2018 Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race: BBC TV & online coverage times

The BBC has live coverage of both the women's and men's races as Oxford and Cambridge lock horns on Saturday, 24 March.

The Boat Race, an annual rowing contest between crews from Oxford and Cambridge University Boat clubs, features a women's race at 16:31 GMT and a men's race at 17:31 GMT.

This year marks 80 years since the event was first televised by the BBC.

Live coverage of the both races will be on BBC One, Connected TV and online from 15:50-18:15 GMT, with updates on Radio 5 live.

Among the crews this year are students of chemical engineering, American history, astrophysics and plant sciences.

At 6ft 10in, American James Letten - who sits in Cambridge's number four seat - is the tallest man to ever compete in the event.

Oxford have been hit by a late change to their line-up after Josh Bugajski fell ill with gastroenteritis last week.

He has been replaced by Benedict Aldous from the reserve crew Isis.

• Watch: The Boat Race - 80 Years Through the Lens

Oxford have won four of the past five men's races and are catching up with Cambridge in the overall standings - it's 82-80 to the Light Blues.

There is a bigger gap in the women's head-to-head - with Cambridge leading 42-30 - but Oxford hope to narrow the gap with an experienced crew.

More than 250,000 people are expected to take to the banks of the River Thames to watch the two teams compete - making this one of the biggest spectator events of the British sporting calendar.

BBC coverage

Saturday, 24 March

15:50-18:15 GMT, BBC One and online

Double Olympic gold medallist Helen Glover and Olympic champion Dame Katherine Grainger will join Clare Balding to provide insight and analysis.

Commentary for both races will come from Andrew Cotter, with 2016 Olympic silver medallist Zoe de Toledo and double Olympic champion and former Cambridge race winner Tom James alongside him in the commentary box.

Four-time Olympic gold medallist Matthew Pinsent reports from out on the water.

National and regional variations

National and regional variations have been included in this list where possible. Please check your local listings for more detailed information.

Catch-up

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