CLARE BALDING will replace Sue Barker as the lead presenter for the BBC’s Wimbledon TV coverage.
Barker, the 1976 French Open champion, stepped down last summer after nearly 30 years as the frontwoman for the tennis Championships.
Wimbledon Lawn TennisClare Balding will become the BBC’s new lead presenter for Wimbledon coverage[/caption]
PASue Barker presented her final Wimbledon show last year[/caption]
Clare Balding, 52, was always the natural choice to take over this role given that she has worked at SW19 as a reporter, commentator and presenter for radio and television since 1995.
It is believed All England Club chiefs were heavily consulted by Beeb bigwigs during this process – though Barker, 66, accidentally let the secret slip last November at an awards do.
Described by the BBC as “a consummate professional and incredibly skilled at live broadcasting”, Balding has covered seven summer Olympic Games and fronted live action of the Grand National and Boat Race.
In December 2022, she was succeeded as President of the Rugby Football League after a two-year tenure by Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons and MP for Chorley.
Balding, whose brother is race-horse trainer Andrew, has also worked for BT Sport and Channel 4’s Paralympics coverage.
She will be known by many racing fans for her notorious gaffe on live TV in 2009 when she asked if Grand National winning-jockey Liam Treadwell would use his winnings to sort out his dodgy teeth – a remark for which she later apologised.
Barker, who is a former presenter of BBC’s Question of Sport, sobbed after her final broadcast following the 2022 men’s singles final and received special tributes from Andy Murray and Roger Federer.
Balding said: “It’s a huge honour to be given this responsibility but I am very aware that no one person can fill Sue’s shoes.
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“This will always be a team effort and we’re lucky that the BBC line-up includes former professionals with huge insight as well as wonderful reporters and commentators.
“It’s my job to bring out the best in them and to help make our viewers feel they have a front row seat on the greatest sporting stage.”
Wimbledon are expected to allow Russians and Belarusians to play at this year’s tournament albeit under a neutral flag.
Players from those two nations were banned from competition in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine.
But tennis bosses are planning to follow the lead of the other three Slams and let in the likes of Russian Daniil Medvedev and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.