Oh I say! Bankrupt Boris turns air blue as he serves up blunder during BBC live broadcast
BORIS Becker shocked tennis fans yesterday by turning the air blue during a live BBC broadcast.
The three-time Wimbledon champion made the blunder while discussing his role as an ambassador for the Central African Republic.
Becker, 50, who was declared bankrupt last June, claims the role gives him diplomatic immunity from any proceedings against him.
Speaking before play got under way, Martina Navratilova suggested he wanted to skip airport queues with his new status. A laughing Becker replied: “That’s one of the things my friend told me, ‘You b ***** , you don’t have to wait in line now’.”
Outburst
The outburst prompted host Sue Barker to make an on-air apology and turning to Becker, added: “Watch your language from now on.”
Wimbledon organisers were yesterday gearing up for their hottest ever tournament – at least as far as the weather is concerned – even though Andy Murray is not playing this year.
Special measures were put in place at the All England Club as temperatures soared. The familiar dark-green and purple umbrellas were this time used to shield players from the sun, rather than traditional British downpours.
Other fans splashed out £34 for official Wimbledon towels to wrap around their heads and ball boys and girls were issued
with Foreign Legion-style hats with flaps covering their necks. Meanwhile umpires had sunshielding canopies fitted to their high chairs.
Queues are famous at Wimbledon but yesterday there were extra ones at drinking water stations throughout the grounds. By teatime, 22 spectators had been treated for heatrelated conditions.
Forecasters predict things are going to hot up over the Wimbledon fortnight, but there is still some way to reach the record at the All England Club which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.
The hottest championships was 1976, where temperatures averaged 87.4F and the hottest finals day was in 1994, with the mercury reading 114F.
Yesterday's heat made it feel like a summer holiday – and Wimbledon superfan Sir Cliff Richard was on hand to make the most of it.
Sir Cliff, 77, who saw defending champion Roger Federer cruise into the second round, said the only dampener was Murray's last-minute withdrawal as he recovers from hip surgery. Sir Cliff said: “He's my favourite, but I think it is for the best.” Former grand prix ace Sir Jackie Stewart, pop star Ellie Goulding and ex-England cricketers Phil Tufnell and Bob Willis watched the action from the Royal Box.
Game Of Thrones actress Natalie Dormer, Revenant star Will Poulter and Downton Abbey co-stars Laura Carmichael and Michael Fox were lucky enough to have tickets.
Pop star Rochelle Humes and her husband Marvin added a touch of glamour alongside Myleene Klass and actor Laurence Fox.
Katie Swan, 19, pulled off one of the big upsets of the day by defeating world number 36, Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu, in the first round.
World number 201 Katie's 6-2 6-2 triumph was her biggest career win, but fellow Briton Harriet Dart, 21, lost to seventh seed Karolina Pliskova in three sets and Liam Broady lost to Milos Raonic, who Murray beat in 2016 for his second title.
One Wimbledon first was the sale of £23.99 Viagra Connect packs at the All England Club.
A spokesman for Lloyds said: “Following the change in categorisation of Viagra so that it no longer requires prescription, it is now available from the majority of our pharmacies, including the store at the Wimbledon Championships.”