Andrew Castle has revealed he has received four offers to return to television just weeks after being "booted" out of his role as the BBC's lead Wimbledon commentator. The veteran broadcaster has disclosed that he has two offers within tennis and a further two in news and current affairs following his departure from the BBC.
Castle's BBC Exit
Castle, 62, brought the curtain down on 24 years as one of the voices of Wimbledon last month after deciding not to remain part of the BBC's coverage when he was told he would no longer be the tournament's lead commentator. He had previously revealed his frustration at the decision, describing himself as "booted" out during his final live appearance at the All England Club.
But speaking to Betway, Castle has now revealed he already has plenty of options should he decide to return to broadcasting. "I've had two really good offers, actually, outside of tennis. Well, I have had two offers within tennis, two outside of tennis on the broadcasting side," Castle said.
No Rush to Decide
The former GMTV presenter, however, insists he is in no rush to decide his next move. Castle explained that he is currently concentrating on family life, with a third grandchild on the way, while he and his wife are also building a new house. "At the moment, in August, I'm just going to take it easy," he said. "I can't make any decisions at the moment. I'm just trying to build this house and look after the grandchildren that we have for a little bit and be involved in family. It's been great. As you get older, you want to do slightly less."
Two of the offers are understood to be in news and current affairs, although Castle admitted the prospect of returning to that side of broadcasting would come with its own challenges. "A couple of these job offers are in news and current affairs and it's just like, 'Oh my God', it's a queasy ride for anybody who's a journalist at the moment," he said. "It's just an extraordinary world to try to make sense of. So, there's no rush. There is no rush. It is a privileged position to be that there's no rush. I know that."
End of an Era at Wimbledon
Castle's exit from the BBC came after he was informed that he would be replaced as lead Wimbledon commentator by Andrew Cotter from next year. Rather than accept a reduced role, Castle opted to leave the BBC's Wimbledon team altogether. His final tournament appearance came at this year's Championships, bringing an end to a remarkable run which began in 2003.
Reflecting on his time at Wimbledon, Castle said he remained hugely grateful for the opportunity despite the disappointment surrounding his departure. "I was lucky to be put in there [as commentator by the BBC] in the first place and lucky to do it for as long as I did it," he said. "And so, I mean, I leave really, very grateful. I mean, that is the truth. Would I have liked to have carried on? Of course I would, but nobody ever knows when you're going to get that tap on the shoulder and say, 'Okay, you've had your time', but, I mean, it's been absolutely unreal."
Memories and Gratitude
Castle commentated on some of the biggest moments in tennis during his 24 years with the BBC, covering the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. He also worked alongside Sue Barker, with whom he had previously worked at Sky Sports, and described their partnership as one of his favourite memories from his broadcasting career. "I loved teaming up with Sue Barker after working with her at Sky," Castle added. "We worked together in a little glass box in Isleworth, when we were working on all the tennis. That's where it started for me."
Despite having walked away from the BBC, Castle admits he will miss the unique feeling of live sport. "The adrenaline of it, the sheer excitement, the unknown of it, the drama of it, the sense of theatre, all of those things," he said when asked what he would miss most. "But, you know, in a way, you sort of miss being a part of it."
