Sue Barker is as synonymous with Wimbledon as ball boys and Pimm’s, having presented the tennis tournament since 1993.
The former tennis champion, 68, who won 15 WTA Tour singles titles, including a major a singles title at the 1976 French Open, reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 3.
However, after 28 years presenting Wimbledon on the BBC, the Devon-born star suddenly decided to step down, leaving her legion of loyal fans bereft.
Rumours swirled Sue’s departure, with many wondering why the Question of Sport host would leave the job she loved when she was still ‘top of her game’.
So, as the tennis tournament kicks off today in SW19 fronted by the star’s replacement, Clare Balding, here’s the truth behind Ms Barker’s heartbreaking Wimbledon exit…
Discovered BBC chiefs were ‘having meetings about her replacement’
Sue revealed she left Wimbledon after discovering BBC chiefs were ‘having meetings’ about who would ‘replace’ her. She previously spoke about how she ‘didn’t want to get slowly phased out’ of presenting the tennis tournament before enjoying the star-studded championships as a fan in 2023.
The presenter was reportedly offered a three-year extension by the BBC to stay. But after several months of careful consideration, she opted to bow out while ‘still on top’ of her game’ having forged a career as one of the country’s leading TV presenters.
Following her departure, Sue revealed she was aware of talks to “diminish” her role by bringing in different presenters. “I just sensed that, as you get older, you’ve got not many years left. And when you’re hearing that they’re having meetings about who’s to replace you…” she told The Telegraph.
She continued: “Although they offered me a contract, I suddenly thought over those three years [on the contract extension], will it be a case of: “We’ll just diminish Sue’s role a little so that the transition is slightly easier.” And I didn’t want to be diminished. I’d rather go out doing the top job.’So maybe it came a couple of years before I was ready to do it. But in hindsight, it was absolutely the right time.”
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Source: New York Post
