Boris Becker has paid tribute to Andrew Castle and John Lloyd after both men covered their final Wimbledon for the BBC. Castle's exit was confirmed ahead of the 2026 tournament, while Lloyd's departure was not known until he finished commentary on the men's doubles final on Saturday.
Departures Confirmed During Championships
Castle, 62, had been expected to call the men's singles final for the last time, but he decided to step down entirely. Lloyd, 71, ended his run after the men's doubles final, where co-commentator Todd Woodbridge thanked him on air. Woodbridge said: "Before we get to the presentation, worth just saying something about you, Lloyd-y. It might be the last chance that I get to sit in the comms' box with you, it's been an absolute pleasure."
Castle Jokes About Being 'Booted'
Castle and Lloyd appeared together ahead of the championship match between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev. Castle joked: "I am a bit sad about it of course. I have fabulous memories, even working with John! John's finishing as well. We're being put out to grass. That's it. Booted!" Lloyd replied: "I've had a good run. I started when there was still black and white TV, it's been a while. You didn't start that young, you're much younger than me. You were great to work with, I loved every minute of it."
Becker's Tribute to Former Colleagues
Three-time former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker, who also worked for the BBC during the Championships, paid tribute in his Telegraph column. He wrote: "I just want to say great job to Andrew Castle and John Lloyd, two long-serving commentators who have worked on their last Wimbledon for the BBC. I know Andrew has done 23 Championships and John has been there even longer: maybe he even commentated on my final visit in 1999. They are both dear friends of mine, and I am sure they will be missed."
Lloyd Almost Left in 2025
Lloyd revealed he nearly departed after the 2025 tournament but was persuaded to return. He told the Telegraph: "But then it was one of those years: I was on the big courts more than I expected, and I had a lot of studio time, so I thought 'I'll give it one more summer'. It's a different audience now. Much more analytics. There's stats going left, right and centre."
Castle's BBC exit had been widely reported, but Lloyd's departure came as a surprise to many viewers. Both commentators have been staples of BBC Wimbledon coverage for decades, with Castle covering 23 Championships and Lloyd serving even longer, dating back to the era of black-and-white television.
