ITV will broadcast live coverage of the 153rd Boat race between Oxford and Cambridge universities from 3.30pm to 5.15pm on ITV1 on Race Day (Saturday 7 April).

Mark Durden-Smith and James Cracknell present ITV Sport’s coverage from a special studio on Putney Embankment, where they are also joined by former Oxford-stroke Tim Foster and 2004 Boat Race winner for Cambridge, Wayne Pommen. Last year’s winning Oxford President, Barney Williams, reports from on the river at Hammersmith Bridge.

Peter Drury will provide expert race commentary, whilst Gabriel Clarke reports from the start as the crews prepare for the race at 4.30pm.

As well as full profiles of both crews, the extensive race build-up includes a special investigative report from Gabriel Clarke on the Oxford ‘mutiny’ of twenty years ago, when a group of talented American oarsmen withdrew from Oxford’s crew just six weeks before the race after a conflict with the team’s President and Head Coach.

Using the latest technology across the four miles and 347 yard course, the ITV broadcast operation includes 28 land-based cameras and a further eight water and airborne cameras – two of which will be on each boat; with gyroscopic cameras on both the umpires launch and the tracking boat. For the first time there will also be two helicopters covering the race to allow both wide angled and close shots, enabling the commentary team to capture and analyse any tactical moves from either boat.