Jonathan Pearce
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Pearce is a British football
commentator
for the BBC
.
Known for his loud, exuberant commentaries, he has worked for both Radio Five Live and Match of the Day
, as well as participating in other lower key sports programmes.
He started his career in broadcasting at BBC Radio Bristol, and his first match commentary was Bristol Rovers
against Exeter City
in the League Cup
. He became a Sports Editor at the age of 23. In 1987 he moved to London and Capital Radio
where he launched Capital Gold Sport
a year later.
Pearce also commentated on a handful of minor Premier League games for Sky Sports in the 1992-93 season, before his 5 live and Match Of The Day career.
Between 1998 and 2004, Pearce commentated on the Robot Wars
TV series, on BBC Two
.
commentary team. He went on to present the station's midweek sports programme Sport on Five from 2003 until 2005 and became a commentator for BBC television
on Match of the Day
in 2004.
Pearce has commentated on over 150 England
internationals, five World Cups
, four European Championships
and over 20 Cup Finals
. He has won several awards for his work including three Sony awards and the Variety Club Radio Person of the Year. Perhaps his finest hour during his time on commercial radio was his description of a Crystal Palace goal scored by Dougie Freedman. As Freedman wheeled away in celebration, Pearce cried: "He's done it! The Boogie Woogie Doogie Selhurst boy!". Other examples are "They're going with the Flo
!" when Chelsea
scored against Real Betis
in a 1998 UEFA Cup Winners Cup game, as well as his excited commentary when England
played Poland
in a qualification game for the 1998 World Cup
, in which he often said phrases like "Come on England!, come on England!, corner kick!, corner kick!". This received heavy criticism from The Daily Mail, while World Soccer
magazine said the media were too harsh on him and praised him for doing a good job of pronouncing the names of the Polish players correctly.
He also lent his voice to Sensible Soccer
, Ubisoft
football game Action Soccer
and UEFA Striker. Away from football, he was also the commentator on the programmes Robot Wars
and Hole in the Wall
. In 2005, he guest starred in the Doctor Who
audio drama The Game
, in which he played a sports commentator named Garny Diblick.
Since joining the BBC Match of the Day team in 2004, Pearce has been the second choice commentator to John Motson
. He is regarded by many football fans as the favourite to become the BBC's first choice commentator for live matches, now that John Motson has stopped covering those, but as with the race to become number one when Motson fully retires, his rivals would appear to be Steve Wilson
and Guy Mowbray
.
, West Sussex
, where he is chair of the junior section of Hassocks F.C.
.
Pearce ran in the 2008 and 2011 London Marathon
. He raised money for The Lily Foundation a charity run by his brother in law in memory of his daughter.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
commentator
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
Known for his loud, exuberant commentaries, he has worked for both Radio Five Live and Match of the Day
Match of the Day
Match of the Day is the BBC's main football television programme. Typically, it is shown on BBC One on Saturday evenings during the English football season, showing highlights of the day's matches in English football's top division, the Premier League...
, as well as participating in other lower key sports programmes.
Early life and career
Pearce wanted to become a footballer, but his career was ended after breaking his leg in 1974.He started his career in broadcasting at BBC Radio Bristol, and his first match commentary was Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
against Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. He became a Sports Editor at the age of 23. In 1987 he moved to London and Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
where he launched Capital Gold Sport
Capital Gold
Gold is a network of oldies radio stations which was formed by the merger of the Capital Gold network and the Classic Gold Network in August 2007...
a year later.
Pearce also commentated on a handful of minor Premier League games for Sky Sports in the 1992-93 season, before his 5 live and Match Of The Day career.
Between 1998 and 2004, Pearce commentated on the Robot Wars
Robot Wars (TV series)
Robot Wars is a British game show modelled on a US-based competition of the same name. It was broadcast on BBC Two from 1998 until 2003, with its final series broadcast on Five in 2003 and 2004. Additional series were filmed for specific sectors of the global market, including two series of Robot...
TV series, on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
.
Channel 5 and BBC
When Channel 5 (known as Five for some time) was launched in 1997, Pearce was signed as their lead football commentator. His excitable style of commentary received criticism from some quarters. He joined BBC Radio Five Live in 2002 and was part of their 2002 FIFA World Cup2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
commentary team. He went on to present the station's midweek sports programme Sport on Five from 2003 until 2005 and became a commentator for BBC television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
on Match of the Day
Match of the Day
Match of the Day is the BBC's main football television programme. Typically, it is shown on BBC One on Saturday evenings during the English football season, showing highlights of the day's matches in English football's top division, the Premier League...
in 2004.
