MOTOR SPORT:AT 84, Murray Walker is unlikely to return. But there will probably be a quite remarkable reprise for one of the most memorable sporting theme tunes. After 13 years away, Formula One racing will return to the BBC in 2009 following ITV's surprise decision to axe the sport with two years of its contract remaining.

The corporation is believed to have promised around €51.1 million a year to tap into the Lewis Hamilton effect, immediately prompting questions in parliament over its use of the licence fee.

ITV, which currently pays €44.6 million per season plus €9 million in production costs, took advantage of a break clause in its five-year contract to concentrate its money on prime-time programming. Its coverage will run to the end of the current season, which started last week with a Hamilton win in Australia.

The BBC were jubilant yesterday, but said it was too early to say who would cover the sport when it took over in 2009, with a contract running until 2013. Steve Rider - who left the BBC for ITV, John Inverdale, Gaby Logan and perhaps David Coulthard - if the Scottish driver steps down at the end of this season - were all mentioned as possible hosts. There will also be crossovers with other BBC programmes, especially Top Gear.

"We're confident F1 will bring us new audiences as well as serving our traditional sport heartlands," said BBC director of sport Roger Mosey. "We'll have a really strong new media offering - so we'll deliver F1 in all sorts of innovative ways across our services."

With the ongoing auction for live Champions League football from 2009 reaching a climax, it was widely believed ITV chairman Michael Grade had decided to drop F1 to boost its bid. The broadcasters are battling it out for the rights to show the best match on Wednesday nights in an auction that could reach €89.3 million a year.

Walker, the legendary commentator, told the BBC he was absolutely flabbergasted at the news and suggested "there is more to this than meets the eye".