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Thanks, Johnners: An Affectionate Tribute to a Broadcasting Legend

Jonathan Agnew, known to his legions of Test Match Special fans as "Aggers," has at long last written a personal tribute to his late colleague Brian Johnston, universally known as "Johnners." The on-air incident in which Agnew's comment on Ian Botham's attempt to avoid stepping on his stumps — "He just couldn't quite get his leg over" — provoked prolonged fits of giggles, notably from Johnners, and was voted in a BBC poll as "the greatest piece of sporting commentary ever" by 75% of those who responded. It is said that traffic on British motorways came to a complete standstill as commuters were forced to stop their cars due to fits of laughter while listening to it on Radio Four. This book is an affectionate account of a four-year friendship, including copious anecdotes from their time together in the commentary box and during their travels overseas. Jonathan Agnew comments: "Brian Johnston was a tremendous influence on my early years at Test Match Special. His wit, warmth, and great sense of fun was not only a feature of his cricket commentary, but also in the way he lived his life. Our friendship has been immortalized through the "leg over" incident, but there was a much deeper bond between us than merely that hilarious broadcasting classic, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share this with cricket lovers everywhere." Aggers on Johnners is the holy grail of cricket books, a must-have for anyone who loves the noble game.

  • Format
  • hardcover
  • Pages
  • 246
  • Language
  • english
  • ISBN
  • 9780007343089
  • Genres
  • biography
  • Release date
  • 2010