Chatterboxes - Brian Johnston

‘HE once fell into the trap we all have – thinking his microphone had been switched off when it hadn’t. A member of the Royal Family walked forward: “My God! What a hat!” he said, much to the delight of millions of viewers, who probably agreed with him.’

So recalls Brian Johnston of one of his colleagues – one gem in a treasure-trove of anecdotes and reminiscences about the personalities, talents, foibles and classic howlers of voices known to everyone: Richard Dimbleby, John Snagge, Peter O’Sullevan, Audrey Russell, Eamonn Andrews and, of course, Richie Benaud, John Arlott, Freddie Trueman and the celebrated Test Match Special team.

In his affectionate and humorous account of the commentators and their art, Brian Johnston has written a book which recalls innumerable characters, historic occasions and memorable mistakes. From wartime commentary when they had to invent races in the fog (because the weather was a taboo subject for military reasons) to his own definitive list of personal gaffes, it is a book to appeal to everyone who has ever eagerly awaited the announcer saying, ‘And now over to…