2:09 Sky Sports News Formula One reporter Craig Slater pays tribute to Murray Walker who has died aged 97
He continued to combine his dual identity – advertising executive by weekday and passionate motor racing enthusiast and commentator at the weekend – over the following few decades with commentaries across the spectrum of motorsport from F1 to TT racing before the role that would ultimately come to define him came about in the late 1970s as the BBC decided to vastly expand its TV coverage of the top level of motorsport. Choosing Murray to front its new Grand Prix programme was a masterstroke and over the next quarter of a century his unique commentary style became part of the fabric of the sport.
As did, famously, what affectionately became known over the years as his collection of ‘Murrayisms’.
Indeed his commentaries always came from the heart, no more so than when friend Damon Hill took the chequered flag at Suzuka in 1996 to emulate his father in winning the World Championship and Murrary quietly informed millions that “I’ve got to stop because I’ve got a lump in my throat.”
His two most famous and long-running commentary partnerships would prove similarly good value for viewers. Although initially apprehensive about the appearance of the flamboyant James Hunt alongside him in the commentary box, the pair struck up a famous double act for over a decade prior to the 1976 world champion’s death in 1993.
Murray’s relationship with Martin Brundle proved equally popular after the UK’s F1 TV rights, and the ‘Voice’ himself, transferred to ITV at the start of the 1997 season to begin an unexpected new era in his incredible broadcasting career.
He later even became a Honda F1 ambassador, and was a popular attendee of F1 events even after passing the age of 90.
As his successors ever since have remarked, it’s a pointless task trying to emulate Murray Walker. He was a true one-off.
Sourse: skysports.com
