Trivia

Despite making his name commentating on car racing for more than 50 years, he never actually took a driving test himself.

Legendary and popular former Formula 1 TV commentator, famous for his "Murray-isms" and comical mistakes when commentating.

Clive James said about Murray Walker's exuberant commentating style: "Even at his quietest, he sounds as if his trousers are on fire".

Son of motorcycle racer, journalist and fellow broadcaster Graham Walker.

Retired in 2001 at the age of 77. His last race for ITV was the United States Grand Prix (the penultimate race of the season).

Walker survived cancer in 2013 due to good luck - he fell while walking and injured his hip, but doctors spotted the illness at an early stage while doing blood tests.

He was known for commentating alongside retired champion James Hunt for over 10 years. The pair were wary of each other at first, because of the age difference and Hunt's reputation as a party animal.

In a 2013 magazine interview, he said the BBC could not afford to send himself and Hunt to the long-distance non-European races such as Brazil etc, so they were commentating from within BBC studios "trying to sound like they were there".

In 2007 he made one last return to the microphone - as a substitute commentator for BBC Radio 5 Live, at that year's eventful European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, Germany.

Born on the same day as fellow UK media personality, actor/presenter/raconteur Nicholas Parsons.