Murray Walker

Murray Walker - Formula One Commentator, Family and Childhood

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Murray Walker's Personal Details

Murray Walker is a Formula One motor sport commentator and journalist, famous for his eager commentary technique

InformationDetail
BirthdayOctober 10, 1923
NationalityBritish
FamousMedia Personalities, Journalists, Formula One Commentator, Journalists
SpousesElizabeth Walker
Known asGraeme Murray Walker
Universities
  • Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Birth PlaceHall Green, Birmingham, England
Height170
GenderMale
FatherGraham walker
MotherElsie Spratt
Sun SignLibra
Born inHall Green, Birmingham, England
Famous asFormula One Commentator & Journalist

Murray Walker's photo

Who is Murray Walker?

Graeme Murray Walker is a semi-retired Formula One commentator and journalist. He was born and brought up in Birmingham, England, to a Formula One enthusiast and sales director of a motorcycle company, Graham Walker. Interestingly, Walker did the commentary for Formula 1 initially with his father for BBC. Walker attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and left the army after gaining the title of captain. He worked in advertising for a major part of his life and continued to do it even when he started commentating for Formula 1. Throughout the 1970s, Walker did full-time commentary for BBC until 1997 and then he joined ITV Network and worked along Martin Brundle in commentating for F1. He announced that he was to retire from Formula 1 in 2000 but returned back to the microphone in 2005 with BBC. He has also written books on Formula One with the title of ‘Murray Walker’s Grand Prix Year’ with Hazelton Publishing for many years. He is known for his interesting analysis and enthusiastic take on Formula 1 and people still like him for his gentlemanly conduct and positive approach in everything.

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Childhood & Early Life

Murray Walker was born in Hall Green, Birmingham, England, to Graham Walker. His father was a sales competition director at the Rudge-Whitworth Motorcycle Company and was a motorcyclist for Norton Motorcycle Company.

Walker went to the Highgate School and attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst during the time of World War II. Later he participated in the Battle of the Reichswald but left the army after getting the rank of captain.

After leaving the army, he worked for Dunlop and Aspro in advertising and then joined the Masius ad agency. He kept working with the company even after he had a successful career as a commentator.

Career

In 1949, Walker got his first big commentating fixture for the British Grand Prix, Silverstone for the BBC Radio. He did it along with Max Robertson. Before this, he did a little stint at the Shelsley Walsh hillclimb.

After this, Murray started doing Formula 1 commentary full-time for the rest of 1970s for BBC. He used to do the commentary with his father and it was only after his death in 1962 that he got his position of chief motorcycling commentator.

From 1980-1993, during his Formula 1 coverage, Murray collaborated with the World Champion James Hunt. Initially they were not able to hit it off on screen but soon the pair became hit and worked for almost 10 years for BBC together.

From 1987-1997, Murray wrote annuals for the Grand Prix season for Hazelton Publishing under the title of ‘Murray Walker’s Grand Prix Year’. These books are very famous amongst the Formula 1 enthusiasts, for his expert writing and analysis.

From 1993-1996, ex-Formula 1 driver Jonathan Palmer collaborated with Walker in the commentary box and the pair worked together for almost 3 years. From time to time other people like Alan Jones too joined him.

In 1997, Murray left BBC and joined ITV because of the transfer of television rights for the UK coverage of the Formula 1. His co-commenter was Martin Brundle, a retired Formula 1 driver. The pair worked together until Murray’s retirement.

In 2000, Murray publically announced that he would retire from commentary for the Formula 1 races. The next year, for United States Grand Prix, he did his final commentary. He was awarded an authentic brick from ‘The Brickyard’.

In 2005, it was announced that Walker would return back to commentating and he again became a part of the BBC coverage of the new Grand Prix Masters series. He commentated on the opening race in South Africa the next year.

In 2006, he was declared as the chief ambassador for David Ormerod Hearing Centers. Also, he became the team ambassador for the half season for the Honda Racing F 1 team. He also covered Clipsal 500 V8 Supercar.

In 2007, he became a part of the DVD documentary ‘TT: Centenary Celebration with Murray Walker’, for which he visited the Isle of Man. He also commentated on the European Grand Prix for BBC Radio 5 Live.

In 2008, Walker became a web columnist for the BBC recovered coverage of Formula 1. In the same year, he was honored in Birmingham, and was presented with a ‘Star’ on the Walk of Stars on Broad Street.

In 2011, he appeared on the ‘Free Practice 3’ as a co-commentator for BBC F1 on BBC Five Live and BBC one. He also made an appearance on the Qualifying show with Jake Humphrey, Eddie Jordon, David Coulthard and Martin Brundle.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 2011, a documentary was premiered on BBC 2 with the title ‘Life in the Fast lane’. It was based on his life, showing Walker’s contribution in changing the shape of the Formula One races. It showed all the aspects of his life.

