The Chain is heading with Formula 1 to Channel 4, it has been confirmed.

The Chain, by Fleetwood Mac, has always been the BBC’s Formula 1 theme tune irrespective of whether the corporation was covering the Grand Prix just on TV, or on both television and radio. Last December, BBC surrendered the television rights, with Channel 4 picking the rights up.

It might be seen as a surprising move considering that ITV did not take The Chain on, and Sky Sports went for Just Drive by Alistair Griffin. In a post last month, blog readers suggested a lot of theme tunes to potentially replace The Chain.

But nevertheless, it looks like Channel 4 and Whisper Films have no intention to break The Chain. I’m happy with the news considering that to some people, The Chain is Formula 1. The reaction on social media to the news has been extremely positive with Jenson Button and Karun Chandhok getting in on the act.

In the words of Channel 4: “Dum der der dum der der dum dum dum dummm…”

Update on February 13th – For reasons unknown, the @Channel4 Twitter account removed both tweets related to The Chain yesterday, but the tweet remains on @C4Press. The news is definitely true, as opposed to a rogue tweet. I suspect they wanted to announce it via @C4Press as opposed to @Channel4, but rolled with it initially when they saw the attention the @Channel4 tweets were getting.

The never ending wheel that is Channel 4 speculation appears to have lit up with news coming out of Buenos Aires that four-time world champion Alain Prost could be part of their Formula 1 team.

Speaking to MotorSportsTalk (NBC) prior to this weekend’s Formula E race in Argentina, Prost said that he is not going to part of Renault’s Formula 1 team. Prost added: “I prefer to be away from the operational work because it’s too complicated anyway with Formula E and the ambassador role and Canal+ [in France] and maybe Channel 4 [in Britain], different things that I have to do.”

Confirmed
– David Coulthard (link)

Expected to be confirmed
– Ben Edwards (link)
– Steve Jones (link)

Inconclusive
– Alain Prost
– Eddie Jordan (link; link)

Ruled out
– Suzi Perry (link)
– Martin Whitmarsh (link)

Clearly Prost would not have mentioned Channel 4 had he not been contacted by either the network themselves or Whisper Films. So, it looks like we have a new name in the punditry frame… I would be happy with this if it came off. Prost has experience of course at the top level of motor sport, but also brief experience as a team manager so is well positioned to comment on the action both on and off the track.

As noted though, Prost is does Formula 1 work with Canal+, so he would have split the two roles. Logically, Prost would be part of Channel 4’s live races I reckon if the two sides agreed terms.

Update on February 7th – Alain Prost, this time speaking to Motorsport.com: “There is nothing done with UK TV [Channel 4] but it could be nice. I will continue with Canal + as usual for sure. I do not know why people are talking so much about UK TV, maybe it is because I am friends with David [Coulthard], but we see what the future holds.”

Update on February 9th – The same quotes have been published on James Allen’s website, the article on there written by Alex Kalinauckas. Fitting in with the who Steve Jones follows, Kalinauckas is also reporting that Lee McKenzie will be part of Channel 4’s team. Edwards, as expected, and also Guy Martin will also feature. It should be noted that Martin does regularly present on Channel 4 but the wording implies that Martin will not be lead presenter.

It is official – Suzi Perry is not part of Channel 4’s Formula 1 team. This evening, the former BBC F1 presenter confirmed on Twitter that she would not be part of the channel’s new line-up, whilst also ruling herself out of a Top Gear role.

To regular blog readers, the news should not be a surprise given that this site first reported the information on January 16th. It looks like, barring a major change of direction, that Steve Jones will be leading Channel 4’s coverage when the Formula 1 paddock arrives in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix.

The other major story this evening, first reported by Radio Times and then The Guardian, that Eddie Jordan will be part of BBC’s new Top Gear team. The Guardian believes that Jordan’s Top Gear deal “is almost certain to be finalised in the coming days.” That news comes at loggerheads to Charles Sale’s report a few weeks back which claimed Jordan will be part of Channel 4’s F1 team. It is highly unlikely that Jordan will be part of both teams, so one report is right and the other is wrong. I’m leaning towards Radio Times with this one. It’s plausible that Jordan could balance Top Gear with Channel 4’s live races only, but I don’t see it happening.

