Tim Henman has paid tribute to Andrew Castle following the veteran commentator’s final match as part of the BBC team at Wimbledon. Castle’s departure was confirmed ahead of the Championships, with him choosing to step away entirely after being informed he would not be commentating on the men’s final next year.
Castle has dedicated 23 years to working for the BBC at SW19, building a successful career in television and radio after his playing career concluded. His final commentary at Wimbledon was for the men’s final between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev. Henman and Andre Agassi were alongside Castle in the commentary box for this match.
Henman expressed that it was a fitting match for his long-time colleague’s farewell. He thanked Castle for their many years together in the commentary box, stating, "You’ve been an absolute star, you’ve taught me so much and I’ll miss you a lot. What a great way to finish off."
Castle’s Departure and Reflections
Castle revealed he was "upset" about his exit, which he described as being "booted" off the BBC’s coverage. He admitted his sadness about the situation, despite having many positive memories from his time with the broadcaster. Castle had served as the BBC’s lead commentator at Wimbledon since 2003.
The decision to depart came after he learned he would be stripped of the lead commentary role for the final, a position he had held for 23 years. He explained that while the news was delivered respectfully, he declined to remain part of the team for next year, believing that "once you’ve done the final, everything else is less."
Castle reflected on his tenure, noting that his children were young when he began his first Wimbledon final commentary and are now married with one expecting a child. He mentioned taking more pictures during his final tournament as he knew it was coming to an end, describing a "sense of grief" due to the numerous memories.
Memorable Moments and Future Plans
Castle and Henman were together in the commentary box when Andy Murray ended a long wait for a British winner of the men’s grass court grand slam. Castle humorously recalled a mishap during Murray’s victory over Novak Djokovic in 2013, where an excited Henman elbowed him in the head on match point.
Castle signed off his final commentary by thanking viewers for their company, stating it had been a "pleasure and privilege" to watch players like Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Roger Federer, Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and particularly Andy Murray over the years. He concluded by saying, "Take care and thank you."
Andrew Cotter is expected to take on the lead commentary duties for the men’s final at Wimbledon next year. John Lloyd will also be leaving the BBC team. Lloyd, who joined Castle and presenter Rishi Persad for a segment ahead of the men’s final, noted that he started his commentary career when there was still black and white television.
Castle mentioned that he and Lloyd would play golf next week. This final appearance marks the end of an era for Castle at Wimbledon.
Read Also
Source: independent.co.uk
You may also like
Joel Kavanagh is a Sports News Writer at News-GB. He started on a Midlands sports desk. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from De Montfort University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Leicester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight calendar. “In sport news, the first ten minutes decide everything.”