- BBC’s Hazel Irvine and ex-Team GB flagbearer Mark Foster have been outstanding
- Fred Sirieix dropped a ‘merde-bomb’ live on air while discussing the cockerel
- Was there any real purpose to the Adam Peaty-Gordon Ramsay interview?
The first day of 16 in the Olympic armchair quickly turns into a rapid refresher on using the red button and testing whether tea and toast can be prepared as swiftly as the BBC promotes its latest serial drama with Martin Freeman.
After six hours, there’s a British bronze secured, an unexpected fencing result, a pile of empty teacups, and time trial cyclists navigating the puddles of Paris.
By the time France reaches the men’s rugby sevens final, the less-than-intelligent TV has suggested turning off twice, while half the nation is rediscovering the details of flawless landings and splashless entries.
We’re all set and ready by the moment Hazel Irvine deftly avoids the distraction of two unfortunate souls in high-visibility vests outside the studio, working on something atop a window-cleaning gondola, reminiscent of a modern spin on a classic Morecambe and Wise act.
With Irvine in her groove, the Eiffel Tower glistening through the rain, and a notable lack of competing events, the Beeb can lean back into their strength, showcasing a wide array of sports beyond the conventional with a host of outstanding commentators and analysts guiding us through the unfamiliar.
BBC presenter Hazel Irvine managing events skillfully in Paris,
Team GB flagbearer Mark Foster (pictured) has been the standout pundit on air throughout the games
Gordon Ramsay interviews Adam Peaty, but what was really the purpose of this exchange?
None have impressed more than Mark Foster, whose insights throughout the breaststroke heats have been both measured and genuinely valuable.
Frankly, there’s no need for Gordon Ramsay to interview Adam Peaty, recounting his own tales while giving it a ‘good job’ at the end, when others in-house could certainly handle it better.
Moreover, we could have easily skipped the unnecessary plugs for what was streaming live on iPlayer (mostly judo and badminton it seemed), with QR codes popping up in the corner to suggest that something more exciting might be happening elsewhere.
At least there’s no frantic necessity to vie for the spotlight as seen in football, where Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer seem to compete for soundbites that could go viral. However, Fred Sirieix did manage to drop a casual merde-bomb on BBC Breakfast.
Yes, him—the familiar French face from Channel 4’s First Dates, whose daughter Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix is part of the British diving team.
His charming personality was a hit during a somewhat awkward green-screen café segment featuring pastries, until he ventured into an explanation of the French national emblem, the cockerel, which continues to sing even when its feet are ‘stuck in the s***’.
Co-host Jeanette Kwakye hurriedly offered a clumsy apology, while JJ Chalmers leaned in for a pain aux raisins.
Fred Sirieix (pictured) dropped a ‘merde-bomb’ when asked about the French national emblem
Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix (pictured), daughter of Sirieix, is aiming for gold in Olympic diving for Team GB
On Eurosport, they delved into the unconventional, dedicating time to the men’s sabre fencing, which is essentially too swift to track, with fencers resembling astronauts, vigorous lunging, and dramatic gestures towards the referee, often removing their face guards to plead their case.
Despite the chaos, it delivered intrigue—without the distraction of Martin Freeman and his crew. That’s the beauty of live sports. Any kind of sport. Especially during the Olympic Games on free-to-air television. No embellishment necessary. Once you’re this invested, you’re in for the long haul. Farewell to fresh air and physical activity. Hello, spinal discomfort.
