Ben Edwards (commentator)

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Ben Edwards
Born (1965-12-20) 20 December 1965 (age 58)
Nationality Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British
Occupation(s) Commentator, Journalist
Employer(s) Channel 4, Formula One Management
SpouseBelinda

Benjamin Hugh Railton Edwards (born 20 December 1965) is a British motor racing commentator employed by Formula One, and formerly employed by Channel 4. In the past, he has voiced television coverage of Formula One, Superleague Formula and the British Touring Car Championship, in addition to Formula One DVD Reviews for Duke Video. After spending well over a decade working for networks including Eurosport, ESPN, ITV and F1 Digital +, he was named the BBC's lead TV commentator on its Formula One coverage from 2012 in December 2011. He is known for his enthusiastic and energetic commentary style. In 2022 Edwards is one of the commentators for F1TV’s Formula One racing coverage. As of June 2023, he will also assume a role as one of the main commentators in respect of Formula E.

Contents

Career

Starting out

Brought up in Surrey, Edwards first started out in motorsport as a mechanic for Formula Ford teams in 1982, before beginning a career as a racing driver. He won the first Formula First championship, a now defunct championship for new drivers, and went to become champion in Caterham-Vauxhall sports cars. He also took part in the Euro Vauxhall Lotus championship where he raced against the likes of David Coulthard, who is now his co-commentator, and Mika Häkkinen. [1]

He first started commentating after enjoying his experience teaching racing at Brands Hatch and Snetterton. His first commentary position was for the BBC with Tiff Needell, but he became known to British viewers through his Formula One commentary on Eurosport. He was usually partnered with former Formula One race winner John Watson.

Champ Car

When Eurosport lost the rights to Formula One at the end of 1996, Edwards became the voice of Champ Car racing for viewers of Eurosport and ESPN International, also carried by Channel 5. His work alongside Jeremy Shaw was regarded as a big success.

Although Edwards was very popular with the viewers, he gradually became tired of commuting from Britain to the United States for every race. He considered moving permanently to the United States.

In 2001, Edwards was replaced by Guy Hobbs as the main Champ Car commentator, but he did commentate for the races in Japan, Detroit, Mid-Ohio, Germany, Houston and Australia when Hobbs had other commitments, and at the Rockingham Motor Speedway race.

Return to England

In 2002, Edwards joined ITV to commentate on the British Touring Car Championship. He also took on the role of lead commentator for F1 Digital +, and was reunited with his old colleague, John Watson. F1 Digital + finished at the end of the 2002 season, but since 2005 Watson and Edwards have been working together on Sky Sports and the international feed for A1 Grand Prix.

On occasions when British Touring Car Championship and A1 Grand Prix races clashed, he was replaced on ITV by John Hindhaugh.

Edwards has also commentated on other motorsport events for Eurosport and British TV, including coverage of the British Formula Three Championship (alongside Martin Haven), and the Superleague Formula series.

BBC F1

On 13 December 2011, it was confirmed that Edwards would replace Martin Brundle as the BBC's lead commentator for Formula One in 2012, working alongside David Coulthard. Toby Moody took Edwards' place for the BTCC in 2012. Edwards worked across BBC TV, Radio and online. [2] Edwards made a one-off return to the BBC in 2021 for the 2021 Spanish Grand Prix, commentating on BBC Radio 5 Live, filling in for Jack Nicholls. [3] He also replaced Nicholls for the 2021 French Grand Prix. [4] Following Nicholls's departure from the BBC following allegations of inappropriate behaviour in 2023, Edwards has been one of the BBC's and F1 Radio rotating lead commentators. [5]

Channel 4 F1

In 2016, Edwards moved to Channel 4 to continue commentating on Formula 1, again working alongside David Coulthard. The move came after the BBC terminated its TV rights agreement early, and Channel 4 picked the deal up. [6] Edwards stepped down from his commentary role at Channel 4 after the conclusion of the 2020 season. [7] He was succeeded by Alex Jacques. [8] However he subsequently filled in for Jacques at the 2021 Styrian Grand Prix and 2021 Austrian Grand Prix when Jacques had to self-isolate after Billy Monger tested positive for COVID-19. [9]

F1TV

In 2022, Edwards rejoined the Formula One Media team at its Biggin Hill headquarters to lead the commentary for F1TV's worldwide output. [10] In this role, he commentated alongside former Formula One driver Jolyon Palmer. For the 2023 British Grand Prix he substituted for F1TV Live as Alex Jacques was commentating for Channel 4.

Personal life

Edwards, with his wife Belinda, runs Entreprix Ltd., a "motorsports specialist" company. Founded in 1987, the company has managed numerous motorsport championships, the most recent being the British GT Championship from 2003 to 2005. He currently resides in Wortham, Suffolk.

Racing record

Complete British Saloon Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position – 1980–1990 in class) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap – 1 point awarded ?–1989 in class)

YearTeamCarClass123456789DCPtsClass
1986 Brands Hatch Racing School Ford Escort XR3i XR3i SIL THR SIL DON BRH SNE BRH
18		 DON SIL NC0NC
Source: [11]

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References

  1. ↑ "Ben Edwards and Alan Hyde talk up the 2005 season". btccinfo.co.uk. 30 March 2005. Archived from the original on 13 February 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Cary, Tom (13 December 2011). "BBC choose former driver Ben Edwards as successor to Formula One commentator Martin Brundle". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Twitter https://twitter.com/benedwardstv/status/1390595858282987520 . Retrieved 10 May 2021.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ "How the French GP unfolded". bbc.co.uk . 20 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  5. ↑ "Jack Nicholls: Commentator sacked by Formula e for 'inappropriate behaviour'". BBC News. June 2023.
  6. ↑ "Formula 1 - Profiles - Ben Edwards - Channel 4". Channel 4. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "Ben Edwards to step down as Channel 4 F1 commentator in UK". www.motorsport.com. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "Alex Jacques replaces Ben Edwards as Channel 4's F1 commentator". www.motorsport.com. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  9. ↑ Duncan, Philip (26 June 2021). "F1 host Steve Jones to miss Styrian Grand Prix after Billy Monger tests positive". independent.co.uk . Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  10. ↑ Nelson, David (17 March 2022). "Ben Edwards to return to commentary box with F1's in-house team". Motorsport Broadcasting. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  11. ↑ de Jong, Frank. "British Saloon Car Championship". History of Touring Car Racing 1952-1993. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
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