David Mercer is indeed ex-BBC Radio Wales.

On the subject of past jobs, if anyone wants to hear Simon Reed's rather off-the-wall impression of Frankie Howerd, follow the link below, go down to the second clip (Afternoon Plus 1980), click the arrow on the left-hand side and you'll find it about a minute in.

Link: http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/itvlondon/thames-progs6.html

It's a big few weeks of upheaval in Australia ahead of the Olympics, The AFL Footy Show (not sure about the NRL) is going on a break for a couple of weeks while James Brayshaw and Garry Lyon are in London for Channel Nine, it'll also mean the miss out their AFL radio calling commitments.

Bruce McAvaney will be missing from Channel Seven AFL coverage as he is part of a world feed commentary team at the Olympics

Andrew Voss will also be missing from Channel Nine's Rugby League coverage I think, I'm not sure if Warren Smith will be missing from Fox

The interesting thing about David Mercer was that he was a leading umpire for a few years.

He umpired the McEnroe-Connors final in 1984 (aged 34), but within two years had become lead BBC Radio commentator with Tony Adamson.

Ha thanks for that. I did wonder how old Simon was, I am guessing about 63-64 ish as his brother would have been 73 this year.

So that probably makes him the 2nd oldest lead commentator after Barry Davies.

Around the time when John Barrett was approaching retirement, David Mercer did, I believe, commentate on one or two men's finals for the BBC. But then Andrew Castle, the 'bigger name', took over.

Kerber v Radwanska - Simon Reed & Lindsay Davenport
S.Williams v Azarenka - Nick Mullins, Tracy Austin & John McEnroe

You get to see a few clips of him in this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89Ypd...eature=related

Also their will be no Ray Hadley who has been Channel 9 no.2 this year he will be commentating the Swimming for Fox and Sydney radio 2GB. I think Andrew Voss has mainly been commentating on Queensland Cup matches this year after Channel 9 gained the rights in Queensland from the ABC.

Here is one of the Olympic commericals I captured on WIN after the local news http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL0aTjiGW3E

Mens semi final at Wimbledon

Federer V Djokovic - Andrew Castle, Tim Henman and Boris Becker

Surprised that Castle isnt doing the Murray match so maybe that will be David Mercer ??

I'm not surprised, Mark Petchey will almost definitely do the Tsonga-Murray match. Him and Castle seem to rotate year by year as to who does the Murray semi-final. Also, Castle did Murray's QF so Petchey is due to do the SF.

Murray v Tsonga – Mark Petchey, John Lloyd & John McEnroe

Smurfs5 is quite right that Castle & Petchey rotate

I'd far rather have Barry Davies doing it. I take it he's not used for the latter stages?

Might be doing doubles matches for the extra streams.

Petchey was due to be playing this afternoon, that has now being "TBA"

He is. Doing the Williams sisters match right now

Why does Garry Richardson get to interview the big names? He is an awful interviewer who asks pathetically obvious questions, epitomised by his Murray interview today, which was one of the worst interviews I've seen in a while.

3D coverage currently being shown on BBC HD Channel. Commentary from David Mercer and, I think, Cliff Drysdale.

I wonder, if Cliff Drysdale indeed is the co-commentator, this is shared with ESPN3D.
Last edited by IanFergus : 07-07-2012 at 10:25

It was indeed Cliff - David Mercer mentioned right at the start that it was the first time they'd worked together. The 3D commentary of Murray / Tsonga was by Chris Bradnam & Greg Rusedski - this was mentioned as 'coming next' at the end of the first one, even though it wasn't shown. The way they packaged the programme looked very 'generic' so quite possibly shown by ESPN and other international broadcasters.

Thanks for the confirmation on Cliff Drysdale.

Does anyone know if Australia's channel seven are using their own teams or taking the BBC or ESPN commentary?

Channel 7 have John Newcombe, Rennae Stubbs, Sam Smith and Geoff Masters at Wimbledon with Todd Woodbridge hosting.

Thanks Ian.

I know I am very much in a minority but i quite like Garry and his questions. He is no Phil Jones, who I think it excellent at both tennis and athletics, but he does stand out from the crowd. Sonahli Shah may be pleasing on the eye but she is no interviewer.

I agree that he is the best of a bad bunch(excluding Phil Jones) , he is better than Sonali and Rishi but he seems to be viewed as the No.2 interviewer, yet he asks uninteresting questions.

Lindsay is commentating!!!!