Sue Barker reveals BBC’s drastic action after Question of Sport sacking

Sue Barker has taken aim at the BBC, accusing the broadcaster of banning her from mentioning A Question of Sport.

The former professional tennis player, who won 15 WTD Tour singles titles and was ranked world No. 3 during her career, hosted the sports quiz show from 1997 until 2021.

But during a major shake-up of the programme, Sue was sacked from the show after more than 20 years at the helm, with team captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell also bowing out.

The now 68-year-old was eventually replaced by Paddy McGuiness, 51, but two years later the show was ‘shelved’ due to ‘inflation and funding challenges’.

Sue has now spoken about how she’s been treated by the BBC in the aftermath, saying she’s been banned from referencing the show.

The presenter is currently touring the UK with Phil and Matt for the Sue, Matt & Phil Live! The Reunion Tour.

Despite the fact the trio are known for appearing on Question of Sport together, they’re not allowed to speak about it.

During Sunday’s event at the Hammersmith Eventim in London, Sue told the audience she and her former co-stars were barred from mentioning the BBC show or using the names of the rounds, including the picture board or the one-minute round.

At one point, the presenters mocked the fact they were not allowed to reference the show.

Speaking to the audience, former England rugby star Dawson said: ‘Welcome to…’ before saying an illegible word in place of Question of Sport’.

Meanwhile the Daily Mail reported Sue quipped: ‘We’re not allowed to use any of the names of the rounds, but in actual fact, they’re all exactly the same. So, let’s go and play a quiz.’

She also sparked a cry of boos from the sell-out audience at the two-hour show when saying: ‘It’s lovely to be back, before I got sacked, basically.’

The BBC refused to comment on the claims.

In 2022 Sue reflected on her departure from Question of Sport and suggested she was told to say it was her idea to stand down, not that she was being replaced as part of a ‘refresh’.

‘It is such a shame because, I have to say, that the BBC had told us we were going,’ she said on BBC Breakfast.

‘They wanted to refresh the programme and that is absolutely fine. Everyone has the right to do that. We don’t own the programme.

‘I had had 24 amazing years working with the most incredible people. So, we knew it was going to happen, and it was just the way in which it happened and the way it was handled, and the way the BBC sort of wanted me to say that I was walking away from it.

Sue continued: ‘And yet, I would never walk away from a job I love. I don’t mind being replaced. Absolutely fine. That happens. But it was just the way it was handled. I think we regret the way it was handled. I think if we look back on it, we could have handled it better. I think the BBC could have handled it better.’

During Sue’s time at the helm of the show, Question of Sport drew around five million viewers per episode. However, that dropped to just 800,000 following the refresh.

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