Brief

John McEnroe questions BBC’s decision to drop Andrew Castle as Wimbledon commentator

The former champion said he saw little change in the coverage and wondered why Castle was let go.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 29 Sep 2026 21:58:05 GMT

John McEnroe told reporters at the Laver Cup that he was surprised by the BBC’s decision to axe long‑time Wimbledon commentator Andrew Castle and that he missed former host Sue Barker.

McEnroe, who has been part of the BBC’s Wimbledon team since 2004, said he had not noticed major changes to the broadcast despite the network’s recent modernisation drive led by director of sport Alex Kay‑Jelski. “I’m not sure exactly what the changes were they were doing,” he said, adding that the BBC had told him to “just be you.”

Castle, who was informed in June that 2026 would be his final year commentating the men’s singles final, told the Telegraph he was upset but accepted the decision, saying he would have liked to stay on for the 150th anniversary of the Championships in 2027.

The comments come as the BBC continues broader cost‑saving measures, including a £500 million savings plan that has already led to cuts in its sports department and other programmes.

Key facts

John McEnroe expressed surprise at the BBC’s decision to remove Andrew Castle as lead Wimbledon commentator. (dailymail.co.uk)
McEnroe said he had not noticed major changes to the Wimbledon coverage despite the BBC’s modernisation efforts. (dailymail.co.uk)
Andrew Castle was told in June that 2026 would be his last year commentating the men’s singles final. (dailymail.co.uk)
Castle told the Telegraph he was upset but grateful for the respectful way he was informed. (dailymail.co.uk)

Background

The BBC has been under financial pressure, with cash reserves falling sharply and a £500 million savings plan prompting job cuts across the corporation, including 41 roles in its sports department (<a href="/news/bbc-sports-job-cuts">BBC Sports Department Job Cuts 2024</a>).