There are many things that have become synonymous with Wimbledon across the course of the prestigious tennis tournament’s history.
Strawberries and cream, Henman Hill, Pimm’s, Roger Federer… and of course Sue Barker.
However, to the disappointment of the Great British tennis audience, Sue Barker will not be presenting TV coverage of the Championships for the BBC this year.
But why exactly is Barker absent from our screens in SW19 for Wimbledon 2023?
Here is everything you need to know.
Why isn’t Sue Barker presenting Wimbledon?
Barker stepped down from her role as the main presenter of the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage last year.
The veteran broadcaster was first part of the Wimbledon team in 1993 and has anchored the coverage since 2000.
Barker, who was the first female to lead the BBC output at the tournament, had been at the BBC for thirty years with other gigs including the Olympics, Sports Personality of the Year and A Question of Sport.
Why did Sue Barker leave?
When the news broke last year, Barker told the BBC she was grateful for her career in TV but it was time to move on.
Barker said: ‘What a wonderful time I’ve had working on some of the biggest sporting events around the world.
‘I will miss it terribly but after 30 years I feel the time is right for me. I’ve worked with the best of the best.’
Barker added to the Daily Mail: ‘Basically I just feel the time is right. It has been my dream job and I have loved every minute of it, working with so many great colleagues who I am going to miss so much.
‘When I started I never thought I would manage 30 years. I had actually made up my mind to leave in 2017 because the hours were becoming very long and quite challenging.’
Barker also revealed the death of her mother aged 100 had played a role in her decision to quit.
She added: ‘My mum was always so interested in my broadcasting career and we would speak every evening.
‘When something like that happens it does make you reassess life, which is another reason I think this is the right time.’
Who is replacing Barker?
Clare Balding will replace Barker as the main presenter at Wimbledon.
Balding first worked on the BBC production in 1995 and was the long-term host of the BBC’s evening highlights show, Today at Wimbledon.
Former England cricketer Isa Guha will continue to present the morning’s action before handing over to Balding in the afternoon.
MORE : Is Rafael Nadal playing at Wimbledon this year?
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