Please remove this British elitist that can't even pronounce the names of cities or riders correctly his rude and a real irritation
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
Sometimes less is more in sports commentary. The Alan Partridge/Count Arthur Strong thing for me makes viewing with the volume up quite literally unbearable.
M
Michael Branfield
5 years ago
Why do we have to put up with Carlton Kirby. Worst commentator evrr
K
Keith Andrews
5 years ago
I'm currently watching the tour of Turkey with tv on mute. Its so much better without Mr verbal diarrhoea who seems to have forgotten how to speak, as almost every sentence is full of, er, erm, er, erm. Time to retire Carlton.
S
Shelley Walduck
5 years ago
Constantly talks over co commentators (mostly ex pro cyclists) when they are making a point about the live action.Uses a stack of stock phrases and trots them out on every race. Tedious! It seems to be all about him.
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
Anyone but Kirby!
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Kathy Seaman
5 years ago
Inane tedious and boring
J
Julian Evans
· petition starter
5 years ago
Maybe send your excellent comment to Eurosport/GCN?
I've complained a few times - it's quick - just look for 'Contact Us'.
Thanks, Julian
J
Julian Evans
· petition starter
5 years ago
You are absolutely spot on. Well said.
He often doesn't do the Giro - fingers crossed.
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
I wish the man no ill will but I don’t enjoy the way he calls races. The final straw is him calling the little bike on the tour of Turkeys stage maps a ghost bike.
J
Johnny Bishop
5 years ago
Commentators in whatever sport in my mind are there to enhance what is happening and perhaps enlighten me a little. Tell me or explain to me something that I don’t know. If they don’t then I may as well just turn the sound off and watch the race myself.
Hatch, Blythe, Lloyd, Been and MacCrossan can do so and make the racing more enjoyable interesting and informative. It is abundantly clear that the aforementioned all know their stuff either from their time on the bike or from diligent research or both.
What infuriates me are lazy commentators, the ones with the ego who think people tune in just because they are on air so there’s no need to do the basics they just like my repartee. It should be the bread and butter of every commentator to know the route and the names of the climbs and have a fair idea of how to pronounce them. They should learn as many of the riders they can either facially or by their riding style to properly call the race.
If Jumbo Visma are pulling on the front for 20 kms then I don’t need to be told that Wout van Aert is in 4th wheel but what I would like to know is the names of the 3 riders in front of him – the domestiques.
This is where Mr Kirby falls down because he’s clearly lazy and doesn’t do his homework. He doesn’t research the route properly; he can’t pronounce the names of the town through which the race passes and obviously doesn’t know the names of 75% of the peloton never mind be able to pronounce their names – all pretty basic stuff if it’s your job and you’re getting paid for it.
But the ego thinks that a serious of pathetic one liners, silly comments and observations are what we tune in for. Well clearly, we don’t, judging by this unprecedented petition. The constant guffawing at his own jokes, bringing his co-commentators at times down to his level are now beyond a joke if you pardon the pun.
Having suffered a week of him in the Basque Country I was horrified when I tuned on for the Tour of Turkey this week.
M
Mark Berger
5 years ago
Worst commentator for cycling I have ever heard
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
Just shut up mate, you’re not funny.
C
Chris Jones
5 years ago
Apart from the fact that he doesn't know what he's talking about half the time, and the fact of his overt bias for some riders and against others, there's also the matter of his excruciating mangling of the English Language.
You can't just make up new meanings for words as and when you feel like it. One example that he uses about twenty times per descent - 'testy' is not the same as 'testing', when used to imply difficulty.
I noticed yesterday that Smithy said he'd muted CK for a bit. I bet he wasn't joking.
S
Steve A
5 years ago
Awful to try to follow this guy.
C
Colin Southwell
5 years ago
He never stops rambling on, no pauses, I have to turn the sound down or off. He never seems to name riders who are appearing on the screen who are not the few famous names. He tries to raise the tempo as if it’s a sprint finish when a rider mid-race overtakes another. He needs to learn that silence at times is golden and save his excitement for meaningful moments. My wife used to like watching the cycling but he is completely overwhelming....
