Heartbroken fans have shared their sadness after Sue Barker announced she will be quitting the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage after this summer.
This year’s championship, starting on June 27, will be her last as the face of the BBC’s coverage and she told MailOnline today that she wants to ‘depart quietly’.
The 66-year-old presenter was offered a three-year extension by the BBC to stay. But after several months of careful consideration, she has opted to retire while ‘still on top’ of her game’ having forged a career as one of the country’s leading TV presenters.
Her legion of fans and admirers have taken to social media to share their sadness at the news, while some of the sport’s biggest names also paid tribute.
Billie-Jean King wrote: ‘My friend and colleague Sue Barker is stepping down from her role after @Wimbledon, following 30 years of leading live sports broadcasting for @BBCSport.
‘Sue enjoyed not only a career as a brilliant presenter, but also as an excellent tennis player as well.
Sue Barker will front the BBC’s coverage of Wimbeldon this year for the last time – and her fans have paid tribute to her
‘She won the 1976 French Championships. Sue brought credibility, knowledge, and professionalism to her broadcasting role, and I am looking forward to working with her one more time at Wimbledon.
‘She has inspired generations to follow in her footsteps, and her impact on sports broadcasting will be greatly missed.
‘Cheers to the next step in your journey, Sue. I have no doubt it will be extraordinary.’
One fan said: ‘ What a run from Sue Barker, a face and voice of Wimbledon for generations of BBC viewers (and when I was about 9, my favourite lady player.)
Another said: ‘Nooo. You can’t have Wimbledon without Sue Barker! It would be like having strawberries without cream!’
While a third said: ‘Sue Barker has been the voice and face of @Wimbledon for a generation. Her knowledge and passion for tennis has enlightened and engaged a huge audience. Thank you.’
Announcing her retirement, she told the Daily Mail: ‘Basically I just feel the time is right. It has been my dream job and I have loved every minute of it, working with so many great colleagues who I am going to miss so much.
‘When I started I never thought I would manage 30 years. I had actually made up my mind to leave in 2017 because the hours were becoming very long and quite challenging. That would have been 25 years and seemed a good time, but I am so glad I made the decision to stay on. I’m very happy to be leaving with no regrets and on my own terms while I am still on top of the job, it just feels like the right time to go and leave it to others.’
Miss Barker revealed that the death of her mother aged 100 this year was a key factor. ‘My mum was always so interested in my broadcasting career and we would speak every evening,’ she said.
Sue Barker with Novak Djokovic after he won the Men’s Singles Final in 2018 (left) and in 1999 (right)
Sue Barker during the Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon in June 1998
‘When something like that happens it does make you reassess life, which is another reason I think this is the right time.’
As well as Wimbledon, Miss Barker has fronted BBC coverage of the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and Grand National.
She co-presented coverage of Prince Edward’s wedding to Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999 and for 24 years she hosted the Question of Sport quiz show, before being replaced by Paddy McGuinness last year amid a row about ageism.
Prior to becoming a trailblazer for female sportscasters, Miss Barker was a top tennis player.
She was once ranked No 3 in the world, winning the French Open in 1976 and reaching the semi-final at Wimbledon in 1977.
She famously dated Cliff Richard in the 1980s. The singer has said he came close to proposing. She is now married to landscape gardener Lance Tankard.
Miss Barker said that, despite the controversial ban on players from Russia and Belarus over the war in Ukraine, ‘I still think it is going to be a great Wimbledon’.
She looks forward to becoming a spectator. ‘I definitely will be going back to Wimbledon every year – above all I love tennis,’ she said. ‘At the moment it is difficult to watch all the matches I want. I actually love the matches on the outside courts.’
Her many standout moments as a presenter include seeing Andy Murray become Britain’s first male champion in 77 years in 2013 – and she won plaudits for her skilful handling of an on-court interview in 2012, when Murray broke down after losing the final to Roger Federer. But Miss Barker added: ‘I don’t want to look back too much yet on my time because there is still this year to come, I have a job to do and I am really looking forward to it.’
BBC director-general Tim Davie said: ‘Sue Barker has been the face and voice of Wimbledon for three decades. Many of our viewers will not know of a summer in SW19 without her. She is a consummate professional, an outstanding presenter and a wonderful colleague, loved by current and former players, all of us at the BBC and audiences across the UK and beyond.’
How Sue Barker racked up 23 tennis titles and climbed to World No 3 after winning the French Open – before becoming ‘the voice of Wimbledon for three decades’
By Kaya Terry for MailOnline
Sue Barker has called time on her role as a veteran BBC presenter of the Wimbledon coverage following this year’s tournament – after 30 years with the broadcaster.
The 66-year-old has been a trailblazer for female sports presenters and fronted many of the BBC’s legendary sports programmes over the last three decades.
Barker, of Paignton, Devon, started playing tennis when she was just 10 years old and began attending the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, which she sits on the board of alongside other Wimbledon stars.
A tennis-mad PE teacher took a party from her school to the legendary club in Devon by minibus, going there and back in a day.
