COMMENTATOR DAN NETS HIS DREAM JOB
Dan, 31, from the West Midlands, is one of the world's leading freelance television football commentators and sports journalists. He is also one of the few football commentators to have appeared on all the major sports broadcasters in the UK - BBC, ITV, Channel Four, five, Setanta Sports, Eurosport and Sky Sports as well as working regularly for a host of overseas channels covering the world's greatest competitions. Dan, whose career in football commentary began after he won BBC Radio Five Live's 'Young Football Commentator' competition in 1997, made his BBC Match of the Day debut aged 26.
Although Dan is an aircraft enthusiast he has never before provided the commentary for an airshow. He said: "The Air Tattoo is the biggest military airshow in Europe, indeed the world, and commentating on this event is a bit like being asked to cover a World Cup Final as your first football commentary. "I was surprised, but delighted and honoured to accept the invitation to commentate at the airshow. It's an event I've been coming to since 1991 as a spectator, and though the challenge is a little daunting, I can't wait for what's shaping up to be a terrific show!"
Dan succeeds legendary airshow commentator Sean Maffett, who has been the voice of the Air Tattoo until stepping down in 2007.
Air Tattoo Chief Executive Tim Prince said: "Dan's arrival marks a new era for us. If he can bring together the professionalism he applies to his commentaries and his undoubted passion for aviation I am confident he will be a huge success."
Supporting Dan in the commentary box will be Ben Dunnell, editor of Aircraft Illustrated and Wg Cdr 'Spiv' Gair, formerly Officer Commanding 99 Sqn at RAF Brize Norton.
