ITV

Tag: Andrew Castle

  • Navratilova, Rusedski join BBC’s Wimbledon commentary team

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC has announced that record, nine-time Wimbledon Women’s champion Martina Navratilova and former World no.4 and US Open finalist Greg Rusedski are the latest recruits to the BBC’s television commentary team for this year’s Wimbledon Championships.

    Navratilova and Rusedski join viewers favourite John McEnroe who returns this year, alongside fellow Wimbledon champions, three-time victor Boris Becker and two-time winner Jimmy Connors, who will be combining his TV work with coaching Andy Roddick.

    Also back this year is Virginia Wade, celebrating the 30th anniversary of her win over Betty Stove in the 1977 Wimbledon Women’s Singles Final during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.

    Tracy Austin also returns for a fifth year behind the microphone. A winner of the mixed-doubles title at Wimbledon with her brother John in 1980, Tracy also won the US Open twice, in 1979 and 1981.

    With live and exclusive coverage beginning Monday 25 June on BBC One and BBC Two, BBC Radio Five Live, interactive through BBCi, and bbc.co.uk/sport, you can follow all the action from SW19 wherever you are.

    Once again, Sue Barker will present the BBC’s live coverage from the All England Club, with John Inverdale fronting the nightly highlights programme, Today At Wimbledon.

    Britain’s Davis Cup captain John Lloyd also returns and joins the regular team of Andrew Castle, Annabel Croft, Pat Cash, Peter Fleming, Michael Stich, Mark Cox, Sam Smith and Liz Smylie – all adding their expertise to the BBC’s coverage.

    David Mercer, Barry Davies, Simon Reed and Chris Bradnam will also be back in action in the commentary box and will be joined by Andy Murray’s former coach, Mark Petchey.

    Adding colour and atmosphere as roving reporters will be Hazel Irvine, Garry Richardson, Phil Jones and Rishi Persad.

    The BBC will again be using the unique ball tracking system, Hawk-Eye.

    Jason Goodall will be giving viewers an in-depth analysis of the intricacies of a players’ game and highlighting patterns of play.

    In addition to this the umpires on Centre and No.1 Courts will, for the first time, use Hawk-Eye as an official umpiring tool to assist with contentious line call decisions and illustrate whether or not a ball was in or out. Players will receive three unsuccessful appeals per set plus an additional one during a tie-break.

    Wimbledon will be broadcast in High Definition (HD) for the entire two weeks of the tournament. HD coverage will be available on the trial BBC HD Channel to digital satellite and cable viewers who have HD set-top boxes and televisions.

    BBC Radio Five Live will bring listeners all the action live from Wimbledon with Simon Mayo and Clare Balding presenting coverage daily.

    The interactive TV service will be once again offering digital viewers a whole host of extra features. In addition to terrestrial coverage, satellite and cable viewers have the chance to choose live action from up to five courts of play, and Freeview viewers have access to four extra courts, plus all the latest news, scores and results.

    The service will also include text pages offering news, live scores and results. The interactive TV service will also replay Today At Wimbledon throughout the night and early morning for viewers to catch up on the day’s play.

  • BBC commentator John Barrett to step down after 36 years following Wimbledon

    BBC commentator John Barrett to step down after 36 years following Wimbledon

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC has announced that commentator John Barrett will step down after 36 years following the Wimbledon Ladies’ Final. He will commentate alongside with John McEnroe and Tracy Austin.

    Barrett said, “It will be a great thrill. I have always enjoyed commentating on the Ladies’ Final and there have been so many great ones – producing champions like Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova – and I’m sure this year’s winner will be equally exciting.”

    Jimmy Connors, John Lloyd and Andrew Castle will commentate on the Men’s Final BBC’s Wimbledon executive producer Paul Davies said, “Jimmy Connors, John Lloyd and Andrew Castle did a great job last year and we want to stick with that successful combination this year.”

    In 2005 the Ladies’ Final was watched by 6.8 million viewers and the Men’s Final achieved 5.8 million viewers. In recent years, the BBC has used a number of different commentators to call the singles finals including John Barrett, Chris Bailey, Andrew Castle, Barry Davies and David Mercer.

    BBC Head of General Sport Barbara Slater said, “We always leave the decision on who will commentate on the finals until the second week and it’s always a difficult decision because of the strength and depth of the team. The two singles finals obviously have equal status and in fact last year’s Ladies Final lasted longer and achieved higher viewing figures than the Men’s Final.”

    He has worked with the BBC at Wimbledon since 1971 – and feels that now is the right time to enjoy some more time off-court. Barrett adds, “It’s been a great privilege to work at Wimbledon over the past 35 years, and to have worked with so many truly talented individuals in a strong BBC team has always been a pleasure.”