Sue Barker, of Paignton, Devon, (Pictured in 1981) started playing tennis when she was just 10 years old and began attending the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, which she sits on the board of alongside other Wimbledon stars
Sue Barker during the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships held at the All England Club in London during July 1981
Barker subsequently made her playing debut there aged 16, and has not missed a year since – usually as a Great British hope or working in television.
After starting her career as a professional tennis player, Barker went on to win 11 WTA Tour singles titles and one Grand Slam after triumphing at the 1976 French Open.
She became LTA Colour Holder – designed to acknowledge and celebrate players who have represented Great Britain at tennis – after representing the UK in what is now the Billie Jean King Cup in 27 ties.
Barker reached one final match in 1980 and won the last singles title of her career at the Brighton International in 1981, finishing the year ranked as World No. 16. She won her last doubles title match in 1982 at Cincinnati and played her last professional tennis game in 1984.
Upon retiring from tennis, Barker became a commentator and sports reporter for Australia’s Channel 7 in 1985 before going on to anchor tennis coverage for Sky between 1990 to 1993.
Barker during the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships held at the All England Club in London in July 1984
Meanwhile, Barker broke off an engagement with Australian tennis player Syd Ball in 1978.
In an interview the following year, she said: ‘I realised that Syd wasn’t the answer. Underneath, I wasn’t happy and I certainly wasn’t ready for marriage. I wasn’t fair to him or myself.’
Four years later, she started a relationship with Cliff Richard. It attracted the attention of fans across the world when the singer was spotted in Denmark watching her play a match.
Recently, Cliff revealed he nearly asked Barker to marry him ‘but in the end I realised that I didn’t love her quite enough to commit the rest of my life to her.’
The tennis legend later married landscape gardener and former policeman, Lance Tankard in 1988.
In 1982, Barker started a relationship with Cliff Richard. It attracted the attention of fans across the world when the singer was spotted in Denmark watching her play a match
Upon retiring from tennis, Barker became a commentator and sports reporter for Australia’s Channel 7 in 1985 before going on to anchor tennis coverage for Sky between 1990 to 1993. Pictured: Barker in June 1992
Petra Kvitova is interviewed by Sue Barker after beating Eugenie Bouchard in the Ladies’ Singles Final in 2014 at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London
Upon retiring from tennis, she became a commentator and sports reporter for Australia’s channel 7, before going on to anchor tennis coverage for British Sky Broadcasting. She then joined the BBC team to present their Wimbledon coverage and has anchored the two-week long broadcast ever since.
Barker co-presented coverage of Prince Edward’s wedding to Sophie, Countess of Wessex, in June 1999 alongside Michael Buerk in Windsor. Reportedly, Barker introduced the countess to the 96-year-old monarch’s youngest son at a charity function a few years earlier.
She became the presenter of the long-running sports quiz show A Question of Sport in 1997, having replaced the late David Coleman. She retired as QoS presenter following the BBC’s decision to revamp the show; having recorded her last episode in September 2020.
Barker has since led coverage of the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, athletics, racing and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards from 1994 until 2012.
BBC director general Tim Davie said Barker’s ‘contribution to tennis, the BBC, sports presenting and for blazing a trail for women in broadcasting cannot be overstated’.
‘Sue Barker has been the face and voice of Wimbledon for three decades,’ Davie added.
Serena Williams (right) speaks to Sue Barker after defeating her sister Venus in the Women’s Singles Final of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships in 2002
Andy Murray holds the Wimbledon trophy as he is interviewed by Sue Barker following his victory in the Men’s Singles Final against Milos Raonic in 2016
‘Many of our viewers will not know of a summer in SW19 without her. She is a consummate professional, an outstanding presenter and a wonderful colleague, loved by current and former players, all of us at the BBC and audiences across the UK and beyond.’
BBC Sport director Barbara Slater described Barker as ‘a national treasure’, adding: ‘We’d have loved for her to continue in her role for many years to come.
‘We do of course respect her decision and understand why, after 30 years of leading Wimbledon presentation, she’s ready to make this year her last.
‘A consummate professional who audiences will remember for her skill, authority and warmth on screen, Sue will be equally remembered with fondness and affection by colleagues who had the privilege to work alongside her, experiencing the same professionalism and warmth behind the scenes.’
Sue Barker interviews Roger Federer after his defeat to Novak Djokovic in the Final of the Gentlemen’s Singles on day 13 of The Championships in 2019
Serena Williams talks to BBC presenter Sue Barker after winning her Ladies Singles Final match against Agnieszka Radwanska on day 12 of the 2012 Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London
Barker and the BBC extended her contract in 2008 to cover the London 2012 Olympic Games – estimated to be worth £375,000 a year.
By 2012, Sue provided live coverage of the London 2012 Olympics as the BBC’s anchor in the prime-time early evening slot. She was awarded an OBE in 2016 for services to Broadcasting and Charity.
Sadly, the TV legend stepped down from her role as host of A Question of Sport after 24 years; she stated that she was ‘sad to say goodbye’.
Sue, who now lives in Wiltshire, was awarded an OBE in 2016 for services to Broadcasting and Charity.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk