Andrew Castle, 62, is set to leave his role as the BBC’s lead tennis commentator after this year’s Wimbledon Championships. Multiple outlets report that the long-serving broadcaster has been informed that his position will change following the tournament, which begins later this month. Castle has worked on the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage for more than two decades, describing a 23-year run as a “hell of a journey,” with both pressure and controversy at times, but also calling it a privilege. He also says the decision was communicated to him a couple of months ago, and one report attributes it to BBC head of sport Alex Kay-Jelski, who is seeking to move coverage in a new direction. Castle continues to appear around the tennis calendar, including at Queen’s, as a commentator and presenter. While he will no longer lead the Wimbledon commentary, one report claims he may remain part of the BBC tennis team beyond this year, with possible plans for further involvement reported for 2027. The outlet reports also note Castle’s last Wimbledon as lead commentator starts on Monday 29 June, with defending champions Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek returning.
BBC to step down Andrew Castle as lead Wimbledon tennis commentator after 2024
Andrew Castle, 62, is set to leave his role as the BBC’s lead tennis commentator after this year’s Wimbledon Championships. Multiple outlets report that the long-serving broadcaster has been informed...
- Andrew Castle is set to stop being the BBC’s lead tennis commentator after this year’s Wimbledon.
- Castle has worked on BBC Wimbledon coverage for about 23 years.
- Reports say Castle was told of the change a couple of months ago, with BBC sport leadership behind the decision.
- His role is expected to shift rather than end completely, with some reports indicating he may stay with the BBC team.
- Wimbledon begins later this month, with Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek returning as defending champions.
The former top-100 player and host of the GMTV breakfast show, Castle, 62, has been one of the voices of the tournament.
13 hours agoThe former top-100 player and host of the GMTV breakfast show, Castle, 62, has been one of the voices of the tournament.
13 hours agoAndrew Castle has been a stalwart of the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage (Picture: Getty) Andrew Castle has confirmed that he is set to be stood down as the BBC’s lead tennis commentator after this year’s Wimbledon Championships. Castle has been a mainstay of the broadcaster’s coverage since landing the job over two decades ago. However, the 62-year-old was informed a couple of months ago that he will be removed from his role following this year’s tournament, which begins later this month. In an interview with The Times, Castle confirmed the decision, which appears to have been made by BBC’s head of sport Alex Kay-Jelski, who is keen to take coverage in a new direction. ‘It’s been a hell of a journey,’ Castle said. ‘I can’t say I have enjoyed every minute because there have been moments of pressure and controversy, but it has been a huge privilege. ‘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.’ Andrew Castle is set to be stood down as the BBC’s lead tennis commentator (Picture: Getty) Castle is currently working at Queen’s and appears as a commentator and presenter at other tennis tournaments throughout the calendar year. Asked what the future holds after his final Wimbledon, he said: ‘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.’ While he may not be lead commentator after this year, The Sun reports that Castle will remain as part of the team for 2027. The likes of Jonathan Overend, Nick Mullins, Nick Lester and Marcus Buckland could be in line to replace Castle in the main chair. Castle’s final Wimbledon as lead commentator begins in just under a fortnight on Monday 29 June. Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek return as the defending men’s and women’s champions, with Venus and Serena Williams set to make a highly anticipated return in the women’s doubles. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
14 hours agoAndrew Castle has been one of the voices of the BBC's Wimbledon coverage for more than 20 years, but his role will change after this summer's tournament
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