“It looks fresh and more sophisticated”

“Nice new studio – well done!”

“Really like the new set”

On a more serious note, MOTD editor Paul Armstrong has taken on board the feedback many of you provided about the “flipper” graphic which displays the statistics during the post-match interviews. He’ll mention this in more detail in his next blog, but accepts it rotated too quickly and says the speed will be adjusted!

A new season also means a new batch of feedback about the order in which the matches are shown on MOTD. Some of you wondered why the programmes were led by games that had been shown live on satellite broadcasters. There are two main reasons for this: a large proportion of the MOTD audience doesn’t have access to these channels, and the running orders are drawn up purely on editorial merit.

For example, on Saturday newly-promoted Sunderland (with Roy Keane in charge) beating Tottenham (who are trying to break into the Champions League places) with a 94th-minute winner was arguably the story of the day. This was borne out the next morning, when it was the main headline in many Sunday papers and on the BBC Sport website.

Some Everton fans also wondered why their match was last on Saturday’s show. Again, the merits of every match were assessed before the running order was completed, and it’d be interesting to see which match neutral fans would have put lowest down their order.

Saturday also saw the first-ever MOTD online simulcast (UK users only). There was a minor problem with the streaming of the first few minutes of the show for some of you using the Windows version (the Real version of the feed was fine throughout). I’m told by BBC Sport boffins that the problem can be solved by refreshing your browser, although hopefully it won’t happen again.

And finally, quite a few of you have asked for the whereabouts of Challenge Lawro. Sadly it won’t be running this season. As many of you will be aware, the BBC has suspended all competitions in light of some editorial mistakes made over recent months. But Mark will still be doing his regular Premier League predictions on Radio 5live (Fridays, 1715) and online throughout the season.

After a hectic two weeks at SW19, we’re on the move to the sunnier climes of Scotland. Starting on Thursday, Loch Lomond plays host to the Scottish Open - a wonderful build-up event to next week’s Open championship at Carnoustie. After a fortnight of top-class tennis, golf fans can look forward to the same.

The line- up is terrific with a great international cast starring US Open champion Angel Cabrera, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Luke Donald and Scotland’s favourite son Paul Lawrie (or the back-in-form Monty - depending on your inclination!). And don’t forget about the host of young British talent, including Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell and Nick Dougherty.

The nicest thing about the Loch Lomond course, irrespective of the golf, are the views. They are stunning. A dream to cover for director Paul Davies. It’s a visual feast, whatever the weather. However, I do hope the sun shines so we don’t get eaten alive by midges! They are the only nuisance and nothing seems to deter them.

Apart from the live golf on offer, we will hear from many of the players, and there’s a special feature with defending champion Johan Edfors. Similar to the Masters, Johan has come up with an idea for the “Champions Dish" - which he is preparing on camera for us with Scotland’s Chef of the Year (2005) Darren Harrison. On top of that we have persuaded him to experience Loch Lomond’s unique Hot Golf Ball Massage in the walled Gardens Spa.

Presenter Hazel Irvine returns to her roots as she hails from nearby Helensburgh. She has a busy schedule with boat trips, historical tours and celebrity meetings planned. All on camera, of course, so we can do our beautiful surroundings justice.

Ken Brown will be out and about as usual exploring the greens and fairways, and giving us his invaluable insight which has a cult following I believe. We have emails from fans who say that Ken’s pieces on the course is often better than some of the golf! On that note don’t forget you can email us. Peter Alliss is always keen to give you his tuppence worth.

On Radio Five Live, Iain Carter will keep you abreast of the latest scores, while the BBC Sport website will bring you the latest scores and news. It should be quite a week, and then we have The Open...

And with so many hours of coverage – on BBC ONE and TWO plus interactive – you’ve all had plenty of time to critique our commentators and pundits. John McEnroe and Boris Becker have once again been widely praised, as has a new member of the team.

"Greg is enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the game, and having only recently retired from the main tour he is very much in touch with all the players and their favourite shots. It is fascinating to hear him talk during matches and I want to thank the BBC for adding this genuinely nice man to the team."
Paul Evans

Some of you have also been asking why Today at Wimbledon starts at 2000 BST on BBC TWO. Director of BBC Sport Roger Mosey (comment 12) and the man leading our television coverage (Paul Davies, comment 19) have the answer. Paul would also like to thank you for all your feedback. He answered some of your questions in his latest blog, and hopes to be able to do so again at the end of this week.

