BBC Coverage of Grand National 1997
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มี.ค. 2012
- The BBC has covered every Grand National since 1960 on the TV (radio coverage dates back to 1927). In the year when the BBC covers its last National, for the time being, this is a reminder of how Grandstand covered the race back in 1997.
It was momentous for two reasons: (1) it was to be Peter O'Sullevan's last National commentary and (2) in the event, the race didn't take place. A coded bomb alert message was received and the Aintree course had to be evacuated.
The presenter that afternoon was Desmond Lynam. There's a chat with O'Sullevan who reveals that his race binoculars are from an old German sub. We see the Princess Royal reveal a bronze bust of the great commentator.
As the course is evacuated Jim McGrath commentates and the TV coverage moves to the car park as Des speaks to former BBC commentator Julian Wilson and a tearful Jenny Pitman amongst others. In the OB van are Richard Pitman and Peter Scudamore. As the recording ends Des hands back to the Grandstand studio and Gary Lineker, who presumably was hanging around since Football Focus (and preparing for that evening's Match of the Day).
The race was postponed until the following Monday afternoon and was won by Lord Gyllene. - กีฬา
On the first episode of the fourth series of _They Think It's All Over,_ TX Wednesday 9th April 1997 (recorded two days earlier, the day the 1997 Grand National was eventually run), presenter Nick Hancock commended team captain Gary Lineker for stepping in to present _Grandstand_ from the studio after the BBC were evacuated from Aintree, along with _Football Focus_ and _Match of the Day_ (the latter of which he was scheduled to present in Lynam's absence anyway). After the audience's applause died down, Hancock dryly remarked "Tell you what, it makes you appreciate Steve Rider, doesn't it?"
De Lynam was brilliant sports broadcaster
Now I remember why I was so enthralled by this event from being a young boy. The BBC coverage made it an annual event never to be missed. They knew how to capture the tension, drama and excitement. With, of course, the brilliant Peter O'Sullevans inimitable commentary, which really did make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Then Channel 4 got hold of it.
If memory serves, one of the BBC commentators stayed in the track because he was at the far side of the course and therefore in no danger at all
Nicola Gregory great post!!! God bless ya!!!!!
In fairness to Channel 4, the race itself was pretty much dead by the time they started broadcasting it. In fact the last race you could even consider a Grand National was ironically 2012, the last year it was on the BBC. Channel 4's coverage of Cheltenham was far better than the BBCs coverage of Cheltenham when they took over in 1995.
nothing changed with C4
@@Trek001 Jim McGrath, heard from 11:15. Article in Racing Post today
The professionalism of the team presenting it. Never lost for words calm and collected.
Such a differnce to the hysteria of reporting today.
Des is a god.
I still remember this and was only 6 at the time! Thanks so much for the upload.
Had goosebumps watching the start of this, took me back to my childhood.
nuttynick2011 ditto.magical stardust race.the fairytale that be the great grand national!!!!
15 years ago and still remember this moment
Peter using old U-boat binoculars.
Awesome.
The legendary Peter O Sullevan
What a fantastic job the BBC did on the Grand National.This is when the Grand National was a real race not like the watered down version of today
I am not well educated enough to be aware of the changes. What's so watered down about it now? Lower fences?
The Grand National used to be unique but now it's just another long distance handicap chase.Lower fences have made it less of a test
Truly i have to say the commentary is a great skill how do they do it!?!!!!!!!???
This was very early on in the 1997 Election Campaign
i don't understand are you saying that this was out of order and preventable ?
EVERYTIME I WATCH THIS I CRY...WHY EVERYTHNG THE BUILDUP...THE EMOTION...GREAT PRESENTING...WHY DID YA SELLOUT BBC.
Jenny Pitman cared about her horses, her standard of stable management was top class. Turned out her horses very well, sadly she lost Smiths Band in the race on the Monday.
Rosalind Mercer god bless
Who's that work experience boy at the very end? Look familiar?🤭🤭
You're absolutely right Des, it was the practicality of the situation. Gloom and despondency all across Aintree, not least for poor Jenny Pitman who came across as totally inconsolable during that interview. It's unbearable to see Jenny in such a state like this and I too was deeply sickened by the actions of those disgusting individuals.
+ELLA HORNBY poor soul would be even more distraught. Her photo appeared on the front of the paper with her lovely Smith's Band and by Monday afternoon he lay dead on the ground .
Well, I was much younger then but I do have some recollection of Jenny's woes that year at the Festival. Saying that, every time she appeared on television she seemed to be crying over some thing or other. Probably just a very emotional person I suspect.
