Jonathan Pearce

Jonathan Pearce is a British football commentator for the BBC and is also well known for commentating on all series thus far of Robot Wars and both series of Robot Wars Extreme, the only member of the hosting team to do so.

Robot Wars
Although often criticised for his sometimes overly-exuberant approach to football commentary, Pearce's commentary was seen by many as a far better match for the more hectic Robot Wars scene. He began his initial six year run as commentator in 1998 and his enthusiasm attracted mainly positive reviews. Pearce made no secret of his excitement while commentating, and produced many priceless quotes. He was also known for occasional laughing fits, most notably during Hypno Disc's first battle against Robogeddon and the first ever Out of the Arena flip by Chaos 2 against Fire Storm. Pearce's position was never in doubt and he held onto his role for all eight main series of Robot Wars, as well as both series of Robot Wars Extreme. He also provided his voice for all of the Robot Wars video games except Robot Wars: Metal Mayhem, which had no voice over.

Pearce recently revealed in a radio interview that if a hypothetical Robot Wars: The Eighth Wars happened in 2004-2005, he and Craig Charles would not have returned. However, Pearce reprised his role in the 2016 series of Robot Wars.

Predictions
In Extreme 1, Pearce appeared on screen for the first time, usually before the final battle of each episode to predict what would happen (except for the two Annihilators and the Flipper Frenzy of Episode 11).
 * Episode 1 (Challenge Belt - Behemoth vs The Steel Avenger) In his first on-screen appearance on the show, Pearce quickly looked over both robots’ prior track records, before declaring the match was too close for him to call.
 * Episode 2 (Mayhem - Hypno-Disc vs Wheely Big Cheese vs Ming 3) Pearce commented that all three robots had powerful weapons, and predicted a close victory for Hypno-Disc.
 * Episode 3 (International Inferno - Flensburger Power vs Manta vs Maximill vs Panic Attack) Pearce said that Maximill and Manta looked decent robots while Flensburger Power was the weak link out of the four, but backed Panic Attack to emerge on top.
 * Episode 4 (Vengeance - Razer vs Pussycat) Pearce predicted that the improvements made to Razer for Extreme would be enough to give it victory, though he did remark that Pussycat had a better track record in competition.
 * Episode 5 (Armed Forces Face-Off - Anvil vs Mega Hurts vs Rhino) Out of loyalty to his RAF serviceman father, Pearce backed Anvil to emerge on top, but commented that he was expecting good things from the Armed Forces robots.
 * Episode 6 (Vengeance - Plunderbird 5 vs Sir Chromalot) After summarising both robots’ defensive and offensive capabilities, Pearce backed Plunderbird 5 for the victory.
 * Episode 8 (All-Stars – Stinger vs Pussycat) – While he suggested Stinger as a potential future champion and that it could succeed if its swinging weapon worked properly, Pearce predicted Pussycat would win by attacking Stinger’s exposed tyres.
 * Episode 9 (House Robot Rebellion - Plunderbird 5, Stinger & Scorpion vs Dead Metal & Shunt (& Matilda) - Pearce commented that the three competitor teams were crazy to agree to take part, especially Plunderbird 5 and Scorpion, and that Stinger was the only one who stood any sort of chance of going the distance.
 * Episode 10 (All-Stars – Pussycat vs Tornado) – Pearce noted Pussycat’s track record and cutting blade as its key advantages, but sided with Tornado as he believed that its spinning drum was more destructive.
 * Episode 12 (All-Stars – Chaos 2 vs Tornado) – Again, Pearce noted Tornado’s drum as a potential threat to Chaos 2’s chances, but reluctantly backed Chaos 2 anyway.
 * Episode 13 (Tag Team Terror – Diotoir & Pussycat vs The Steel Avenger & Suicidal Tendencies) – While summarising each team’s strengths and weaknesses, Pearce backed The Steel Avenger & Suicidal Tendencies because of their more potent and reliable weapons.
 * Episode 15 (All-Stars – Razer vs Tornado) – Pearce predicted Razer to win by crushing through Tornado’s armour, despite once again highlighting the possibility of Tornado’s drum causing damage to Razer.

