Latest news with #AndrewCastle
Daily Record
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Andrew Castle's commentary 'dampens' BBC Wimbledon record as fans demand he's removed
The BBC has released viewing figures for the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, which saw Jannik Sinner and Iga Świątek claim the men's and women's singles titles respectively Jannik Sinner's remarkable triumph over Carlos Alcaraz in the men's singles final at Wimbledon was viewed by a whopping 8.8 million spectators, according to figures released by the BBC. The majority of this audience, some 8.3 million, tuned in via BBC One, marking a significant increase from last year's viewership of 7.5 million. Sinner secured his inaugural Wimbledon title following an enthralling four-set contest, one of many highlights during the BBC's fortnight of coverage. In the women's singles final, Iga Świątek clinched her first Wimbledon title with a commanding straight sets victory over Amanda Anisimova, drawing a peak audience of 4.1 million on BBC One. The match was also streamed over one million times on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. However, while Świątek's win was certainly noteworthy, British sensation Emma Raducanu proved to be the bigger draw for TV audiences, reports the Mirror. Her Centre Court showdown with Aryna Sabalenka pulled in a peak TV viewership of five million – the third highest for a non-final match in the past four years. These numbers were only surpassed by Raducanu's own fourth-round nail-biter against Lulu Sun in 2024 and Andy Murray's clash with John Isner in 2022. The BBC also announced that it achieved its largest ever overall audience for a Wimbledon tournament, with a record-breaking 69.3 million accessing coverage across BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website, and BBC Sport app throughout the championship's two-week duration. The figures soared past the 50.1 million online requests made in 2024, and also eclipsed the previous high of 54.3 million online requests recorded in 2023. Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, remarked: "This year's record-breaking digital figures for Wimbledon are testament to the huge appeal of the sport amongst audiences and the power of digital innovation to bring both new and existing fans closer to the action than ever before. "The way people are following Wimbledon is changing but that is exciting for us as we look to tell the best stories in different ways". Despite these impressive numbers, the BBC has faced pressure on social media platforms to remove a member of its commentary team. Andrew Castle, long associated with the broadcaster's Wimbledon coverage, was selected to commentate the men's singles final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday, a decision that did not sit well with some viewers. "Why oh why do the BBC put Andrew Castle on lead commentary for the Men's Singles final every year, he's terrible. My ears have already start to bleed," one viewer complained. Another lamented: "Massive build up to this #WimbledonFinal and then BBC put Andrew Castle on commentary. Way to kill the match for me before it even starts." "Wow Andrew Castle is so bad he is already trending internationally," observed one viewer. "Heart sinks when I hear the words '... and your commentator is Andrew Castle'. Ruins enjoyment of every match. @BBCSport needs to cut the chord," remarked another. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Castle's role at Wimbledon has sparked debate previously, especially following Andre Agassi's guest appearance on the BBC's commentary panel during the semi-final showdown between Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz. Agassi's involvement triggered a wave of enthusiastic responses from audiences, with many appearing to favour his analysis over Castle's contributions. Whether any changes are being considered for next year's broadcasting line-up is yet to be revealed, though.
Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Wimbledon breaks record despite demand for BBC commentator to be removed
Jannik Sinner's victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the men's singles final was watched by 8.8 million, the BBC has revealed, in what has been a bumper tournament for the television institution Jannik Sinner's thrilling victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the men's singles final at Wimbledon was watched by a whopping 8.8 million viewers, the BBC has revealed. A staggering 8.3 million of these fans tuned in via BBC One, marking a significant increase from last year's figure of 7.5 million. Sinner's first Wimbledon title win, secured after an intense four-set duel, was just one of several highlights during the BBC's fortnight-long coverage. In the women's singles final, Iga Swiątek clinched her maiden Wimbledon title with a commanding straight sets victory over Amanda Anisimova. They drew a peak audience of 4.1 million on BBC One and was streamed over a million times on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. However, it was British sensation Emma Raducanu who truly captured the nation's attention. Her Centre Court showdown with Aryna Sabalenka pulled in a peak TV audience of 5 million, making it the third most-watched non-final match in four years. It was only surpassed by Raducanu's own fourth-round nail-biter against Lulu Sun in 2024 and Andy Murray's clash with John Isner in 2022. The Beeb also revealed that this year's Wimbledon championships set a new record for overall viewership, with an unprecedented 69.3 million people tuning in across BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website, and BBC Sport app throughout the tournament. Wimbledon's digital engagement has smashed previous records too, with the BBC announcing a staggering number of online requests this year. The figures soared past the 50.1 million online requests made in 2024 and eclipsed the prior record of 54.3 million set in 2023. Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport says: "This year's record-breaking digital figures for Wimbledon are testament to the huge appeal of the sport amongst audiences and the power of digital innovation to bring both new and existing fans closer to the action than ever before. The way people are following Wimbledon is changing but that is exciting for us as we look to tell the best stories in different ways". The successful figures come despite the BBC facing calls on social media to drop a member of its commentary team. Andrew Castle, a stalwart of the broadcaster's Wimbledon coverage in recent years, was chosen for the men's singles final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday, a choice that seemed to go down badly with fans. "Why oh why do the BBC put Andrew Castle on lead commentary for the Men's Singles final every year, he's terrible. My ears have already start to bleed," said one viewer. Another lamented the decision, saying: "Massive build up to this #WimbledonFinal and then BBC put Andrew Castle on commentary. Way to kill the match for me before it even starts," as reported by the Mirror. "Wow Andrew Castle is so bad he is already trending internationally," another fan pointed out. A fourth disgruntled viewer expressed, "Heart sinks when I hear the words 'and your commentator is Andrew Castle'. Ruins enjoyment of every match. @BBCSport needs to cut the chord,". Castle's presence at Wimbledon has been a big talking point this year, particularly after Trinity Rodman took umbrage with his mentions of her as she watched boyfriend Ben Shelton, and following appearance from Andre Agassi on the BBC's commentary team for the semi-final clash between Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz. Agassi's arrival prompted a flood of positive reactions from viewers, many of whom seemed to prefer his insight to Castle's. Whether there are any plans to shake things up for next year's coverage remains to be seen, however.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BBC Wimbledon fans slam 'terrible' commentary and demand presenter axed
Wimbledon came to a close this weekend, with the BBC airing the last of the finals. The men's singles final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz was a particular highlight, attracting intense scrutiny online. Andrew Castle was in the commentary box for the match, having been one of the main voices of the broadcaster's coverage of the biggest event on the tennis calendar. Read more: Hidden detail on rare penny coin from historical era could be worth fortune Castle, now 61, was one of the UK's best, previously holding the title of Britain's No. 1. Today, he's known for his commentary for the BBC coverage of Wimbledon, but his verbal asides aren't to everybody's liking. Taking to social media, one viewer commented: "Why oh why do the BBC put Andrew Castle on lead commentary for the Men's Singles final every year, he's terrible. My ears have already start to bleed." Another added: "Massive build up to this #WimbledonFinal and then BBC put Andrew Castle on commentary. Way to kill the match for me before it even starts." "Wow Andrew Castle is so bad he is already trending internationally," noted a fan. "Heart sinks when I hear the words '... and your commentator is Andrew Castle'. Ruins enjoyment of every match. @BBCSport needs to cut the chord," said another. One fan said: "Andrew Castle being given such an important role in this final after all of the complaints about him in the semi is embarrassing. He really adds zilch to the commentary booth." Sinner and Iga Swiatek celebrated their respective first Wimbledon wins at the Champions' Dinner on Sunday night. Sinner is now a four-time Grand Slam winner, having also won the Australian Open in back-to-back years in addition to last year's US Open. Women's world No3 Swiatek crowned her best-ever run on grass with a maiden SW19 victory on Saturday afternoon. During the celebrations, Sinner joked: 'That's a problem. I'm not really good at dancing. But come on… I can handle it.'
Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Tennis fans call for BBC to axe commentator after Wimbledon final
Viewers took to social media as the men's singles final was broadcast on Sunday. The BBC has faced calls to remove one of its Wimbledon commentators after a slew of complaints were posted on social media. Former British No. 1 player Andrew Castle was commentating on the men's singles final between Italy's Jannik Sinner and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday, July 13. The 61-year-old has regularly featured in the broadcaster's Wimbledon coverage, having appeared as a player in the 1980s, WalesOnline reports. The pre-match build-up and analysis for the clash featured insights from former players Tim Henman, Todd Woodbridge, John McEnroe and Pat Cash, alongside host Clare Balding. However, the handover to the commentary team saw Castle take over, prompting a flood of posts online. One viewer complained: "Why oh why do the BBC put Andrew Castle on lead commentary for the Men's Singles final every year, he's terrible. My ears have already start to bleed." Another agreed: "Massive build up to this #WimbledonFinal and then BBC put Andrew Castle on commentary. Way to kill the match for me before it even starts." A third commented: "Wow Andrew Castle is so bad he is already trending internationally," noted a fan. "Heart sinks when I hear the words '... and your commentator is Andrew Castle'. Ruins enjoyment of every match. @BBCSport needs to cut the chord." Another added: "Andrew Castle being given such an important role in this final after all of the complaints about him in the semi is embarrassing. He really adds zilch to the commentary booth." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Castle's role at Wimbledon had already been discussed during this year's tournament, particularly after 1992 champion Andre Agassi joined the commentary team for the semi-final match between Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz of the USA. The change saw several positive reactions from fans who preferred his views over Castle's. Australian player Nick Kyrgios, known for being outspoken, appeared to share the same opinion. In 2024, he took issue with comments made by Castle on-air about Fritz and Alexander Zverev, claiming they were disrespectful. This year's BBC TV coverage saw a stellar team of pundits assembled, with Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Tracy Austin, and Annabel Croft also providing discussion, joined by other commentators including Andrew Cotter, Jo Durie, Anne Keothavong and Nick Mullins. A further line-up of experts on BBC Radio 5 Live featured Marion Bartoli, Kim Clijsters, Laura Robson, Greg Rusedski, Naomi Broady, Daniela Hantuchova, and Leon Smith.
Wales Online
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
BBC Wimbledon fans demand commentator is dropped after men's final
BBC Wimbledon fans demand commentator is dropped after men's final Wimbledon viewers were quick to complain as the men's final was broadcast between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Jannik Sinner of Italy were in the Wimbledon men's final (Image:) The BBC is facing calls to remove a member of the Wimbledon commentary team following a barrage of complaints on social media. Andrew Castle, a stalwart of the broadcaster's Wimbledon coverage, was in the commentary box for the men's singles final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday. At 61, Castle, who once held the title of Britain's No. 1, made it to the second round at Wimbledon in both 1986 and 1987 and reached the Australian Open mixed doubles final in 1987. However, he has since become more recognised as a commentator, regularly featuring in the BBC's Wimbledon broadcasts. Andrew Castle commentating at Wimbledon (Image: Getty Images ) Wimbledon fans boo as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz final halted for bizarre reason READ MORE: The pre-match analysis for the Sinner vs Alcaraz game on BBC One featured insights from tennis experts Tim Henman, Todd Woodbridge, John McEnroe, and Pat Cash, with Clare Balding hosting. Yet, when it was time to switch to the commentary, Andrew Castle took the lead, causing his name to trend online. Article continues below "Why oh why do the BBC put Andrew Castle on lead commentary for the Men's Singles final every year, he's terrible. My ears have already start to bleed," lamented one viewer. Another said: "Massive build up to this #WimbledonFinal and then BBC put Andrew Castle on commentary. Way to kill the match for me before it even starts," reports the Mirror. "Wow Andrew Castle is so bad he is already trending internationally," noted a fan. "Heart sinks when I hear the words '... and your commentator is Andrew Castle'. Ruins enjoyment of every match. @BBCSport needs to cut the chord," implored another, calling for change. Another critical comment surfaced online, stating: "Andrew Castle being given such an important role in this final after all of the complaints about him in the semi is embarrassing. He really adds zilch to the commentary booth." The BBC showed Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final (Image:) Castle's presence at Wimbledon has been a talking point previously, particularly following the entry of Andre Agassi into the BBC commentary team during the semi-final clash between Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz. Agassi's arrival prompted a flood of positive reactions from viewers who preferred his insights over Castle's. Nick Kyrgios, known for not holding back his opinions, seemingly shares this view. In 2024, he took issue with Castle's on-air remarks about power-players Fritz and Alexander Zverev, branding them as disrespectful. The BBC has assembled a stellar lineup of pundits for this year's tournament, including tennis greats like McEnroe, Henman, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Cash, Tracy Austin, and Annabel Croft, with Castle joining other commentators such as Andrew Cotter, Jo Durie, Anne Keothavong, Nick Mullins, and Todd Woodbridge. Furthermore, the team of experts offering insights on BBC Radio 5 Live has included Marion Bartoli, Kim Clijsters, Laura Robson, Greg Rusedski, Naomi Broady, Daniela Hantuchova, and Leon Smith. Article continues below Wimbledon is available on BBC iPlayer
