David Croft (broadcaster)

David Croft
Croft in 2018.
Born (1970-06-19) 19 June 1970 (age 54)
Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England
Other namesCrofty
OccupationSports commentator
Employer(s)BBC Radio (1998–2011)
BBC Sport (2004-2012)
Sky Sports (2012–present)
Known forSports commentary

David Michael Croft (born 19 June 1970), commonly referred to as Crofty, is a British television broadcaster for Sky Sports. He is the lead commentator for Sky's Formula One coverage, a role he has held since 2012. He was born and raised in Stevenage, England.[1]

Early career

Croft began his broadcasting career in hospital radio at Radio Fairfield. He spent three years working at BBC Three Counties Radio, first as a sports reporter then as sports editor. He moved to BBC Radio 5 Live in December 1998. During his time at the station he covered the 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2004 Athens Summer Olympics and presented Saturday Sport on 5 during both the summer of 2004 and 2005.

BBC Sport/Sky Sports commentator

Formula One commentator

BBC Radio and Television

Croft was the BBC Radio 5 Live Formula One commentator and presenter, succeeding Maurice Hamilton at the start of the 2006 Formula 1 season.[2] He worked alongside former Super Aguri, BAR and Minardi F1 driver Anthony Davidson and pitlane reporters Ted Kravitz and Natalie Pinkham, covering each Grand Prix and qualifying as well as the three practice sessions which could be heard via the BBC Red Button service, BBC Sport Online and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

Croft has also commentated on the BDO World Darts Championship and Winmau World Masters for BBC Television from 2004 to 2012 after first covering the World Championship for BBC Radio 5 Live in 2002.

Sky Sports

Sky Sports announced on 7 December 2011 that Croft would be lead commentator for their coverage of F1 for the 2012 season, and would be joined by Anthony Davidson, Ted Kravitz, Natalie Pinkham and Martin Brundle.[3]

Croft celebrated his 250th Grand Prix as a Formula One commentator at the 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Croft with Charles Leclerc at Autosport International 2020

On 22 February 2024, Croft announced he would not be commentating for Sky Sports F1 on three of the races during the 2024 Formula One World Championship which is scheduled to have 24 rounds. Harry Benjamin stepped in for Croft at that year’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May, the Austrian Grand Prix in June, and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in September. This marked the first time Croft had missed commentating on a race since the 2007 European Grand Prix and first such occasion he had not commentated on a race for Sky Sports F1 since its inception in 2012.[4][5]

He is known in the F1 community for his famous line "It's Lights Out And Away We Go!" which he says at the beginning of every race.

From 2013 onwards, Croft has been working as a presenter and occasional commentator for Sky Sports' coverage of Professional Darts Corporation events.

Further commentary work

His work outside the BBC has included commentary on:

He is the voice of the paddock reporter in the Codemasters F1 2010 game and in the sequel F1 2011. In F1 2012, F1 2013, and F1 2014, he guides the player through the games' respective menus, and in F1 2015, F1 2016, F1 2017, F1 2018, F1 2019, F1 2020, F1 2021, F1 22, F1 23 and F1 24 he is a commentator during in-game sessions alongside Anthony Davidson and, in the latter of which, Natalie Pinkham.

Croft also voiced the character of Lofty Crofty in the European release of Planes.[8] The character was the European equivalent of Colin Cowling.

In 2023, Croft recorded sections of him speaking to be used on rapper IDK's 2023 album, F65. Croft's voice was also used for the Coachella performance from the same artist.[9]

Radio presenter

Croft has previously presented a midweek sports show and a Monday night football phone-in show on BBC London 94.9FM, where he has also stood in for Paul Ross and co-presented the Breakfast show first with JoAnne Good and then Gaby Roslin.[citation needed]

Croft is a fan of rock music and is regular contributor to Primordial Radio with his Crofty's Tracks [10][11] appearing on the afternoon show with Dewsbury.

References

  1. ^ "Meet the Host : David Croft | Comet Sports Awards 2015". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  2. ^ BBC – Press Office – David Croft
  3. ^ "Sky Sports unveil Formula One team fronted by Martin Brundle, Georgie Thompson and Steve Rider". The Daily Telegraph. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  4. ^ https://twitter.com/CroftyF1?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor [bare URL]
  5. ^ https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/david-croft-to-miss-first-f1-races-as-sky-commentator/10578756/ [bare URL]
  6. ^ "Asian Brands Honoured at the 2014 World Branding Awards". Yahoo Finance. 29 October 2014. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  7. ^ "Thai Brands among 210 Winners of the 2016 World Branding Awards at Kensington Palace". Thai Business News. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  8. ^ Gage, Simon (9 August 2013). "David Croft: From Formula 1 commentator to the voice of an airship in new movie Planes". Metro. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  9. ^ "Instagram".
  10. ^ "Crofty returns for lap nein…German GP | Primordial Radio - Rock. Metal. Community". 25 July 2019.
  11. ^ "Crofty's Tracks on Demand | Primordial Radio - Rock. Metal. Community". Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.