Guest interviews
In The Sixth Wars and the second series of Extreme, Pearce would interview various other faces of Robot Wars on their bets on the final battle of the episode. Whenever Pearce was joined by a current Robot Wars Judge, they wouldn't give a verdict, as they had to remain impartial, but Pearce would still offer his prediction.

"The best thing about his commentary is that it's spontaneous. If it was rehearsed at all, you'd be able to tell."

- Bill Hobbins

Series 6

 * Heat A: Pearce was joined by Noel Sharkey to discuss Razer's success and Raging Reality's performance so far. Pearce backed Razer.
 * Heat B: Pearce was joined by Philippa Forrester. Both Pearce and Forrester backed Firestorm to defeat X-Terminator.
 * Heat C: Pearce was joined by Craig Charles. Pearce backed Chaos 2, but Charles backed eventual winner Dantomkia.
 * Heat D: Again joined by Sharkey, Pearce again backed the seeded robot (S3) after Sharkey noted the different types of discs being used (2 horizontal counter rotating discs for Shredder and 1 large vertical disc for S3).
 * Heat E: Pearce and Charles both outlined Wild Thing's durability throughout its career and both backed it from having more experience.
 * Heat F: Similar to Heat C, Pearce backed the seeded Stinger, but Charles backed eventual winner 13 Black.
 * Heat G: Pearce, joined by Martin Smith, discussed the strengths of each robot before backing eventual champion Tornado.
 * Heat H: Unlike other heats, Pearce was not accompanied by anyone and this time backed Supernova after observing Spawn Again's difficulties throughout the heat. Despite this, another seeded robot made it through.
 * Heat I: Alone, Pearce said that "with my heart, I'd go with Terrorhurtz but my head says that Panic Attack will have its day". Pearce backed Panic Attack.
 * Heat J: Pearce was joined by Mat Irvine and noted how damage is the key factor in winning judges' decisions. Pearce then backed Dominator 2. He also added that Dominator 2 would not struggle with this victory.
 * Heat K: Pearce was once again joined by Philippa Forrester, who explained about Barber-Ous' modifications from the first round. Both Pearce and Forrester backed Hypno-Disc to defeat Barber-Ous 2.
 * Heat L: Pearce and Martin Smith discussed the battle between Bigger Brother and Disc-O-Inferno, comparing the flipper boom with the rise of the spinning disc. Smith was unable to make a prediction as a judge, but Pearce backed Bigger Brother to defeat Disc-O-Inferno.

