I'm guessing a bit here Dom, but what the hell
In this weeks Raceform Simon Holt I think it was? paid her some complimentary back handers regarding her being the 'best turned out at Chester' (clothing) "a pleasure to work with" and said something about her easy going nature and "self-depracating" personality, and let slip the 'Posh and Becks' analogy.
Now could it be that with the larger than live 'personality' (and I use the word in the loosest possible sense of the word) having his air time reduced, (thankfully). That a vacuum has opened for a new face of Ch4 racing? I thought she did a fair job today and seems a damn sight more comfortable when she isn't surrounded by the egotists such as McGrath or McCrirrick, or "look at me" Thommo. Some of the other less dominant personalities seem to bring out a more easy going side in her, and she got the coverage to flow along quite nicely.
I also wonder a little bit about how some of the higher profile and established presenters used to belittle their female counterparts in a subtle way so as to lose them credibility in the public eye and reduce them to supporting scenary unworthy of comment (even though Tanya seems to regularly out tip the lot of them). Simple things like the nicknames they all were given?
'pouting hieress', 'posh bird', 'saucy minx', female' (note how Down always calls her Tanya). And what names did they give themselves 'Thommo' (hardly an insult) Jimbo (see comment for Thommo) 'Big Mac' (some delusion of grandeur) 'Greatest Jockey' 'Cat' 'GG'the nearest one you could find would be 'Fat Al'
I suspect she's spotted a bit of a window of opportunity, or more likely, someone in Ch4 has taken a decision to give her a higher profile?. Look at it logically. Clearly a strategic decision was taken to reduce McCririck's involvement. It's inconceivable that as part of the decision, some kind of forward plan wasn't conceived too? Who have you got?
McGrath - Too boring
Thompson - say no more
Francome - Too lazy
Tanya - Too Romford
Down - Not televisual
Graham - A bit staid
I don't expect for one side that the capricious side that used to surface in Emma has mysteriously gone away, but she's certainly improved. If I were looking for a face of Ch4 racing to take the sport forward and present a wider appeal, she'd be infinately preferable to the 'old school anchors' or ranting McCririck. Alright she still has to prove herself in order to anchor the coverage, but she's the most improved.