BBC Wimbledon commentator ‘upset’ and breaks silence on brutal exit | Tennis | Sport

Andrew Castle has admitted that he is ‘upset’ about being axed by the BBC as he prepares to commentate on Wimbledon for the final time. The legendary broadcaster has decided to step down after being informed that this summer would be his last in the lead commentator role. Castle’s voice had been synonymous with the BBC’s coverage of Wimbledon, but they wanted to push their broadcast in a different direction.

It had been suggested that he would still be with the BBC in some capacity next year, but that is no longer the case. It comes after the Beeb were asked by the All England Club to modernise their coverage, or risk of losing the rights to the tournament. Earlier this week, they agreed a contract extension running until 2033.

Castle has now broken his silence on his impending exit in an interview with The Telegraph, admitting that he would have liked to stay on for another year.

He said: “Am I upset? Yeah, I was upset, and I will stay that way this year, knowing it’s my last, but all good things come to an end.

“I would have liked to have gone out with the 150th year of the Championships [in 2027]. It would have been my 25th year, but who’s bleating? I was told in person [about leaving his commentary role] in a very respectful way.

“I was very grateful for that, because knowing what I know about TV, you can be walking down the street one moment and the next you’ve been nobbled.

“Just take GMTV [which Castle presented alongside Kate Garraway, Ben Shephard and Penny Smith]. I thought I’d been doing a good job, and then I arrived at Gatwick Airport for our family holiday.

“The front page of the Daily Mirror had a picture of me and my three co-presenters with the headline: ‘You’re Toast’.”

Castle went on to question the BBC’s new direction, revealing that he turned down the opportunity to continue in his role without being the lead commentator.

“If bosses are reacting, thinking that they’ve got to find an 18 to 30-year-old audience by going down this route, they’re mistaken in my view, and it’s a dangerous thing to be reacting to the most extreme opinion,” he added.

“I don’t know why I won’t be doing another final, apart from that it’s a ‘change of direction’. They did ask me to come back for next year without the final, but I declined.

“I think it’s the right decision. I don’t want to hang around really and there are other avenues to pursue. In fact, there are two job offers. It won’t necessarily be the same thing, but it’s during the tournament for others.

“To even get through the gates of the All England Club, let alone to sit in that seat and broadcast the men’s final to the world, it’s amazing, so I’m very grateful, grateful and sad at the same time.”

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