THERE IS a special treat for cricket fans this September when Henry Blofeld and Peter Baxter spend an evening at Monmouth’s Savoy Theatre wowing the crowds with hilarious tales from the BBC Test Match Special commentary box.
Blofeld, OBE, is one of international cricket’s best loved broadcasters.
His immediately recognisable voice and ability to paint pictures with words have been in demand all over the world since the 1970s. At 73, he is still on the Test Match Special team and is commentating on the current Ashes series.
Peter Baxter was the organising brain behind and Producer of BBC Test Match Special from 1973 to 2007. He was frequently part of the commentary team and while he enjoyed many amusing moments over the years, being locked out of the ground by the groundsman at Galle, in Sri Lanka, in 2001 was not one of them. He and BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew eventually watched the action from a nearby fort.
Henry Blofeld said: “Test Match Special is as much fun to be part of in the commentary box as most people seem to think it is to listen to.”
But, in the box itself there are two different perspectives and with Blowers and Backers on stage they will come together.
“Backers produced the show for 34 years, for all of which he was my boss,” added Blofeld.
“He brings the ‘behind-thescenes’ adventures he had in the production process to join my infront- of-the-microphone stories.
“Our blend of stories about TMS at home and abroad will be hilarious and Backers had better watch it as now, at long last, he is no longer my boss!”
Peter Baxter added: “Test Match Special has always been like a family – and the listeners are part of that family. And like all families, there are so many stories of the characters in it.
The two of us have been having a lot of fun talking about the things that have happened during our 35 years on the programme and we’re really looking forward to sharing that fun with audiences round the country.”
Catch Henry Blofeld and Peter Baxter at Monmouth Savoy on September 7.
Visit monmouth-savoy.co.uk
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