Cricket | John Arlott | Commentator | Alderney | Afternoon plus | 1981 

I was at Lords on the day that John Arlott completed his last ever Test Match Special broadcast. I remember well the standing ovation he got from the Lords crowd. All round the ground, people stood and clapped. The applause carried on for several minutes. That is how respected John Arlott was. He would have hated the 'shouty' partisanship of so many of today's cricket broadcasters who love the sound of their own voices more than they love and honour the game of cricket.

John Arlott to me was one of the all time great sports broadcasters

Cardus ,Swanton .Arlott .CLR James .The greatest Cricket writers .What sums this man up ,When entering South Africa to cover a tour .Some official asked him what race he was .....he replied 'Human "

The best of the TMS greats. He is now in broadcasting heaven with his contemporaries Brian Johnston, Christopher Martin-Jenkins and Trevor Bailey. His eldest son James died in a car accident and Arlott was not quite the same after that. Thanks for posting this gem.

A great man I still miss him very much.

Wonderful. I was too young to ever hear him but a lovely interview

Never before never again, different class .

He spoke at a dinner for me, in Basingstoke, in 1978. He arrived in an already "happy" mood, with his son Robert. He greeted me warmly, and advised that he would not be drinking the house wine so generously provided, but that as he was to write a wine criticism for the Times the following day, he would consume the subject of the article. His son produced a wine carrier with a half bottle of fine Claret, a half bottle of Montrachet, and a half bottle of Chateau D´Yquem. During dinner he consumed the wine, all of it, but neglected to sample the food. He was my guest speaker, and as he went to sleep next to me, and lightly snored, I asked Robert what we should do. He calmly told me not to worry, but simply to gently wake him up when it was his turn to speak. Well, it came to his slot in the programme, and I nudged him. "You´re on John", said I. He woke, stood up, and delivered the most marvelous, informative, and entertaining after dinner speech, following which, he sat down, nodded off once again until it was time for him to leave with his son, and the three empty bottles which had accompanied them. An extraordinary man.

Great man and a good interview from Oliver reeds brother

If you had mentioned his name, I would have scratched my head, but that voice! I knew it straight away. Quite distinguishable as one of the great cricket commentators of my youth. So thoughtful with his words.. I never realised that he'd actually fallen asleep through one match! I thought he was just taking his time 😀 Appeared to be a humble man, who suffered greatly. Very interesting. Thanks for uploading the interview.

I knew John Arlott a little from my time on Alderney. Sadly the wine got the better of him and in his last years he was a much diminished man.

Hearing his voice in May you knew summer had arrived

Commentators are defined and remembered by the sounds of their voices and the words they utter, not by their performances in what they're descibing.

So happy that I have been able to watch this interview, thanks for posting.

Very good interview

Proper sensible.

Fascinating man.

Richie was good but Arlott was the best and won't be bettered. A unique commentator.

Is a full version of this great interview

Namaskar Mr.arlott is like university for those who r interested to learn the best art of commentary n easy to understand sorry rip

Thanks for uploading this. Could someone tell me who the interviewer is. I recognise him but can't remember his name. Thanks.

Maybe the most boring monotone in Britain .Knew his stuff , though .