In a surprise announcement today by the BBC, Formula 1 coverage in the UK is to return to the BBC.

Whilst ITV have done excellent pre-race shows since 1996 - spending far more time and resources on the build up on Sundays compared to the old BBC coverage - the need for advertisement breaks during the race frustrated fans to the point of despair ! 

When asked on BBC's Breakfast programme, whether he would be returning to the commentary booth, Murray Walker said "There is a lot of water to go under a lot of bridges before we can talk about that".

The BBC will show the 2009 - 2014 seasons. 

As a fan since 1973 I can admit to having mixed feelings about the news. Sure, the lack of adverts during the race is bliss ... I always get annoyed by the disruptions regardless of their timing. However, I have come to enjoy the pre-race build up. Usually an hour of chat (sometimes mindless drivel, I grant you) and walkabouts mean that we get to review things, and hear about a side of F1 that didn't occur with the BBC.

ITV have won awards for their technical presentations of behind the scene of F1, from brakes to overtaking ... some breathtaking graphics and explanations.

Often, you will find us on the live chat forum wishing for the BBC to take over again, along with the famous and lamented "Chain" theme music ... but now we have it, will we miss the ITV pre-race show? I hope not. I hope that the BBC have learned since 1996. Bernie Ecclestone has snubbed ITV by offering it back, I can only assume he did so with a lot of conditions about the quality of the programme.

Over to you BBC ... show us what you can do!