Extreme Series 2

 * All-Stars - Heat A: Pearce was joined by Noel Sharkey. Sharkey noted that both machines were All-Stars but neither had made it all the way to the end. Sharkey had to remain impartial as a judge but Pearce backed Bigger Brother for no particular reason.
 * All-Stars - Final: Craig Charles joined Pearce in the box and Charles made an agreement that Razer was controversially defeated in the Sixth Wars because of Tornado's adaptation. Since Firestorm could not do so, both backed Razer to win the All-Stars again.
 * Annihilator: Derek Foxwell joined Pearce and explained about the repairs the finalists had to go through and how difficult they were. Despite Thermidor 2's success, Pearce backed eventual champion Kan-Opener.
 * Minor Meltdown: Pearce was joined by Philippa Forrester, who was particularly pleased with Joe and Ellie Watts' teamwork and the fact that none of the young roboteers were having any help. They unanimously voted Bigger Brother to defeat Lambsy.
 * New Blood - Heat A: Pearce was joined by Derek Foxwell, who had seen all of the New Blood contestants in the auditions, and felt that people did get nervous in the arena. Foxwell thought that Mute was more manoeuvrable but Pearce backed Roobarb.
 * New Blood - Heat B: Pearce, noting damages sustained by both heat-finalists, was joined by Mat Irvine. Irvine mentioned that both Thor and Edge Hog reminded him of robots from earlier wars. Thor, with its powerful, if inaccurate, hammer, was the robot which Pearce backed.
 * New Blood - Heat C: Craig Charles joined Pearce to discuss Storm 2 and ICU. Pearce thought that ICU had to work very hard to make it to the final and Charles felt the robot was not up to scratch. Although both felt it was a "Tornado rip-off" and lacked any real weaponry, both backed Storm 2.
 * New Blood - Heat D: Pearce was joined by Noel Sharkey, who was quick to notice Pressure's five weapons and Cedric Slammer's one and the difference in power. He also suggested that people who competed in New Blood also develop their own robots overtime to learn from experience. Pearce backed Cedric Slammer.
 * New Blood - Final: Martin Smith joined Pearce in the box. Smith was extremely impressed with Storm 2 and dubbed it as "a work of engineering art". Despite the lack of new design innovations, Pearce backed Storm 2 to win the title.
 * Challenge Belt Final: Mat Irvine joined Pearce and suggested Terrorhurtz is the most violent of all robots. Irvine noted Tornado's anti-crusher frame and encouraged other competitors to use these if they are legal. Pearce backed Terrorhurtz to win.
 * Iron Maidens: Pearce, joined by Philippa Forrester, favoured Pussycat, but Forrester, after showing how women drivers are more nervous than men at times because of the amount of damage that might happen to their robots, backed Chompalot.
 * University Challenge: Noel Sharkey joined Pearce in the commentary box, who thought that it was a very good idea for students to develop a product and bring it into the real world. Even though it lacked in power compared to Razer, Pearce backed Tiberius 3.
 * Commonwealth Carnage: Pearce was joined by Mat Irvine, who was very impressed by the technology used in Crushtacean's claws but both ultimately backed Firestorm 4.
 * European Championship: Pearce was joined by Craig Charles, who noted Team Razer's generosity for handing Tornado a place and felt that Razer was immobilised. Charles unsurprisingly backed Tornado as he felt that Philipper 2 was very lucky to reach that stage.

Career outside of Robot Wars
Known for his loud, exciteable commentaries, he has worked for both Radio Five Live and Match of the Day, as well as participating in other lower key sports programmes.

Pearce wanted to become a footballer, but his career was ended after breaking his leg in 1974. He started his career in broadcasting at BBC Radio Bristol before becoming a Sports Editor at the age of 23. In 1987 he moved to Capital Radio and he launched Capital Gold Sport a year later. Pearce also commentated on a few low-key Premier League games for Sky Sports during the 1992-93 season, before taking up his Five Live and Match of the Day roles.

When Five was launched in 1997, Pearce was signed as their lead football commentator. Unlike his Robot Wars glory days that were before him, his excitable style of commentary received criticism from some quarters. Despite these setbacks, he joined Five Live in 2002 and was part of their commentary team for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He went on to present the midweek sports programme Sport on Five from 2003 until 2005 and became a commentator for BBC television on Match of the Day in 2004.

Pearce has commentated on over 150 England internationals, five FIFA World Cups, four European Championships and over 20 FA Cup Finals. In 1998, he received heavy criticism from British tabloid The Daily Mail for his exceptionally exuberant commentary during England's 1998 World Cup qualifier against Poland, often cheering his home nation on during the game. Despite the detractors, some praised Pearce on his outstanding ability to pronounce the Polish players' names.

Since joining the BBC Match of the Day team, Pearce has been the second choice commentator to the legendary John Motson for live matches, but is seen by many as the favourite to become the BBC's first choice commentator now that John Motson has stopped covering international games. Indeed, Pearce is normally used for high-profile international games. He has also appeared in other BBC productions, such as Hole in the Wall and a guest appearance on Doctor Who.

Trivia

 * At the time of Series 4, Jonathan Pearce claimed his favourite robot was Diotoir.

Quotes
"Amy Sproat, and Daniel Parry, don't harry, with Barry! There they go for the ramp but they've only got a ground clearance of 6cm, will that be costly? They've only made a cassette ret before, and a key fob, and they're gonna be fobbed off here! And they need those wheelchair motors now, because Matilda's in, and she's hungry for rrrrrrubber! And the pupils from Hagley High, seem to me to be left hanging high, and dry!"

- Barry, Series 1, Heat A, Gauntlet

"The Nemesis boys all want to go into space, and they're in the air! They're in the air! And they're on fire!"

