‘Comedy gold’ vs ’embarrassing’ – legendary BBC racing commentator’s disastrous call sparks social media frenzy
LEGENDARY BBC racing commentary Derek ‘Tommo’ Thompson sparked a social media frenzy with this disastrous call at Ayr.
Some were doubled over in laughter labelling it ‘comedy gold’ – but others thought the fumbled lines were ’embarrassing’ in the concluding bumper.
https://twitter.com/RacingTV/status/1876298656418025838Repeatedly getting his words wrong and failing to identify the correct – or any – horses at the end of the 3.45pm contest, poor Tommo went round in circles.
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The shambles was summed up perfectly when he said at the end ‘hang on let me just check this, Out Of The Woods has come through from nowhere to win it’.
But the horse had led the entire last furlong.
There’s no denying it was a gargantuan howler – and some punters saw the funny side.
One said the whole episode was ‘so bad it’s good’ while another wrote: “The more I watch the more I laugh.”
But some were scathing in their criticism of the former Channel 4 racing star, who announced on Christmas Day that he will retire at the end of the year.
One fumed: “That’s the worst I’ve ever heard by him or anyone else.
“Truly awful – he should be made to walk home after that, time to retire.”
One branded the debacle ’embarrassing’, another said it was ‘shocking’ and a fellow comment read: “That really doesn’t brighten anyone’s day. Embarrassing.”
While one quipped: “Derek Thompson says he’s retiring at the end of 2025. He should retire at the end of the 3.45. Shocking stuff.”
At least Tommo, 74, did eventually get the winner right, with Lucinda Russell’s 16-1 Out Of The Woods taking the honours.
Thompson, who is best known for his role in the infamous ‘it’s a man actually, Derek’ scene on Sky Sports, has been a commentator for 60 years.
He memorably denied King Charles his only win as a jockey – in a charity Flat race at Plumpton in 1980 – but found his calling in the booth rather than on horseback.
Tommo made his debut behind the mic aged just 15 calling a point-to-point meeting.
The king of the one liners then joined BBC Sport, becoming what is believed to be the youngest man to call the Grand National as part of their team at Aintree in 1973.
Thompson later went to ITV then Channel 4, where he was a popular figure in the formidable line up featuring the likes of John McCririck and Alastair Down.
In later years he became known to many as the archetypal Alan Partridge figure, thanks in part to other toe-curling lines including: “Are you well? I thought you were!”
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