J
john heverin
5 years ago
He is awful. woeful, terrible..when he " commentates" I turn the voluime down...much much better alternatives..in fact anyone is better.
He is truly painful and dire beyond belief.
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
Colin Hunt indeed… not only do I remember that character and show, but the innuendo of the name. Perfectly suited!!
Please remove this British elitist that can't even pronounce the names of cities or riders correctly his rude and a real irritation
Sometimes less is more in sports commentary. The Alan Partridge/Count Arthur Strong thing for me makes viewing with the volume up quite literally unbearable.
Why do we have to put up with Carlton Kirby. Worst commentator evrr
I'm currently watching the tour of Turkey with tv on mute. Its so much better without Mr verbal diarrhoea who seems to have forgotten how to speak, as almost every sentence is full of, er, erm, er, erm. Time to retire Carlton.
Constantly talks over co commentators (mostly ex pro cyclists) when they are making a point about the live action.Uses a stack of stock phrases and trots them out on every race. Tedious! It seems to be all about him.
Anyone but Kirby!
Inane tedious and boring
Maybe send your excellent comment to Eurosport/GCN? I've complained a few times - it's quick - just look for 'Contact Us'. Thanks, Julian
You are absolutely spot on. Well said. He often doesn't do the Giro - fingers crossed.
I wish the man no ill will but I don’t enjoy the way he calls races. The final straw is him calling the little bike on the tour of Turkeys stage maps a ghost bike.
Commentators in whatever sport in my mind are there to enhance what is happening and perhaps enlighten me a little. Tell me or explain to me something that I don’t know. If they don’t then I may as well just turn the sound off and watch the race myself. Hatch, Blythe, Lloyd, Been and MacCrossan can do so and make the racing more enjoyable interesting and informative. It is abundantly clear that the aforementioned all know their stuff either from their time on the bike or from diligent research or both. What infuriates me are lazy commentators, the ones with the ego who think people tune in just because they are on air so there’s no need to do the basics they just like my repartee. It should be the bread and butter of every commentator to know the route and the names of the climbs and have a fair idea of how to pronounce them. They should learn as many of the riders they can either facially or by their riding style to properly call the race. If Jumbo Visma are pulling on the front for 20 kms then I don’t need to be told that Wout van Aert is in 4th wheel but what I would like to know is the names of the 3 riders in front of him – the domestiques. This is where Mr Kirby falls down because he’s clearly lazy and doesn’t do his homework. He doesn’t research the route properly; he can’t pronounce the names of the town through which the race passes and obviously doesn’t know the names of 75% of the peloton never mind be able to pronounce their names – all pretty basic stuff if it’s your job and you’re getting paid for it. But the ego thinks that a serious of pathetic one liners, silly comments and observations are what we tune in for. Well clearly, we don’t, judging by this unprecedented petition. The constant guffawing at his own jokes, bringing his co-commentators at times down to his level are now beyond a joke if you pardon the pun. Having suffered a week of him in the Basque Country I was horrified when I tuned on for the Tour of Turkey this week.
Worst commentator for cycling I have ever heard
Just shut up mate, you’re not funny.
Apart from the fact that he doesn't know what he's talking about half the time, and the fact of his overt bias for some riders and against others, there's also the matter of his excruciating mangling of the English Language. You can't just make up new meanings for words as and when you feel like it. One example that he uses about twenty times per descent - 'testy' is not the same as 'testing', when used to imply difficulty. I noticed yesterday that Smithy said he'd muted CK for a bit. I bet he wasn't joking.
Awful to try to follow this guy.
He never stops rambling on, no pauses, I have to turn the sound down or off. He never seems to name riders who are appearing on the screen who are not the few famous names. He tries to raise the tempo as if it’s a sprint finish when a rider mid-race overtakes another. He needs to learn that silence at times is golden and save his excitement for meaningful moments. My wife used to like watching the cycling but he is completely overwhelming....
He is awful. woeful, terrible..when he " commentates" I turn the voluime down...much much better alternatives..in fact anyone is better. He is truly painful and dire beyond belief.
Colin Hunt indeed… not only do I remember that character and show, but the innuendo of the name. Perfectly suited!!
I agree
Out with terrible commentary