Wimbledon commentator ‘in tears’ after brutal BBC axe | Tennis | Sport
The Beeb have come under pressure from the All England Club to freshen up its coverage, or risk the rights being sold to somewhere new. Castle has been part of the BBC’s coverage for a stunning 23 years, but will wave goodbye to the Wimbledon commentary box at the end of this year’s edition.
Speaking to The Sun ahead of his final outing, Castle remarked: “The reason I’m going has got nothing to do with me. Genuinely, it was all very, very civil and very, very nice.
“They came to talk to me in person and said we’re going to head in a new direction for the final next year. And I accept that. I’m thankful for the years I’ve had. Am I sad? Of course, I’m sad about it. And I’m just disappointed about it.
“I still think I’ve got something to offer. They said, we’re going to give you great matches if you stay another year. But I said, truly, gratefully, thank you very much.”
On the messages from colleagues past and present, he added: “The messages I’ve had from colleagues and particularly from journalists, past and present, have moved me to tears.
“In the journalism business over the years, if your professional peers and colleagues are saying good things, that’s very moving. And I actually don’t want to read them because I’ve got to get through the final.”
Castle enjoyed some happy moments at Wimbledon as a player too, twice making the second round at SW19. On his soon-to-be departure, the 62-year-old continued: “There’s a sort of a strange feeling of you’re grieving for a job that’s no longer yours.
“I was feeling sorry for myself over the last 4-5 weeks. And then I went into town and I got the car washed, because I’m lazy. I saw the guys doing the car wash in nearly 40 degrees Celsius. A great bunch.
“They were working their backsides off, from 8am till 8pm. Then I went into Sainsbury’s and I asked somebody where something was and they smiled and they told me. Look, there’s real life. (Tennis) is a complete bubble. Let’s keep some perspective here. It’s been fantastic.”
