Editing Test Match Special (section)

==Light-hearted style==
''TMS'' has always had a distinctively irreverent style. While it takes seriously its role of describing and commenting on the action, there is also much light relief. Brian Johnston, who was as happy on the stage and working in light entertainment presentation as he was in the commentary box, was the master of this style. This could on occasion lead to hilarity in the box, for instance on one occasion in August 1991 at [[The Oval]] when [[Ian Botham]] was dismissed "[[hit wicket]]" and Agnew said Botham "just couldn't quite get his leg over." This remark led both Agnew and Johnston to collapse in a fit of giggles, which was quickly followed by Johnston's giggly chastening, "Aggers, do stop it!" This clip has become a broadcasting classic and is frequently replayed. In 2005, Radio 5 Live listeners voted it the greatest sporting commentary of all time, with ten times as many votes as "[[they think it's all over]]".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/aug/20/sport.andrewculf|title=Incident which led to greatest sporting commentary of all time|last1=Culf|first1=Andrew|date=2005-08-20|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-01-15|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Other Johnners classics include, "There's Neil Harvey standing at leg-slip with his legs wide apart, waiting for a tickle",{{sfnp|Johnston|1974|p=207}} and "...and Ward bowls to Glenn Turner, short, ooh! and it catches him high up on the, er, thigh. That really must have hurt as he's doubled over in pain. I remember when..." and after 2 minutes of typical Johnners fill, he continued, "Well, he's bravely going to carry on ... but he doesn't look too good. One ball left."{{sfnp|Johnston|1974|pp=258–259}}

Listeners' letters and emails are often read out on air. Brian Johnston was once taken to task by a schoolmistress correspondent, pretending indignation, for saying during a West Indies Test commentary: "The bowler's [[Michael Holding|Holding]], the batsman's [[Peter Willey|Willey]]." However, on this occasion he was innocent.{{sfnp|Martin-Jenkins|1990|p=160}}

Concern about BBC Sport's commitment to maintaining the tone and style of the programme after its 50th anniversary led to an [[Early Day Motion]] being tabled in Parliament by [[Andrew George (politician)|Andrew George]] MP in June 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33451&SESSION=885|title=Andrew's Early day Motion}}</ref>