Moving to another sport which uses a ball and a net, we’ve had some e-mails asking about the website’s coverage of the Copa America and the Under 20 World Cup. Reports on all the latest games can be found on our international football page, plus there is insight and analysis on the Copa America from our South American football expert Tim Vickery. While at the Under 20 tournament we are focusing on how Scotland are getting on, as well as rounding up the rest of the action.

Such coverage is sufficient for the majority of our predominantly British audience. If you would like more news on either event you can also visit their official tournament websites. Here is the one for the Copa America, and the one for the Under 20 World Cup.

Moving to horse racing and some people have asked where our bulletins have gone. Both the website and Radio Five Live have stopped carrying the specific racing bulletins - content which we used to share - as part of a re-prioritisation process within BBC Sport.

No other sport received a specific slot on Five Live's morning bulletins, instead other sports used to compete for space within the main sports bulletin. From now on racing will do the same, although rest assured that we do plan to continue reporting major news from racing in the radio bulletins and on the web, just as we do for all other sports.

Our main horse racing page will keep you up-to-date with all the latest news, while we will continue to have a feed of all the results from the UK and Ireland and the rest of the world.

We do realise fans of horse racing will be disappointed that we have stopped carrying the bulletins, but we have also had to recognise that audience patterns and the market have changed a great deal in recent years. Racing fans now have a vast array of places - websites, digital TV channels and mobile services - where they can get the latest news.

That obviously affects our public service need to do the same thing, so what we intend to do in future is focus on distinctive editorial coverage - primarily our impartial and objective sports news journalism and expert comment from the likes of Cornelius Lysaght and Clare Balding. While Five Live had a renewed focus on delivering outstanding live coverage of all the major meetings - including the Cheltenham Festival, Grand National, Derby and Royal Ascot

I realise you'll be disappointed, but hopefully that at least explains some of the background to the decision.

And we finish with more horses, and it is good to hear that many of you enjoyed our television coverage of the equestrian from British Jumping Derby from Hickstead.

“I have just been watching the speed derby at Hickstead and wanted to thank you for the extensive coverage this year. I have really enjoyed the eventing coverage at badminton as well. It was really good to see our team winning the Nations Cup in Rotterdam. Please can we have more!”
Karen R Thompson

As always, thanks very much for your feedback and please keep it coming.

Another event which definitely deserves that title is Royal Ascot. Last week we brought you five days of the finest flat racing from Berkshire. As always, the outfits worn by the crowd were almost as much a topic of conversation and analysis as the racing itself. Supermodel Jodie Kidd was on hand to give her expert opinion on the hats and frocks, and did so in a style which many of you enjoyed. As viewer Quinn Murray put it: “She's from a posh background but she was so down to earth,” before adding: “Julia Bradbury (the main fashion presenter) has been a breath of fresh air. Brilliant!”

“Thank you so much for such a professional and delightful presentation from Ascot. Entertaining and informative - a joy to watch.”
Brijoe

BBC Breakfast was also at Ascot, with sports presenter Chris Hollins and weather presenter Carol Kirkwood previewing the day and giving our TV coverage a more rounded feel. However, some of you were upset with the lack of an evening highlights show from Ascot.

Moving from four legs to two wheels and Donington Park played host to MotoGP on Sunday. Australian Casey Stoner extended his lead in the championship with another victory in a race enjoyed by many of you:

“I would like to congratulate and thank the BBC for their superb coverage of the MotoGP season. As a previous Eurosport viewer I am 100% converted now to the Beeb.”
Tony Reed

And looking ahead, from the next round of the championship in Assen on Saturday we’ll also be screening every 125cc and 250cc race for the rest of the season, as well as MotoGP. Viewer Matt B e-mailed in to say: “I want to thank the BBC for listening to our requests, this is great news that we will be able to see all the races live!”

Robert McKay added: “It’s terrific news to get the 125s and 250s - these classes are often ever more exciting and frenetic than the MotoGPs themselves!”

There was plenty of feedback after our European Cup athletics coverage. The British women won their place back in the top-flight competition after victories in 12 of their 20 events, while the men finished in fourth place. But afterwards many of your thoughts turned to future coverage. Stephen Bush would like a full and open discussion on the subject of the London 2012 logo, Mrs D Smith would like more of the field events to be shown and Bill Stark wants more coverage of foreign competitors.

