation had first brought it to audiences via radio in 1927. ITV covered it from 2005 until 2009.
This time around, as Cambridge looks to extend its head-to-head lead in both the men’s and women’s events, fans will need to tune into Channel 4.
One familiar face awaits, while the rest of the punditry team has been significantly shaken up.
Last year’s BBC programme was fronted by Clare Balding, who returns for Channel 4 this weekend, once again taking on the role of lead presenter.
She was previously joined by commentator Andrew Cotter, along with reporters Lee McKenzie and Qasa Alom. However, none of these three feature in Channel 4’s line-up.
Former Paralympics GB wheelchair basketball player Ade Adepitan joins Balding as co-presenter, while Alex Jacques will take on lead commentary duties, following the competitors along the Thames.
Olympic gold-medal-winning rower Martin Cross and Olympic silver-medal-winning rower Jess Eddie are also amongst the pundits, alongside triple Olympic champion Pete Reed OBE. Broadcaster and mathematician Hannah Fry will also feature, as will Jamie Laing.
Pete Andrews, head of sport at Channel 4, said: « We are very excited to be broadcasting the race on Channel 4 for the first time and, as we get closer to Race Day, it’s a thrill to confirm our team to present this historic race for us.
« I’m delighted Clare Balding and Ade Adepitan will be joining us on the banks of the Thames, along with the brilliant commentating talent of Alex Jacques and a gang of expert pundits, plus we’ll be adding in more Channel 4 faces as we build up to the big day, too. »
Channel 4 secured the competitive rights to become the exclusive free-to-air home of the Boat Race for the next five editions, with Times Radio claiming the radio rights.
The women’s race will be broadcast first, getting under way at approximately 2:21pm on Saturday.
The men’s race will follow roughly an hour later at an estimated 3:21pm, with a formidable 4.25-mile course from Putney to Mortlake on the Tideway lying in wait for the competitors.
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