Chamberlin: teamwork and emotion made for a special week at Ascot

A tight team and making viewers feel part of the action have been put forward as reasons for ITV's positive Royal Ascot viewing figures by lead presenter Ed Chamberlin.

ITV posted the best viewing figures for the royal meeting since the BBC’s last broadcast in 2012, topping the Channel 4 numbers for each day and bringing in nearly 1.5 million extra viewers over the week.

In addition, the coverage received widespread praise from the racing industry, including Ascot and bookmakers, who reported strong betting turnover.

Chamberlin, who was presenting from Royal Ascot for the first time, said: “The ITV ethos is to make the people feel part of the racing. Things like having those sweeping shots were incredible, and we have to thank Guy Henderson and Juliet Slot at Ascot for helping make it happen. We wanted the coverage to be about pace and energy.

“The most satisfying thing for me was the messages. I had messages from heroes of mine saying they’d enjoyed it, and I had a wonderful message from one lady saying her 74-year-old nan watched the racing for the first time and loved it. Those are the people that matter to me.”

Ed Chamberlin: 'What I loved was what the stable staff put into the coverage'Credit: Edward Whitaker

The passion and the joy of Royal Ascot was best summed up by the reactions of the stable staff, according to Chamberlin, with ITV making a concerted effort to include them.

“What I loved was what the stable staff put into the coverage,” he said. “Their passion and emotion really brought people into the racing. That and watching the underdogs like Hot To Trot [Heartache] and Rebel Racing [Rajasinghe] taking on the superpowers and winning can only have been good.”

'I wouldn't change a thing about Matt'

Despite the overall success, some elements of the show received mixed reviews, including the fashion coverage and livewire betting ring presenter Matt Chapman.

Chamberlin said: “What I want to stress is how much of a team effort it was, in front and behind the camera. Hopefully that came across.

“I wouldn’t want to change a thing about Matt Chapman. Yes, he can be annoying, but he’s a brilliant journalist and what a lot of people don’t give him credit for is the work he puts in and what he sees in races and after races. He’s a great guy and a huge part of the team.

“I thought the fashion team of Charlotte Hawkins and Mark Heyes were excellent. I was reading comments which suggested a lot of people actually watch Royal Ascot for the Queen and the fashion rather than the racing, so it shows how important it is.”

Chamberlin added: “What went into Ascot was a year in planning but I’m sure there are things we got wrong and that I got wrong, but that’s live TV and we’re realistic about that. We will always look to improve."