Wimbledon 2016 on the BBC
Wimbledon on the BBC, serving unparalleled coverage across TV, radio and digital from 27 June to 10 July.
Published: 7 June 2016
It’s an honour to join the BBC team this year – I won my second major championship singles title at Wimbledon, and have so many great memories from the tournament, so it’s going to be really exciting to be covering the action!
- Former World No. 1 players Lleyton Hewitt and Jim Courier join BBC TV team along with former British No. 1 Annabel Croft
- Sue Barker leads TV coverage with 153 hours scheduled across BBC One and BBC Two
- Tony Livesey and Eleanor Oldroyd take the helm for Radio 5 live, bringing more than 100 hours of action
- BBC line-up includes 2015 Davis Cup-winning coach Leon Smith, John McEnroe, Tim Henman, Martina Navratilova, Marion Bartoli, Pat Cash, Lindsay Davenport, Richard Krajicek, Mary Pierce and Tracy Austin
- Up to 15 live HD video streams of courts available via online, Red Button and connected TV
Wimbledon is back this summer, as the BBC once again unites the nation through its unparalleled coverage across TV, radio and digital platforms from 27 June to 10 July. With a world-class talent line-up and extensive multiplatform coverage, audiences will have supreme access, getting more of what they want, when they want, on any device.
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Television
Returning to lead television duties across BBC One and BBC Two throughout The Championships will be Sue Barker. Sue will bring viewers the action from the BBC’s studio in the grounds of Wimbledon, with its iconic view of the All England Club. Coverage begins at 11:30am on Monday 27 June on BBC Two, serving up 13 days of the tournament’s unmissable action.
New for 2016, former World No. 1 players Lleyton Hewitt and Jim Courier join the TV team with former British No. 1 Annabel Croft, bringing unique insight and analysis from their wealth of experience.
Commenting on his new role, Lleyton Hewitt says: “It’s an honour to join the BBC team this year – I won my second major championship singles title at Wimbledon, and have so many great memories from the tournament, so it’s going to be really exciting to be covering the action!”
Jim Courier says: “I’m excited to get the opportunity to call some matches with the BBC team at Wimbledon this year, and look forward to seeing how the tournament unfolds.”
Joining them will be the BBC’s full team of expert television analysts and commentators, including Tim Henman, John McEnroe, Tracy Austin, Pat Cash, Andrew Castle, Lindsay Davenport, John Inverdale, Martina Navratilova, Virginia Wade, Jamie Baker, Chris Bradnam, James Burridge, Andrew Cotter, Matt Chilton, Barry Davies, Jo Durie, Peter Fleming, Paul Hand, John Lloyd, Guy McCrea, Ronald McIntosh, David Mercer, Alison Mitchell, Nick Mullins, Jonathan Overend, Mark Petchey, Louise Pleming, Sam Smith, Elizabeth Smylie, Simon Reed, Charlie Brougham and Dan Lobb.
At the close of play, Clare Balding, who has been part of the BBC's Wimbledon team since 1995, will present the staple highlights programme Today At Wimbledon, alongside two expert guests every day on BBC Two. From 8:30pm in week one, and 8pm from Tuesday 5 July*, Today At Wimbledon will be live from inside the All England Club, with a new studio next to Henman Hill overlooking the grounds. The hour-long definitive round-up will focus on the main matches and key talking points from the day’s play as The Championship builds to its climax.
Also recapping the day’s events, Katherine Downes (week one) and Jessica Creighton (week two) will guide BBC News channel viewers through each day’s play, while Joe Wilson reviews the tournament’s headlines on BBC News at Six and Ten.
In a special BBC One documentary, Just Call Me Martina, Sue Barker gives exclusive insight into one of the world’s most famous and successful tennis legends, Martina Navratilova. With 344 singles and doubles titles under her belt, Martina’s professional career spanned more than 30 years, and she is the only player in history to win Grand Slam titles in four different decades. As well as documenting her amazing achievements on the court, the programme will give unprecedented access into Martina’s personal life, including her New York wedding to long-term partner Julia Lemigova. Martina also invited Sue to her home town, Revnice, Czech Republic, and the documentary follows her fight for women’s equality and gay rights, as well as exploring why she encourages women to test for breast cancer. Just Call Me Martina will broadcast on Monday 4 July*.
Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport, says: “Wimbledon is one of the most exciting tournaments of the sporting calendar, and we’re delighted to welcome two more Grand Slam winners, Lleyton Hewitt and Jim Courier, to our unrivalled line-up of experts, plus Annabel Croft who will add her considerable experience to our reporting and commentary teams. The BBC’s 2016 offering will yet again be extensive across all of our platforms, bringing our audiences the exceptional comprehensive coverage that only the BBC can deliver.”
Radio
Join Eleanor Oldroyd and Tony Livesey throughout The Championships on BBC Radio 5 live from midday on Monday 27 June as they bring you commentary and reports on the day’s big matches, plus the colour and atmosphere from around the grounds. Over on 5 live Sports Extra, Karthi Gnanasegaram will present coverage of the day’s early matches on the outside courts from 11.30am.
With more than 100 hours of live coverage throughout The Championships, Tony and Eleanor will be joined by a team of former world-class players giving expert insight on the 2016 Championships, including 2015 Davis Cup-winning coach Leon Smith, Pat Cash, Richard Krajicek, Mary Pierce, Jana Novotna, Marion Bartoli, Mark Woodforde, Tracy Austin, Annabel Croft, Jeff Tarango, Miles Maclagan, Jeremy Bates, Naomi Cavaday and Nick Bollettieri. The full radio commentary team will be Russell Fuller (correspondent), David Law, Gigi Salmon, Alastair Eykyn, Iain Carter, Vassos Alexander, Alison Mitchell, Philip Studd and Sara Orchard. Reporting for 5 live throughout the 2016 Championships will be Delyth Lloyd.
2016 also sees the return of the popular 6-Love-6 programme with John McEnroe. The three-time Wimbledon singles champion will be joined by special guests from the world of tennis to take calls from listeners and give his unique account on the topical issues of the day.
Digital
BBC Sport’s digital service at Wimbledon is as comprehensive as ever, with up to 15 live HD video streams available online on mobile and desktop, and on connected TVs via Red Button+, giving audiences even more choice during the busy early rounds. Six of these video streams will also be available via BBC Red Button on satellite, and one on Freeview.
BBC Sport’s dedicated Wimbledon live page, available at bbc.co.uk/sport, will allow audiences to take their pick of the 15 live HD video streams, will provide text commentary and the best audience interactions in one place throughout the tournament, as well as rolling highlights, in-depth pundit analysis, infographics and live votes.
The BBC Sport website, mobile app and TV app will also offer all the latest news, analysis, draws, order of play, live scores and results plus highlights, full match replays and video clips throughout The Championships. BBC iWonder will also commission a number of fascinating guides and infographics exploring the science behind the players and The Championships.
Current World No. 2 and 2016 French Open finalist, Andy Murray, will once again give exclusive insight into The Championships with his popular column on the BBC Sport website. With personal behind-the-scenes pictures and observations after every match, keep up to date with 2016’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year as he hopes to repeat his 2013 Wimbledon win.
Fans will also be able to get closer to BBC talent and special guests as BBC Sport offers a range of activities and content across its social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This will include a number of live videos, short-form action clips, 360 video, behind-the-scenes insights, news and live action updates. Fans are encouraged to join in the conversation, and the most insightful contributions will be curated and featured in BBC coverage.
Notes to Editors
*Schedules subject to change
Official publicity pictures are available on the BBC Pictures site.
