BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski has confirmed that he asked Andrew Castle to remain part of the Wimbledon commentary team after informing the 62-year-old that he would be demoted from lead commentator. Castle decided to quit, with this year's men's final being his last.
Kay-Jelski Praises Castle's Contribution
Kay-Jelski described Castle's tenure as “an absolutely brilliant innings” and stated that the BBC wanted him to stay beyond 2026. “We asked Andrew to stay, because we think he’s excellent. He’s been doing this for 20 years, and he took the decision that that’s enough,” Kay-Jelski said.
He clarified that Castle was told “this was going to be his last men’s final” and that the conversation was handled “face to face, done nicely.” Castle previously told the Telegraph he was upset by the decision, saying: “Am I upset? Yeah, I was upset, and I will stay that way this year, knowing it’s my last. But all good things come to an end.” Castle added he would have preferred to finish in 2027, marking 25 years with the BBC.
Search for Replacement
When asked about finding a replacement, Kay-Jelski emphasised merit over demographics: “To go and get the best person… You asked there about age and gender, I don’t ever look at that. It’s just not how my brain works, and it won’t be how the team’s brain works. You just look at who the best people are.”
He cited examples such as Laura Robson, Eugenie Bouchard, and Tracy Austin, noting that Austin “probably knows more about tennis than all of us put together.”
New On-Court Analysis
Kay-Jelski also revealed that Laura Robson will provide analysis from courtside during matches, starting with Serena Williams’ first-round encounter against Maya Joint. “It’s good insight for BBC Wimbledon viewers. It’s something new, it’s something different. I think we should just try stuff. We shouldn’t be scared to try,” he said.
