Andrew Castle will be dropped by the BBC after Wimbledon, ending 23 years as their lead commentator.
The former top-100 player and host of the GMTV breakfast show, Castle, 62, has been one of the voices of the tournament but the BBC has decided to take their coverage in a new direction, and so this year will be his last.
‘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,’ he told the Times. ‘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.
‘It’s been a hell of a journey. 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.’
The BBC will axe Andrew Castle after Wimbledon, ending his 23 years as lead commentator
Castle reached a career-high ranking of 80th in the world, competing against players such as Boris Becker and Mats Wilander. He twice made the second round of Wimbledon.
But he became far better known for his post-career work behind the camera, at Wimbledon and as the host for a decade of GMTV, ITV’s breakfast show.
