James Allen

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James Allen Biography

James Allen - After dinner speaker and awards host
Topics:
  • Sport
  • TV/Radio Presenter

As Formula 1 reaches mass audiences around the world, James Allen's profile has steadily increased, resulting in demand for his services as a host and speaker at corporate events.

James Allen Lead Commentator on F1 Motorsports

James Allen became ITV Sport’s lead commentator on Formula 1 in October 2001, having deputised for Murray Walker at six races during the 2000 and 2001 seasons.

During James’ tenure as commentator, ITV’s race coverage won three consecutive BAFTA awards and the Royal Television Society’s Sports Programme of the Year award. In 2008 James and Martin Brundle were presented with an Autosport Award for their dramatic coverage of the final laps of the Brazilian Grand Prix, ITV’s last F1 race. The BAFTA judges also indicated that the commentary on the final laps had been the decisive factor in swinging the BAFTA ITV-F1’s way.

In the Beginning

James joined ITV in 1997 as pit lane reporter having fulfilled a similar role on the American sports channel ESPN since 1993. His sharp, often humorous analysis of team’s race strategies and the goings on in the pit lane quickly became a feature of ITV’s coverage.

James was born into a racing family: His father Bill was a works Lotus driver in the 1960s, enjoying success in sportscar events like the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Author, Journalist and Awards

James studied English and modern languages at Oxford University and joined the Brabham team as press officer in 1990. The following year he drew the short straw when the team hired Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell and James was responsible for ensuring them a good press!He moved into journalism in 1992 as Autosport’s news editor. Two years later he went to America to present Nigel Mansell’s IndyCar 94 on ITV. He was also an F1 pit reporter for American sports network ESPN from 1993-96.

He co-wrote Mansell’s best selling autobiography in 1995 and in 1998 he followed it up with a second book: Michael Schumacher, Driven to Extremes. His biography of Schumacher, The Edge of Greatness was published in 2007 and is considered the definitive book on the seven times world champion. James has also been the F1 correspondent for the Financial Times since 1999.

He lives in North London with his wife Pip and sons Enzo and Emerson. They prefer motocross to F1.

Twice nominated for Royal Television Society awards (1994 and 1997). Along with former co-commentator Martin Brundle, James picked up the Autosport award for best moment of the year which recognised the pair's commentary in the closing moments of the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix.  

For further information or to book James Allen, call us at Speakers Corner on +44 (0) 20 8365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk

Outside of appearing and speaking at live corporate and private events James Allen has a number of retail products available that can be purchased through Speakers Corner. For upcoming new book and product launches related to James Allen then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 208 365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk

James Allen Books


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James Allen News

A selection of relevant news related to James Allen and Sport stories. For more information on James Allen or details as to how to book James Allen for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 20 8365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk

Top 20 sporting moments of the decade
16th December 2009The Telegraph is conducting an online poll to discover what its readers think was the greatest sporting moment of the last decade. Some of Speakers Corner's favourite speakers appear in the top 20 including Sir Steve Redgrave wining a fifth Olympic Gold medal at a fifth consecutive Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000, and when Dame Kelly Holmes won the 800 metres and 1,500 metres gold medals at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. You can vote on the Telegraph's website.
1,000 celebrities, speakers, comedians and television presenters have been added to 2010 edition of Who's Who
8th December 2009Over 1,000 celebrities, comedians, speakers and television presenters have been added to the 2010 edition of Who's Who. David Walliams & Matt Lucas, Ant & Dec, Ricky Gervais, Bear Grylls, Martin Lewis and David Mitchell are all in the 162nd edition which now numbers 33,680 in total
Young Sports Personality of the Year - the final three named
27th November 2009Tom Daley, Jodie Williams and Heather Watson will battle it out for the title of Young Sports Personality of the Year. World diving champion Tom Daley, double world youth sprint gold medallist Jodie Williams and girls' junior US Open winner Heather Watson were chosen from a shortlist of 10. The 2008 award was won by swimmer Eleanor Simmonds, who won two gold medals at the Paralympics in Beijing. The three finalists were chosen by a panel chaired by John Inverdale. The panel members included Jake Humphrey, Helen Skelton, Ore Oduba, and previous Young Sports Personality of the Year winners Kate Haywood and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. The winner will be announced live on the Sports Personality of the Year show on Sunday 13 December 2009.
David Beckham and other high profile athletes triumph over asthma
26th November 2009Numerous celebrity super sports personalities who have suffered from asthma since a young age have triumphed over the adversity and reached the top of their profession. They include the likes of David Beckham, Rebecca Adlington, Paula Radcliffe, Darren Gough, Austin Healy, Seb Coe, Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard
Chrissie Wellington named Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year
4th November 2009Record-breaking triathlete and Ironman champion Chrissie Wellington has been named Sunday Times sportswoman of the year for 2009. The 32-year-old from Norfolk, who took her third straight Ironman world title last month, won the Sunday Times award after four weeks of online voting. Chrissie, a long-distance triathlon specialist who set a new world record time this year, beat Jessica Ennis, Britain's world heptathlon champion to the title. Cyclist Victoria Pendleton came third behind Chrissie and Jessica.
Chris Hoy Named Sports Personality of the Year
15th December 2008Chris Hoy, who won three gold medals in Beijing, beat Lewis Hamilton and Rebecca Adlington to the honour. Chris, 32, becomes the first cyclist to win the prestigious award since Tommy Simpson in 1965. It was a successful night for the British cycling team as they won the Team award while Dave Brailsford won the Coach of the Year crown...
Sports Personality of the Year Nominees Announced
3rd December 2008The top 10 contenders for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award have been named.
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton celebrates
3rd November 2008McLaren's Lewis Hamilton became the youngest world champion in Formula One history by the skin of his teeth after a nail-biting Brazilian Grand Prix.
Gallagher to lead Sky News F1™ coverage
21st October 2008Formula One expert Mark Gallagher presented Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix live on Sky News as Britain’s Lewis Hamilton tried to clinch his first Formula One World Championship™ title in Shanghai
Blair opens sporting foundation
15th November 2007Former prime minister Tony Blair opens a sporting foundation suppored by former Olympic track star Steve Cram and rower James Cracknell.

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News

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