Beloved BBC commentator John Lloyd confirmed live on air that he will head off into retirement after covering this summer’s Wimbledon championships.
Lloyd, the BBC’s famed tennis commentator, was calling the men’s doubles final on Centre Court on Saturday as Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara defeated Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic.
The 71-year-old, who was a player himself in his heyday, has been with the BBC as a commentator since the 1990s.
While Lloyd wanted a low-key send off, his colleagues ensured that wasn’t going to happen.
‘Before we get to the presentation, worth just saying something about you, Lloyd-y,’ his co-commentator Todd Woodbridge said.
To which the ever humble Lloyd replied: ‘Wow, don’t need to…’
Woodbridge had none of it, adding: ‘It might be the last chance that I get to sit in the comms’ box with you, it’s been an absolute pleasure.’
‘Thank you,’ a touched Lloyd said. ‘Yeah, it’s very nice of you guys to say that.’
John Lloyd (centre, pictured in 2008) has called his last match as BBC’s lead tennis commentator at Wimbledon having announced his shock retirement on Saturday afternoon
Woodbridge added: ‘I look forward to meeting you up in the members’ [area] later in the day each time when we come back, because you’re not leaving.’
Lloyd said: ‘That’s for sure.’
It continues the dramatic evolution of the BBC’s coverage for what is one of its most important events of the sporting calendar.
Sue Barker has long departed as lead presenter, while Andrew Castle was also cut prior to this latest championships as a lead commentator.
Now Lloyd, who famously married tennis legend Chris Evert in 1977 when both were players, will join them on the sidelines.
But while Lloyd has bowed out on his terms, the same could not be said for an ‘upset’ Castle.
Castle, a former top-100 player who had been the voice of the tournament for nearly 25 years, was dropped from the top job as the BBC looked to overhaul its coverage.
Head of BBC Sport, Alex Kay-Jelski, decided to take the corporation’s coverage in a new direction, attempting to bring in new and younger audiences while cutting costs.
The corporation confirmed it wanted Castle to continue working for them in a different role, but he turned the offer down meaning this year will be his last.
Castle said prior to the championships that he would be upset during this year’s tournament knowing it is his last but ‘all good things must come to an end.’
Lloyd was a player in his heyday and also coached top British stars such as Sir Andy Murray
Andrew Castle, who has long commentated alongside Lloyd, will also be missing next year
The 62-year-old veteran broadcaster, who revealed he was leaving on June 16, said he wished he could have remained in the role until next year for the championship’s 150th anniversary.
And to make the mood more dour, if Castle had made it one more year in the role, it would have been a special anniversary for him as well.
‘It would have been my 25th year. But who’s bleating?’, he told the Daily Telegraph.
‘I was told in person [about getting dropped], in a very respectful way, and 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.’
