Iconic BBC Wimbledon commentator demoted after 23 years in latest controversial decision | Tennis | Sport

Andrew Castle will lead Wimbledon coverage for the final time this year, as the BBC looks to take its offering of the Championships in a new direction. A former British No. 1, Castle has become a familiar face on television screens and a familiar voice on the airwaves over the last few decades.

This will be his last Wimbledon as the BBC’s lead commentator for the men’s final. The All England Club reportedly asked the broadcaster to modernise its Wimbledon coverage. But Castle holds no resentment over the decision.

The 62-year-old told The Times: “To be honest, when I got the job 23 years ago, a lot of the more experienced commentators felt that they should have been first in line. Their noses were put out of joint. So, in the wider scheme of things, I am lucky that I had the best gig in sports broadcasting for so long, during the greatest age of men’s tennis.”

That included calling Andy Murray’s heroic run to the title in 2013, ending Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s singles champion as he beat Novak Djokovic in the final.

“That last game was something. Murray had three match points, which Djokovic saved. The tension was unbearable,” Castle recalled.

“The director asked for a push into Andy’s eyes, a lingering shot as he was grimacing after a gruelling rally. I think it was deuce. He was two points away from the thing he’d always dreamt of. A line came to me, ‘Sporting immortality doesn’t come easily’.”

While he’s not sure what he will do after he has uttered his final words during this year’s Wimbledon final, Castle is feeling positive about the future. He added: “My wife Sophia and I are building a house and we’re about to have a third grandchild, so things are good. I am not sure what will come next professionally, but whatever it is, I’ll embrace it.”

The BBC’s decision to demote Castle comes in the midst of a tough time for their sporting coverage. However, the broadcaster has confirmed that he will still be a part of the team next year.

Viewers weren’t happy when the Beeb shunted Serena Williams’ comeback match online to show a repeat of Richard Osman’s House of Games last week. The tennis legend retired in 2022 but returned last week, teaming up with Victoria Mboko in doubles at Queen’s. The first few games were shown on BBC Two before it was suddenly cut off for the game show re-run, only available on iPlayer.

The BBC has also faced criticism for its World Cup coverage, with pundits presenting from the studio in Salford – rather than the United States like rivals ITV – until the knockouts. Live sport was once one of the BBC’s great assets. Over the years, they have lost exclusive rights to the likes of the Commonwealth Games, the Boat Race, Paralympics, Formula One and Test cricket.

Whichever direction they take with Wimbledon coverage from 2027 and beyond, it will polarise opinion. Eugenie Bouchard, the 2014 Wimbledon runner-up, is already set to join the Beeb this summer, while Andre Agassi got in the commentary booth last year. And they could well look to enlist someone like Laura Robson, who is already part of Sky Sports and TNT Sports’ tennis coverage.

Express Sport has reached out to the BBC for comment.

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