Pearce has commentated on over 150 England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
internationals, five World Cups
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, four European Championships
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
and over 20 Cup Finals
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
. He has won several awards for his work including three Sony awards and the Variety Club Radio Person of the Year. Perhaps his finest hour during his time on commercial radio was his description of a Crystal Palace goal scored by Dougie Freedman. As Freedman wheeled away in celebration, Pearce cried: "He's done it! The Boogie Woogie Doogie Selhurst boy!". Other examples are "They're going with the Flo
Tore André Flo
Tore André Flo is a Norwegian football striker, who plays for the Norwegian club Sogndal. He initially retired after being released by the Milton Keynes Dons in 2009, but announced his comeback in March 2011. His brothers Jostein Flo and Jarle Flo, and cousin Håvard Flo are also professional...
!" when Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
scored against Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
in a 1998 UEFA Cup Winners Cup game, as well as his excited commentary when England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
played Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
in a qualification game for the 1998 World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
, in which he often said phrases like "Come on England!, come on England!, corner kick!, corner kick!". This received heavy criticism from The Daily Mail, while World Soccer
World Soccer Magazine
World Soccer is an English language football magazine published by IPC Media. It specialises in the international football scene. Its regular contributing writers include Brian Glanville, Sid Lowe and Tim Vickery. World Soccer is a member of the European Sports Magazines , an umbrella group of...
magazine said the media were too harsh on him and praised him for doing a good job of pronouncing the names of the Polish players correctly.
He also lent his voice to Sensible Soccer
Sensible Soccer
Sensible Soccer, often affectionately known as Sensi, is an association football video game series which was highly popular in the early 1990s and which still retains a cult following...
, Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
football game Action Soccer
Action Soccer
Action Soccer is a football game released for the PC. It was created in by Ludi Media and published by Ubi Soft.-Gameplay:The game allows two perspectives: a 2D for slow computers and a isometric 3D...
and UEFA Striker. Away from football, he was also the commentator on the programmes Robot Wars
Robot Wars (TV series)
Robot Wars is a British game show modelled on a US-based competition of the same name. It was broadcast on BBC Two from 1998 until 2003, with its final series broadcast on Five in 2003 and 2004. Additional series were filmed for specific sectors of the global market, including two series of Robot...
and Hole in the Wall
Hole in the Wall (UK game show)
Hole in the Wall was a game show that airs on BBC One in the United Kingdom. This game is an adaptation of the Japanese game Brain Wall in which players must contort themselves to fit through cutout holes of varying shapes in a large polystyrene wall moving towards them as they stand in front of a...
. In 2005, he guest starred in the Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
audio drama The Game
The Game (Doctor Who audio)
The Game is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.-Plot:...
, in which he played a sports commentator named Garny Diblick.
Since joining the BBC Match of the Day team in 2004, Pearce has been the second choice commentator to John Motson
John Motson
John Walker Motson OBE ,AKA Motty, is an English football commentator on both television and radio as well a well known moter. He made his name as 'Moty' after he moted out the entire Huddersfield huddersfield cheerleaders team. writer.-Biography:The son of a Methodist minister, Motson was educated...
. He is regarded by many football fans as the favourite to become the BBC's first choice commentator for live matches, now that John Motson has stopped covering those, but as with the race to become number one when Motson fully retires, his rivals would appear to be Steve Wilson
Steve Wilson (Football commentator)
Steve Wilson is a British football commentator, currently working on the BBC's Match of the Day programme.Wilson previously worked on BBC Radio Five Live and before that at Capital Gold Sport in London where he was number two commentator to now BBC colleague Jonathan Pearce.-Early and personal...
and Guy Mowbray
Guy Mowbray
Guy Mowbray is a football commentator on British television, who supports York City FC, and is currently with the BBC. Whilst working for Eurosport at the 1998 World Cup, he became the youngest ever television commentator on a World Cup Final, aged 26...
.
Personal life
Pearce is a long time Bristol City fan. He lives in HassocksHassocks
Hassocks is a large village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England. Its name is believed to derive from the tufts of grass found in the surrounding fields....
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, where he is chair of the junior section of Hassocks F.C.
Hassocks F.C.
Hassocks F.C. is a football club based in Hassocks, near Brighton, West Sussex, England. The club joined the Sussex County League Division Two in 1981 and has reached the 2nd round of the FA Vase twice in its history...
.
Pearce ran in the 2008 and 2011 London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
. He raised money for The Lily Foundation a charity run by his brother in law in memory of his daughter.