Sue Barker is ‘massively dissatisfied’ BBC axed Question Of Sport
- Sue Barker was the present’s host for twenty-four years earlier than she was sacked 3 years in the past
Sue Barker is ‘massively dissatisfied’ that BBC bosses have axed Question Of Sport after viewing figures plunged after they sacked the favored host.
The former tennis participant was host of the present for twenty-four years, and has beforehand stated that she was ‘devastated’ when she was sacked simply three years in the past, sparking fury from viewers.
Making the shock announcement, the broadcaster blamed inflation and dwindling rankings because the long-running sports activities quiz present that spanned greater than 1,300 episodes was cancelled.
Ms Barker informed MailOn-line: ‘Obviously I’m massively dissatisfied as it’s a present that has meant a lot to me.’
The present first debuted in 1970, and initially fronted by former Match of the Day reporter David Vine, however is greatest recognized for being introduced by Ms Barker who lead the programme for almost 1 / 4 of a century.
was host of the present for twenty-four years, and has beforehand stated that she was ‘devastated’ when she was sacked simply three years in the past, sparking fury from viewers. Pictured: Matt Dawson, Sue Barker and Phil Tufnell earlier than they had been let go in 2020
The Wimbledon semi-finalist joined the programme in 1997, shortly progressing to turn out to be the face of the present
When she began in 1997 she was starring alongside footballer Ally McCoist (left) and snooker star John Parrott (proper) who she admitted had been ‘a nightmare to attempt to preserve underneath management’
The Wimbledon semi-finalist joined the programme in 1997, shortly progressing to turn out to be the face of the present.
The presenter – who grew up watching the present together with her father – added to The Telegraph: ‘I actually hope it can return in the future.’
Most famously Ms Barker fronted the present alongside group captains rugby legend Matt Dawson and cricketer Phil Tufnell, the place they fashioned an iconic trio for 13 years.
Speaking to Desert Island Disks final yr, Ms Barker stated: ‘Matt, Tuffers and I – we’re like greatest mates and we simply had such a bond and we completely liked that programme’.
When she began in 1997 she was starring alongside footballer Ally McCoist and snooker star John Parrott, who she admitted had been ‘a nightmare to attempt to preserve underneath management’.
But in 2020, she was ousted in a shock transfer that the presenter admitted left her feeling ‘barely broken’.
‘Naively, I’d anticipated extra after 24 years,’ she wrote within the Daily Mail following the fallout.
‘Don’t get me mistaken: I had no drawback with being changed,’ she stated. ‘Everyone has their day. Producers should all the time have the appropriate to refresh a programme and take it in a brand new route.
‘It was the best way it was dealt with. It taught me there may be truly no means of leaving a job in a pleasant, nice and useful method, along with your head held excessive.’
Staff on the programme, that has been operating for greater than 50 years, had been ‘gutted’ after being informed the information
But in 2020, she was ousted in a shock transfer that the presenter admitted left her feeling ‘barely broken’
Most famously Ms Barker fronted the present alongside group captains rugby legend Matt Dawson and cricketer Phil Tufnell, the place they fashioned an iconic trio for 13 years
The former tennis star was faraway from the programme with captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell, in order that bosses might draft in recent expertise to revamp the long-running sports activities quiz.
Paddy McGuinness was introduced into to switch Barker in 2021. Olympian Sam Quek and retired rugby star Ugo Monye changed Dawson and Tufnell as group captains.
A BBC spokesperson informed MailOn-line tonight: ‘Due to inflation and funding challenges tough selections must be made, subsequently Question of Sport is at present not in manufacturing in the meanwhile.’
Insiders engaged on the present stated the presenters and captains have been knowledgeable of the present’s demise and had been ‘gutted’, the Mirror reported.
It is a specific blow for McGuiness, 50, who misplaced his presenting present on Top Gear earlier this yr when the BBC introduced it might scrapped for the ‘foreseeable future’.
When McGuiness was drafted into exchange Barker, he stated: ‘I really like the fiercely aggressive nature of sports activities stars coupled with having amusing.
‘That’s why ‘A Question of Sport’ has all the time been considered one of my favorite exhibits and having been weaned on it from an early age, that is an honour and alternative I’m definitely not taking calmly.’
McGuiness stated that he would try and put his personal mark on the present, which was beforehand hosted by David Coleman and David Vine.
Paddy McGuinness was introduced in to switch Barker in 2021. Olympian Sam Quek and retired rugby star Ugo Monye changed Dawson and Tufnell as group captains
Barker admitted she was left ‘barely broken’ after being axed from Question Of Sport after 24 years (Sue (centre) pictured with Matt Dawson (left) and Phil Tufnell (proper))
The BBC sports activities quiz present was fronted by Sue from 1997 till she was changed by Paddy McGuinness in 2021
He added: ‘I grew up with each Davids internet hosting however it’s Sue who made this present her personal.
‘She will all the time be A Question of Sport icon, however I’ll attempt my greatest to stamp my very own mark on it.’
But earlier this yr, he revealed his Top-Gear co-star and pal Freddie Flintoff warned him forward of internet hosting BBC’s panel present A Question Of Sport.
‘For me personally, the strain I felt, I felt it extra for ‘A Question of Sport’ than Top Gear,’ he stated.
‘I keep in mind Freddie [Flintoff] once I acquired the job, and he rang me up and stated ‘Oh God, watch out as a result of it may be talked about on-line and stuff,’ he added.
The present’s heyday was within the Nineteen Eighties, breaking information in 1987when 19million tuned in to observe Princess Anne participate.
At the time, David Coleman was operating the present together with group captains Bill Beaumont, Gareth Edwards and Emlyn Hughes.
Beaumont was the one of many longest serving captain making 319 appearances, being overwhelmed by footballer Ally McCoist who starred in 363 episodes.
Princess Anne starred on A Question of Sport in 1987 with a whopping 19million viewers tuning in
David Coleman, Emlyn Hughes, Princess Anne and David Coleman
While Barker was nonetheless presenting, 4million folks had been nonetheless tuning in to observe the present, with the quantity virtually halving to 2.2million when Mr McGuiness took over. Soon underneath one million viewers had been tuning in.
In 2022 rankings for Question of Sport slumped to an all time low dropping to a median of 850,000.
One episode on August 19 peaked at 750,000, with the programme being overwhelmed by a Channel 5 present about Britain’s Poshest Farm Shops.
Between 4 and 5 million viewers usually tuned in when Sue was host earlier than she was given the boot in 2020 when bosses determined to refresh the programme.
The reduce comes as BBC bosses complained that the not too long ago introduced £10.50 licence price improve will not be sufficient and can lead to programmes ‘that audiences love’ being axed.
Last week Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer revealed that the family fee would soar to a complete of £169.50 as she introduced a assessment into the broadcaster’s funding mannequin.
The broadcaster’s governing physique, nevertheless, has stated the below-inflation rise, will have an effect on its content material budgets and because of this ‘have a big influence on the broader artistic sector throughout the UK’.
In a press release the board stated the rise will imply ‘additional modifications on high of the key financial savings that we’re already delivering’.