In 2013, Walker fell and broke his pelvis. It was the same time when he was diagnosed with lymphatic system cancer. He was 89 at the time and the doctors reassured that he will be alright. He underwent chemotherapy.

Trivia

Due to his ongoing cancer treatment, Walker cancelled his plans to attend the British Grand Prix, Silverstone.

He received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters Degree from Bournemouth University and was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the Middlesex University, London.

His famous co-commentator and friend James Hunt died of a sudden heart attack in 1993.

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Murray Walker biography timelines

  • // 10th Oct 1923
    Murray Walker was born in Hall Green, Birmingham, England, to Graham Walker. His father was a sales competition director at the Rudge-Whitworth Motorcycle Company and was a motorcyclist for Norton Motorcycle Company.
  • // 1949
    In 1949, Walker got his first big commentating fixture for the British Grand Prix, Silverstone for the BBC Radio. He did it along with Max Robertson. Before this, he did a little stint at the Shelsley Walsh hillclimb.
  • // 1962
    After this, Murray started doing Formula 1 commentary full-time for the rest of 1970s for BBC. He used to do the commentary with his father and it was only after his death in 1962 that he got his position of chief motorcycling commentator.
  • // 1980 To 1993
    From 1980-1993, during his Formula 1 coverage, Murray collaborated with the World Champion James Hunt. Initially they were not able to hit it off on screen but soon the pair became hit and worked for almost 10 years for BBC together.
  • // 1987 To 1997
    From 1987-1997, Murray wrote annuals for the Grand Prix season for Hazelton Publishing under the title of ‘Murray Walker’s Grand Prix Year’. These books are very famous amongst the Formula 1 enthusiasts, for his expert writing and analysis.
  • // 1993 To 1996
    From 1993-1996, ex-Formula 1 driver Jonathan Palmer collaborated with Walker in the commentary box and the pair worked together for almost 3 years. From time to time other people like Alan Jones too joined him.
  • // 1993
    His famous co-commentator and friend James Hunt died of a sudden heart attack in 1993.
  • // 1997
    In 1997, Murray left BBC and joined ITV because of the transfer of television rights for the UK coverage of the Formula 1. His co-commenter was Martin Brundle, a retired Formula 1 driver. The pair worked together until Murray’s retirement.
  • // 2000
    In 2000, Murray publically announced that he would retire from commentary for the Formula 1 races. The next year, for United States Grand Prix, he did his final commentary. He was awarded an authentic brick from ‘The Brickyard’.
  • // 2005
    In 2005, it was announced that Walker would return back to commentating and he again became a part of the BBC coverage of the new Grand Prix Masters series. He commentated on the opening race in South Africa the next year.
  • // 2006
    In 2006, he was declared as the chief ambassador for David Ormerod Hearing Centers. Also, he became the team ambassador for the half season for the Honda Racing F 1 team. He also covered Clipsal 500 V8 Supercar.
  • // 2007
    In 2007, he became a part of the DVD documentary ‘TT: Centenary Celebration with Murray Walker’, for which he visited the Isle of Man. He also commentated on the European Grand Prix for BBC Radio 5 Live.
  • // 2008
    In 2008, Walker became a web columnist for the BBC recovered coverage of Formula 1. In the same year, he was honored in Birmingham, and was presented with a ‘Star’ on the Walk of Stars on Broad Street.
  • // 2011
    In 2011, he appeared on the ‘Free Practice 3’ as a co-commentator for BBC F1 on BBC Five Live and BBC one. He also made an appearance on the Qualifying show with Jake Humphrey, Eddie Jordon, David Coulthard and Martin Brundle.
  • // 2011
    In 2011, a documentary was premiered on BBC 2 with the title ‘Life in the Fast lane’. It was based on his life, showing Walker’s contribution in changing the shape of the Formula One races. It showed all the aspects of his life.
  • // 2013
    In 2013, Walker fell and broke his pelvis. It was the same time when he was diagnosed with lymphatic system cancer. He was 89 at the time and the doctors reassured that he will be alright. He underwent chemotherapy.

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Murray Walker's FAQ

  • What is Murray Walker birthday?

    Murray Walker was born at 1923-10-10

  • Where is Murray Walker's birth place?

    Murray Walker was born in Hall Green, Birmingham, England

  • What is Murray Walker nationalities?

    Murray Walker's nationalities is British

  • Who is Murray Walker spouses?

    Murray Walker's spouses is Elizabeth Walker

  • What was Murray Walker universities?

    Murray Walker studied at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

  • How tall is Murray Walker?

    Murray Walker's height is 170

  • Who is Murray Walker's father?

    Murray Walker's father is Graham walker

  • Who is Murray Walker's mother?

    Murray Walker's mother is Elsie Spratt

  • What is Murray Walker's sun sign?

    Murray Walker is Libra

  • How famous is Murray Walker?

    Murray Walker is famouse as Formula One Commentator & Journalist