Derek Collins thought the TV coverage of the men’s and women’s events was “excellent”, although some of you were not happy that the athletics cut away to show tennis and racing during some parts of the weekend.

And finally, many of you want to know if we are going to show any highlights of Ricky Hatton’s knockout of Jose Luis Castillo. There are no current plans to do so but the fight was live on Five Live in the early hours of Sunday morning. We also have plenty of post-fight reaction and features on our website, as well as Ricky’s memorable appearance on Inside Sport last month.

New features include...

- A feedback form to send us your comments if your question is not answered on the FAQ page

- Clear links to the BBC Sport broadcast schedule pages

- Easy to read highlighted comments from BBC Sport staff

- Author-specific links in the sidebar

- Individual author profiles

- Author by-lines containing useful links

We hope you will feel this blog is a way you can have open and constructive communication with the people who make the websites or programmes that you enjoy from BBC Sport. It allows us to let you know why editors make the decisions they do around our output, and lets you respond to that. Our list of regular bloggers has grown over the past few months as we look to increase our openness and accountability.

We would also like to hear your feedback on this new-look blog. We took on board your comments when revamping this part of the website, and would love to hear if you think we’ve done a good job. No doubt there will still be a few gremlins which need ironing out over the next few days, but hopefully the transition to the new blog should be a relatively smooth and enjoyable one.

We look forward to hearing from you!

But Frankie’s quest is just one of many stories BBC Sport will cover during our two days at Epsom. As well as the top-quality racing - don’t forget Friday’s Oaks – our team will bring you all the atmosphere from one of the biggest race meetings of the year.

Certainly I have very particular memories of Derby Day. The first time I went – back in 2003 - I was overwhelmed by the colour, the grandeur and the sheer number of people. The memories come rushing back - the sea of open top buses and stretch limos in the middle of the course, the track undulating across the Downs and the realisation that I had, by far, the cheapest suit of any of the thousands of spectators who had come to soak up the occasion, as well as the sun.

- Authorized’s trainer, Peter Chapple-Hyam, talks about his chances as he attempts to win the race for the second time (Dr Devious was his first success in 1992).

- Paul Cole (the trainer of Strategic Prince) remembers how Generous gave him a spectacular Derby success back in 1991.

- David Elsworth (the man who trained the great Desert Orchid over the jumps) discusses his chances of winning the Derby for the first time with Salford Mill.

- Ian Bartlett presents a look back at the Derby and the great names that have triumphed in the great race.

On Friday evening (1930, BBC TWO) there is a Derby preview programme which includes the story behind Sir Percy – the 6-1 shot who won last year’s thrilling race by a short head. He was bought by Anthony and Victoria Pakenham for £16,800 – a pittance in the racing world. The show charts his remarkable rise from the Old Suffolk Stud to Derby winner, and also a preview of this year’s race. The programme will be presented by Clare Balding, who’ll also front Friday’s and Saturday’s live coverage, alongside Willie Carson.

Head of BBC TV Sport Editorial, Philip Bernie, said: “This is one of the great annual events and I think our team really bring it to life. Clare and Willie are a fantastic presentation pairing, with their enthusiasm and knowledge.

“Clare is such an authority on the sport, but her presentation style makes her knowledge accessible to all viewers. She is keen to make the public as aware as possible about the intricacies of the sport. And Willie has fantastic pedigree as a jockey. He won the Derby four times and has a great sense of fun.

“Jim McGrath will be leading our commentary team. I’m sure viewers tuning in for the big race will enjoy the panache with which he describes the action. And we want to bring a real flavour and feel of this unique meeting to the viewers, so we’ve got Matt Baker mingling with the crowd on The Hill, with Rishi Persad also heavily involved in bringing the atmosphere to those watching at home.”

Full coverage details

Friday, 1 June

1330-1630 (BBC TWO)
Races at 1340/1410/1445/1525/1605 (The Oaks)

Derby Day Preview
1930-2000 (BBC TWO)

Saturday, 2 June

1205-1705 (BBC ONE)
Races at 1400/1430/1500/1530/1620 (The Derby)

Derby Day highlights
2305-2325 (BBC ONE)

Racing fans will also be able to tune into Radio Five Live to hear all the big races on both days.

Racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght will deliver all the news, and commentary will come courtesy of Luke Harvey, John Hunt and Jason Weaver.

On Friday 1 June, Phil Williams presents live from the course from 1300, concluding with the Oaks at 1605.

On Saturday 2 June, Mark Saggers will present a special live question time show from the parade ring from 1215, followed by all the action and the Derby at 1620.

We will be simulcasting BBC TV coverage on our website and will also be showing highlights of the big race of each day in the UK. Interviews from the course will be available worldwide.

Those were the odds you could have got on Anders Hansen winning the BMW PGA Championship at lunch-time on Saturday, before the Dane rattled off five birdies on the back nine.

On the Sunday, the torrential weather meant tee-off times were moved forward, as was our coverage – which began at 1215 on BBC TWO (Australian Brett Rumford managed to complete his final round in less than two hours). Thankfully conditions improved slightly for the later pairings, with Hansen eventually beating England’s Justin Rose in a play-off. And many of you watching enjoyed not just the thrilling finale, but our entire output:

However, our coverage wasn’t without complaint. Viewers in Scotland were unable to watch the third round action on BBC ONE because of the Scottish Cup final (which amassed a 50% audience share during the match itself). Satellite and cable viewers could access Saturday’s play from Wentworth via the red button, but it was not on Freeview as only one interactive stream was available that day (which featured the live coverage of the sevens rugby from Twickenham). A round-up of Saturday’s golf was – and still is – available on the BBC Sport website, and News 24 also carried highlights in their sports bulletins.

We also received an e-mail from Mike Close. He suggested showing a player’s score on the day as well as their overall score on the leaderboard. I’m happy to say that Paul Davies, who’s in charge of our TV golf coverage, has confirmed that this feature will be added to the graphics from our next televised event – the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond (12-15 July).

Back to the weekend just gone, and with the weather also affecting play at Headingley, the TMS and website teams worked overtime to keep you happy before England were finally able to closeout victory. Here are some of your thoughts on how they did:

“I can't tell you how impressed I am that you could turn out such a good broadcast despite the lack of play. It was delightful and even interesting to listen to Viv Richards and Vic Marks.”
Susie Howells

“The only problem is the listening to TMS when there is rain means that my job takes three times as long as I suddenly realise that I have stopped work and am laughing at the stories and anecdotes.”
Tony Highfield

“Mark (Mitchener), your dedication today is tremendous. For the sterling work done by yourself and Tom Fordyce, I think you all deserve Wikipedia pages and Facebook groups - as Ben Dirs has.”
James Pope

The rain also washed out five-and-a-half hours play on the opening day of the French Open tennis, but Interactive viewers were able to see defending women’s champion Justine Henin book her place in the second round. And there will be daily coverage from Roland Garros on BBCi, plus highlights on News 24.

Also on BBCi this weekend was the aforementioned IRB World Sevens rugby, with the best of each day’s play on also BBC TWO. We’ve shown highlights of the first six rounds of this competition, so it was great to be live at Twickenham, and there will be similar coverage from Murrayfield this coming weekend.

New Zealand beat Fiji in the final, while Wales made it to the last four. There was a definite carnival atmosphere in the stands, with presenter John Inverdale having a great time among the fans – who had clearly come to party. And many people watching at home enjoyed themselves too:

“Great to see the seven’s at the weekend. Really great atmosphere despite Twickenham not being full, and some of the skills were breath-taking. I can’t wait for more of the same next weekend.”
Scott Sampson, Ayrshire

“It was really great to be able to see so much coverage however and great to see the NZ boys do so well. Looking forward to Scotland.”
Eileen

And speaking of Scotland, we received e-mails from football fans after a slip of the tongue from Football Focus presenter Manish Bhasin during Saturday’s show. Manish referred to “Walter Smith’s Scotland”, although Alex McLeish is now in charge of the national team. Focus Editor Steve Boulton said:

"You kick yourself whenever you make a mistake. The only thing you can do is correct yourself at the next appropriate moment. Fortunately, we had the chance to do that off the back of our Scottish Cup final preview piece about Dunfermline and Celtic.”

Click here to read the latest blog from Inside Sport editor Amanda Farnsworth.

In 2004, I moved to TV sports news as an assistant producer. I put together edits of match highlights, cut sound clips from interviews and wrote cues and scripts for presenters.

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