- Nemesis vs Roadblock, Series 1, Heat A, Semi-Final

"AH, he's into the sheeps pen, and this could be lambs to the slaughter, because Bash and Shunt are closing in, and it could be roast lamb at that - if the torch comes out, and it does! Lamb keebab!"

- Scrapper, Series 1, Heat B, Gauntlet

"Look at that Japanese blade, thrusting down! Leighbot? Pepperpot! You could pour pepper out of that Leighbot machine now! Look at the holes!"

- Mortis vs Leighbot, Series 1, Heat B, Semi-Final

"Tantalising, teetering, tottering, toppling, toppling, Tantrummm, totalled!"

- Tantrum, Series 2, Heat B, Trial

"Technophobic,﻿ I hope it's not claustrophobic, or arachnophobic, there are spiders down there! It's dark, it's gloomy...and you're going down!"

- Killertron vs Technophobic, Series 2, Heat E, Final

"Killalot coming in, but holding the see-saw down! Oh, that's demonic, and that's evil knievel!"

- Panic Attack, Series 2, Heat F, Gauntlet

"But it's exterminate! exterminate! Judgeshred pushed towards the pit! Judgeshred... PSI, CO2, KO, TTFN, TA-TA FOR NOW! JUDGESHRED, OVER AND OUT!"

- X-Terminator vs Judgeshred, Series 3, Heat K, Round 2

"Plunderstorm? It's not even a shower! Well, the blows are raining down, under a hail of blows from Shunt. It's a cloudy future for Plunderstorm, that's for certain. It's snow joke for them, and the weather forecast, is that the Plunderstorm will be swiftly snuffed out and there will be sunny skies ahead for Thermador."

- Plunderstorm vs Thermador, Series 3, Heat M, Round 1

"And Chaos 2-OH-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA, FIREST-HA-HA-HA. What a way to go!"

- Chaos 2 vs Fire Storm, Series 3, Grand Final, Eliminator

"Well, Terror Australis, as menacing as a Koala Bear. And they've shut up shop, and they're going back to ayers rock, and Mortis didn't have to do a lot, let's be honest."

- Mortis vs Terror Australis, First World Championship, Eliminator

"Dominator 2, madly flailing away with that axe. Do this try this at home, children, with a tooth pick on your brothers favourite model car... Wait until Christmas day and do it then!"

- Dominator 2 vs 101, Series 4, Heat E, Final

"Stinger's doing its own thing out there. Like the loony who dances by himself at the disco on a Friday night - you've all seen them, you've all been there... Well I have... I know... That's another point though!"

- Stinger vs Spikasaurus vs Bulldog Breed 2, Series 4, Heat J, Eliminator

"And that's the end of Tiberius, Sam Smith. You are going, you are going, you are gone! Ooh no. You're not. Not yet. You are on the brink though, Sam Smith. Get your machine away if you can. I don't think he can. I think there's no more drive. Matilda, a little shove, a little glance, a little delicate blow. Sam Smith, and Tiberius, you have gone."

- Tiberius vs Little Fly, Series 4, Heat K, Semi-Final

"Mr ugly, is Mr. Psycho of course. Mr gruesome, is Mr. Psycho. Mr merciless, is Mr. Psycho. Imagine him as your Uncle. Imagine him as your teacher. Imagine him as the boy next door."

- Spawn Again vs Terrorhurtz, Series 6, Semi-Final 2, Round 2

"Six foot two, eyes of blue. Mr. Psycho's after you."

- Firestorm 4 vs Panic Attack, Extreme 2, Commonwealth Carnage, Round 2

"That's come down with snow on it!"

- Series 7, Featherweight battles, Heat B and Heat P

"That's one hammer blow, Mr Psycho managed to hit himself in the head. Ladies and gentlemen, he's not the brainiest, he's not the brightest. Pinser, neither are you. GET OUT OF THE WAY!"

- Pinser vs Cobra vs The Kraken vs Kronic the Wedgehog, Series 7, Heat J, Eliminator

"And Raging Knightmare, in no sympathetic mood! Spawn Again... Now you can't sit there all day... That's better, down you go, out."

- Spawn Again vs Raging Knightmare, Series 7, Heat N, Final