Bring back Sue! Fans’ woe at new BBC show

fans last night called on the BBC to bring back sue Barker following a series of mistakes by the broadcaster and its new reporting team.

Viewers hit out at the coverage which missed the chance to broadcast live the special ceremony to celebrate Roger federer’s achievements on Centre Court yesterday.

It also failed to show the first two games of British number one Katie Boulter’s match, got top seed Carlos alcaraz’s age wrong, and missed the start of novak Djokovic’s game the day before.

But beyond the slip-ups there was anger over the quality of the punditry, with supporters saying this year’s line-up was ‘poor’, ‘lacking knowledge’ and ‘boring’. Veteran presenter Clare Balding, 52, has been brought in alongside former England cricketer Isa Guha, 38, but Barker’s name was trending on Twitter yesterday.

The Grand slam winner stepped down last year following 30 years of sports broadcasting for the BBC.

One viewer wrote: ‘first year without sue Barker and it’s all going pear shaped.’

another said: ‘Clare Balding ticks all the right boxes for the BBC but she hasn’t the tennis knowledge, experience or peer respect that sue Barker has in bucketloads.’ and another added: ‘Wimbledon without sue Barker is not real tennis.’

The BBC was already missing ex- champion Boris Becker, 55, who is barred from the UK following his conviction for hiding assets.

Tennis superstar John McEnroe described ‘legend’ Barker’s departure as ‘a bummer’ and said it had the same impact on Wimbledon as five-time champ Bjorn Borg’s retirement.

The BBC declined to comment on calls to bring back Ms Barker. But when it announced Balding as host it said: ‘Clare is familiar to BBC audiences and has worked on Wimbledon as a reporter, commentator and presenter for BBC radio and television since 1995.

‘she is greatly respected and admired by audiences and sporting professionals alike, and will bring her knowledge, authority and personality to the role.’

Viewers also blasted the revamped highlights show Today at Wimbledon, which has ditched the studio overlooking Centre Court. The new presenter Qasa alom hosts from outside instead.

One fan wrote: ‘Bring back sue Barker and John McEnroe for highlights show in the evening. Dull as dishwater without McEnroe.’