@ELLA HORNBY What's unbearable are Pitman's jaw-droppingly ignorant comments from 24:03 - 24:18.
The stupid bitch.
As far as I am concerned it is 20m saved then and spent somewhere different... what does it matter to you that its Channel 4 you watch it on?
BBC was class coverage . Covered all the emotions of the great race. Channel 4 has lost all of that.
no it hasn't.
The BBC is useless today at almost everything it does.
I was there and I remember when we were evacuated Ron Dixon from Brookside was behind us!
Great stuff> remember are well.
Yes this is indeed the Grandstand that gary Lineker had to take over a short notice.
Channel 4 cannot hold a candle to the BBC for commentary of the GN. BBC losing broadcasting of it is a dreadful blow to horse racing. Channel 4 with other racing has been ok, but preferred the old team.
Charlie Barnett aintree's legend
That was sad
"Desmond Lynam" LOL sounds funny that!
Well that is his full name but yes it does sound funny as we are not used to it
And just a few hundred miles down the road... I was being born
Well at least the day welcomed one of it's wonderful human beings into this world on what can only be described as a catastrophic day for horse racing.
I would probaly been in work at the time and knew nothing about it. Bit shocking to see it on the news that night. Channel 4 and ITV's coverage was never as good as the BBC. No ads. Can't believe how young Gary Linekar looks
It was the first time he had presented other than Football Focus! He was thrust into the studio to take over unexpectedly, although I'm guessing he may well have been on standby anyway just incase but nothing like that would ever happen would it!
What happened next? What did Gary Lineker do? A dance or something?
Yes, he started twerking 🕺
IT KILLS ME TO WATCH THIS THE BUILD UP THE EMOTION WHY DID THE BBC SELLOT THE GREATEST EVENT ON THE CALENDAR...MONEY
"Sadly the BBC grand national coverage has been abandoned, so in its place we are showing 8 episodes of a new series to BBC 'Bargain hunt''
Gary Lineker didn't do too bad :D 26:21
BBC Witness brought me here...
jenny pitman loved horses. leave her alone
matters a lot. cos its the public that pay the bbc to bid for these events. where is our money being spent? ch4 pay for it via advertising. bbc should do this then save the public from wasting their money on tv we dont to watch.
does peter o Sullivan's statue look like grandad out of bread
It would've been funny if ' the phone call ' was made when she pulled the cord.
What gets me is the faint sounds of angry Scousers and Racegoers cursing the IRA, and the bomb threat, Around the 12 minute mark you can hear some of it.
12:15 - You just hear "filthy Irish" said by someone with a scouse accent here. You can't blame all the Irish, as the majority never supported the IRA.
@@SaoirseGoDeo *your*
Saoirse Go Deo 1986 the British had to bail out you bogtrotters a few years ago after the financial crash 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
I was 13 when this happened. I was visiting the UK with my family when this happened. The IRA tried to bomb the Grand National. I remember the groomsmen that rescued all the horses.
Anyone think the guy with the curly hair smirking behind des while he was interviewing jenny pitman was a plant? He seemed to be fishing for info.
Well over the top from hagman 😳
Jenny Pitman made an ass of herself crying during the interview.
Des Lynam is a legend.
I totally agree
hi
i was 10
Wot a man Peter o Sullivan
Des, Charlie told everyone to leave the course and get out on to the public highway immediately, that order also included you. No Des, not almost immediately, now he said, remember what you said to Jenny about the practicality of the situation.
He's a professional. He's not going to let a mere terrorist bomb threat disrupt his duty to tell viewers that the race has been ruined
Oh, absolutely. Des was one of the greats. His compassion and professionalism always came across well in tragic moments like this. He clearly felt for Jenny, I think we all did. Des was your man to handle things here.
Jimmy Saville's pocket .
The Queen Mother was probably watching this with a glass of alcohol in her hand
the only good Grand Nationals were '97 and '93
Jenny pitman lol God lord
Yes, her comments are unbelievably ignorant.
@@ppuh6tfrz646 What?! about terrorists being disgusting and inhuman? and not giving into them?......Actually I, like most I suspect, would call that factual in the first instance and defiant in the next. What is the alternative? rolling over and spending life having your tummy tickled and being a human doormat?!!!
@@andycross9840 Actually, about terrorists not caring about horses...
Great coverage but unfortunate the IRA hijacked it that day, still at least no one was hurt.
The whole thing was a complete overreaction and unnecessary. I hope it’s never happens again.
Complete overreaction I understand that to be cautious but it was still a complete overreaction