We love all telly. You know that. But for some of the team, there’s no greater pleasure than sitting down in front of some live sport. The action. The drama. The tears… And the punditry. Yes, that’s right, we are those people who enjoy the half time and post-match debate almost as much as the sport itself.
So naturally, Eddie Jones showing up as an ITV pundit for the Six Nations has got us thinking – who are our favourite sporting pundits?
There are so many great options to choose from, but we wanted to focus on the pundits who've changed how we see the game – not those who just parrot others' opinions or shy away from honest criticism. And sorry to the John Motson fans – while we love him as much as you, we're firmly of the opinion he's a commentator not a pundit, so he didn't make the cut this time around.
Before we get going, you'll notice one big omission from this list – Roy Keane. While he may have been voted the UK's favourite football pundit, he's never quite enthralled us. Yes, it's entertaining when he tears into players' performances, but he lacks the love and passion that our favourite pundits use to elevate their sport.
So read on and see if you agree or disagree with our top choices. We’ve pulled out an example clip for each which we think shows what makes them great so get comfy and relive some incredible sporting insight.
Geoffrey Boycott
Love him, hate him, or don't understand all the fuss – you simply couldn't ignore Boycott when he was on song. His views may seem old fashioned in the era of Bazzball, but he's taught most of us a large part of what we know about cricket. After all, without Boycott how many of us would know about the corridor of uncertainty? Or that his grandmother could bat better than most players with just a stick of rhubarb
Michael Johnson
What do we want from pundits? Two simple things – entertaining insights that make us think, and fresh perspectives that help us see sport differently. And for our money, no modern pundit does this better than Michael Johnson. Sure, he's a supremely talented athlete who shows us the sport through competitors' eyes, but it's his way with words that really makes him special. You feel smarter just listening to him break down a race. If only we got to see more of him.
Ian Wright
Some pundits give you the sense they're bored senseless by the sport that made them famous. Wrighty though. Wrighty is different. He oozes passion from every pore – when he's enthralled by the footie, it's a sure bet you will be too. And it's not just passion he brings – his keen eye for goal has translated into a deep understanding of the game. He's one of those pundits you can't help but listen to whenever he opens his mouth.
Alex Scott
In a list of superstars, Scott might top the bill. 140 appearances for England? Amazing. Won the Quadruple? Wow. Best of all, she brings every bit of that knowledge and passion to her commentary. Supportive and celebratory when things are going well, but the ultimate critical friend when they aren't. When Scott speaks, you know you'll hear something interesting, something thought-provoking and – most importantly – something grounded in reality.
John McEnroe
You cannot be serious? Well actually, yes we can. While we dismissed the similarly fiery Keane earlier, McEnroe makes our list because he brings genuine joy for tennis to his commentary. Yes, he's not afraid to criticise players when their game is subpar, but he's also the first to applaud moments of brilliance. His passion and energy are infectious and, while occasionally confrontational, his critiques always c
There you have it – our five favourite pundits. Will Eddie Jones be threatening for inclusion next year? Let’s discuss again after the Six Nations…
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