David Croft (broadcaster)
 |
David Croft | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Croft in 2018. | |
| Born | 19 June 1970 |
| Other names | Crofty |
| Occupation | Sports commentator |
| Employer(s) | BBC Radio (1998–2011) BBC Sport (2004-2012) Sky Sports (2012–present) |
| Known for | Sports 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
BBC Sport/Sky Sports commentator
Formula One commentator
BBC Radio and Television
Croft was the
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
Croft celebrated his 250th Grand Prix as a Formula One commentator at the 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
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 was to manage his workload and spend more time with family, including his wedding to Laura Bradley. 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]
Croft confirmed on 13 March 2025 that he will once again miss three races of the 2025 Formula One World Championship.
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
| This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (February 2019) |
His work outside the BBC has included commentary on:
- Two rounds of the FIA GT3 European Championship in Brno and Portimao as well as one round of the 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship and FIA GT3 European Championship season, both at Silverstone.
- Boxing for Premier Sports including an early Tyson Fury fight
- Boxing for Setanta Sports including Joe Calzaghe's final professional fight against Roy Jones Jr. at Madison Square Garden
- The 2008 and 2009 Freerunning World Championship
- The 2009 Goodwood Revival and 2010, 2011 & 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed
- The Race on Sky 1
- Red Bull Track Attack for ITV
- The F1 in Schoolscompetition, namely for the world finals events
- Presenter of the 2014 and 2016 World Branding Awards[6][7]
In popular culture
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 as well as Naomi Schiff.
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
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
- ^ "Meet the Host : David Croft | Comet Sports Awards 2015". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ^ BBC – Press Office – David Croft
- ^ "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.
- ^ https://twitter.com/CroftyF1?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor [bare URL]
- ^ https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/david-croft-to-miss-first-f1-races-as-sky-commentator/10578756/ [bare URL]
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Thai Brands among 210 Winners of the 2016 World Branding Awards at Kensington Palace". Thai Business News. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Instagram".
- ^ "Crofty returns for lap nein…German GP | Primordial Radio - Rock. Metal. Community". 25 July 2019.
- ^ "Crofty's Tracks on Demand | Primordial Radio - Rock. Metal. Community". Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