The Guardian’s report (if true) eliminates another player that could have been a permanent part of Channel 4’s team. Based on the survey results from the beginning of January, you would have to hope that Channel 4 have managed to get either Mark Webber or Allan McNish on-board. If not, then you’re looking towards Graeme Lowdon or Susie Wolff. Martin Whitmarsh ruled himself out two weeks ago, whilst Lowdon as part of Manor have today confirmed a Le Mans entry.

In 42 days, the lights will go out for the first practice session of the 2016 season. In 43 days, Channel 4’s first highlights programme goes to air. And yet, there is still a lot to learn…

Update on February 11th – Eddie Jordan now confirmed as a member of the Top Gear team.

The past week has been quiet with no news on Channel 4’s on-air Formula 1 team, meaning that the earliest we will know news is Monday 1st February.

To recap what we know so far:

– Whisper Films and David Coulthard confirmed.
– Ben Edwards and Eddie Jordan rumoured by Daily Mail.
– Suzi Perry and Martin Whitmarsh are not part of Channel 4’s team

In my last piece on the subject, I made the following comment: “Are Channel 4 and Whisper Films planning on doing something different with the lead presenter role?” The answer appears to be a resounding yes. Whilst I do not know who Channel 4 have chosen, this blog understands that there are four names on the broadcaster’s list and there is enough information in the public domain to draw conclusions about which of the four is most likely to front their coverage.

The first person in the running is Steve Jones. Jones has previously presented The X Factor USA along with BBC One entertainment shows such as 101 Ways to Leave a Gameshow and Let’s Dance for Sport Relief. This year, Jones is set to present My Kitchen Rules: UK and the Sex Box series. Both of those will air on Channel 4. On one hand you could say that this makes Jones less likely to present Formula 1, but both shows are pre-recorded so can be filmed around Jones’ schedule. On Twitter, Jones has started following Jake Humphrey. More intriguingly, Jones is now following Marc Priestley. Priestley and Humphrey are now following Jones back. Does this mean that both Jones and Priestley are part of Channel 4’s team?

A separate train of thought is that Channel 4 want one of their Paralympics presenters to lead the channel’s Formula 1 coverage in order to develop on-air talent with physical disabilities, as has been mooted over on Digital Spy. The most likely person in my opinion is Jordan Jarrett-Bryan. Jarrett-Bryan is currently sports reporter for Channel 4 News, which makes him an ideal candidate and probably high on Channel 4’s list. Unfortunately, no ‘Twitter evidence’, as I like to call it. One possibility is that Channel 4 could send him their Formula 1 reporter for the news team.

When the BBC and ITV released their Six Nations talent line-ups, one name was missing from ITV’s portfolio. That name is Craig Doyle. Doyle has presented BT Sport’s MotoGP coverage from the middle of 2014 following the swift departure of Melanie Sykes. Assuming Doyle was Channel 4’s number one choice, they would need to get him out of his BT contract first and need to find a replacement for their MotoGP and rugby coverage: it would seem unfeasible, but not impossible, for Doyle to present Channel 4’s F1 coverage and MotoGP on BT Sport.

Lastly, we have Rick Edwards, who in the past few days has started following both Whisper Films and David Coulthard on Twitter. Edwards, like Jarrett-Bryan, is part of Channel 4’s Paralympics coverage, meaning that Channel 4 should not need to do much negotiation to get Edwards on board. There was also Andy Jaye, but I am not as convinced that Jaye will get the role as I once was. Edwards primarily works for Channel 4, whereas Jaye works for other broadcasters as well which makes Edwards a more likely person to get the lead presenter role.

It appears that Channel 4’s Formula 1 presenter will be one of the five names above. It certainly will not be a familiar face to Formula 1 viewers. Given that it is February on Monday, we will know the identity sooner rather than later…

Update on January 30th – Rick Edwards on Twitter: “I would love to have done it but won’t be!” All signs appear to point towards Jones becoming Channel 4’s F1 presenter. I’ll update as and when I hear more.

Update on February 3rd – As reported above, it looks like Steve Jones has been chosen to lead Channel 4’s coverage. At 11:49, Murray in the comments noted that Jones had followed a lot of Formula 1 related accounts. I had a look and could see that Jones had followed every team and driver on the grid – including Red Bull Racing, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. Within two hours of me then tweeting it, Jones had unfollowed the F1 people he had followed. The exceptions were David Coulthard and Lee McKenzie… unsurprisingly a Channel 4 spokesperson declined to comment when asked by Digital Spy.