UK Sports Commentators [1] Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rugby union

Bill McLaren was known as the voice of rugby to millions of BBC Grandstand viewers. Born in Hawick in the Scottish borders, Bill was well known for his impartiality when commentating on games. When his son-in-law Alan Lawson scored two tries against England in 1976, although stating afterwards that he nearly fell out of the commentary box, his voice retained its normal cadence thereby masking the emence personal pride he was feeling at that moment.

His standing in the sport was highlighted in 2001 when, he became the first non-rugby playing personality inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.

Answer: Cricket

John Arlott combined his poetic gift with his love of cricket to enchant the English radio listening public for over 30 years. Although he did a limited amount of cricket coverage on television, it was his magical use of the English language on radio that became synonymous with English summers.

In 1975, his description of West Indian batsman Clive Lloyd's majestic strike as 'the stroke of a man knocking a thistle top off with a walking stick', lives long in the memory of his millions of admirers.

Answer: Boxing

Harry Carpenter worked for the BBC for over 40 years, he was both a commentator and front man for many of their flagship sporting programs such as Grandstand and Sportsnight. Best known for his iconic boxing commentaries, his cool and personable approach endeared him to the wider British public as a whole. Harry enjoyed a special relationship with both Muhammad Ali and Frank Bruno. Harry covered the Rumble in the Jungle in 1974 when Ali regained his title.

A few years later he became one side of a double act with Bruno, becoming the catalyst for the boxers catchphrase, 'Know what I mean, Arry?'.

Answer: Rugby league

In the 1960s and 1970s, Eddie Waring's distinctive northern voice was instantly recognisable to the majority of the British public. Waring commentated on Rugby League matches on the BBC's Saturday afternoon sports program Grandstand. It appeared that his almost comical delivery polarised opinion on his popularity.

In the north of England, the traditional heartland of Rugby League, Eddie was perceived by many devotees of the game to be portraying a stereotypical figure who was harmful to the sports image. Conversely, out with Yorkshire and Lancashire, Eddie was seen as a real character and all round entertainer by many.

His career branched out in other directions, from 1968 until 1982, he co-hosted a bizarre television game show called 'It's A Knockout'.

Answer: Tennis

In 1949, Dan Maskell began his Wimbledon broadcasting career as a radio summarizer alongside commentator Max Robertson. It did not take long for his prowess to be acknowledged, when in 1951 BBC television approached him to join Freddie Grisewood to cover that years Wimbledon. Astonishingly from 1929 until 1991, Dan Maskell attended every single day's play that took place at Wimbledon.

Answer: Show jumping

Raymond Brooks-Ward began his commentating on show jumping in 1956, which continued up until his premature death at the age of 62 in 1992. Along with Dorian Williams, he helped to pioneer the sport to the British public through the medium of television. Never obtrusive, his vast knowledge of the sport allowed him to chip in with wonderful insights that enhanced the overall viewing experience.

Answer: Football

Kenneth Wolstenholme may have uttered the most famous words ever spoken live on English television. Some may argue that the moon landing surpassed his superlative, 'Some people are on the pitch. They think it's all over, it is now!'. You would be hard pressed to find an English baby boomer who would agree with you on such a suggestion.

In 1966 when England won the soccer World Cup, Wolstenholme articulated the aforementioned words and propelled himself into sporting commentating immortality.

Answer: Athletics

Appropriately enough David Coleman first appeared on British televisions screens on 6 May 1954, the day that the four minute mile was broken by Roger Bannister. In 1972, Coleman showed his versatility, in Munich for the BBC's coverage of the Olympics, he reported live on events during the Israeli hostage catastrophe. David Coleman was as well known for his soccer commentaries as he was for athletics, commentating on numerous English soccer FA Cup finals.

Answer: Snooker

Whispering Ted Lowe, was so named on account of his ability to build up tension, whilst relaying the action on the snooker table in hushed tones. Ted Lowe may have played a significant part in revitalising snooker as a spectator sport in it's darkest hour.

In the late 1960s, he came up with an idea for a one hour, once a week televised snooker tournament on prime time BBC television. The show was called Pot Black, and the subsequent success of the format breathed life back into the ailing game.

Answer: Horse racing

Peter O'Sullevan's commentating association with BBC television on live horse racing goes back as far as 1947. His first television commentary of the Grand National came in 1960, when the 13/2 favourite Merryman II triumphed. O'Sullevan's distinctive, unforgettable commentaries were heard, during which many would consider a golden era of the grand National's illustrious history.

He commentated on the famous Red Rum's three victories in the seventies and on the 1967 sensational victory by the 100-1 outsider Foinavon.

The 1967 result no doubt was no real surprise to O'sullevan, as at the tender age of 10, he had a winning wager of sixpence each way on Tipperary Tim, another horse to romp home at odds of 100-1.

Answer: Boat racing

For over 40 years, John Snagge's voice was heard around the world broadcasting the annual Oxford verses Cambridge Boat Race. Snagge became synonymous with the BBC's radio coverage of the elite rowing event that somehow manages to split the British nation. John Snagge broadcasting career enveloped far more than the once a year Thames rowing extravaganza.

His was the voice that told the World of the D-Day landings in 1944, and in 1953 he commentated live from Westminster Abbey on Queen Elizabeth's Coronation.

Answer: Wrestling

In 1955, Kent Walton embarked on a 33-year career commentating for ITV on professional wrestling. It is difficult to imagine, for people who grew up with his Saturday afternoon commentaries, that he had never witnessed a live wrestling bout prior to that day. Kent Walton introduced the nation to such household names as Mick McManus, Jackie Pallo, kendo Nagasaki, Giant Haystacks and Big Daddy.

Answer: Darts

Famed for his verbal gymnastics, roared out in a Geordie accent, Sid Waddell is simply Mr. Darts when it comes to commentating. A working class lad from Newcastle who won a scholarship to Cambridge University, has entertained the nation since 1977 with his unique commentating style.

When a maximum score is achieved, the unmistakable tones of Sid Waddell will ring out 'one hundred and eighty', to the delight of millions of darts devotees.

Answer: Formula One

Undoubtedly now known for his Formula One coverage, it is motorbike scrambling that the name Murray Walker will forever be associated to us who were growing up in the sixties. Late Saturday afternoons may have been dominated by wrestling on ITV, however it was scrambling that remains the abiding memory for early Saturday afternoon viewing on BBC. Murray Walker's fantastic commentaries introduced us to such motocross legends such as Dave Bickers, Jeff Smith and Badger Goss.

Answer: Golf

Unlike many of the other UK sports commentators, Peter Alliss's reputation is not just confined to the British Isles. Although he did not retire from competitive golf until 1975, he had embarked on television commentary as far back as 1961, when he was part of the BBC's team covering the Open.

His international reputation was further enhanced with commentaries for Australian, USA and Canadian television networks.