Sue Barker has revealed she left Wimbledon after discovering BBC chiefs were ‘having meetings’ about who would ‘replace’ her.
The BBC broadcaster, 68, chose to retire in 2022 while ‘still on top’ of her game, having made a career as one of the country’s leading TV presenters.
She previously spoke about how she ‘didn’t want to get slowly phased out’ of presenting Wimbledon before enjoying the SW19 championships as a fan last year.
Sue has now told how she became aware of talks to ‘diminish’ her role by bringing in alternative presenters.
‘I just sensed that, as you get older, you’ve got not many years left. And when you’re hearing that they’re having meetings about who’s to replace you…’ she told The Telegraph.
Sue Barker (pictured) said she left Wimbledon after discovering BBC chiefs were ‘having meetings’ about who would ‘replace’ her
The BBC broadcaster chose to retire in 2022 while ‘still on top’ of her game
‘Although they offered me a contract, I suddenly thought over those three years [on the contract extension], will it be a case of, ”We’ll just diminish Sue’s role a little so that the transition is slightly easier.” And I didn’t want to be diminished. I’d rather go out doing the top job.’
She added: ‘So maybe it came a couple of years before I was ready to do it. But in hindsight, it was absolutely the right time.’
As well as Wimbledon, Miss Barker has fronted BBC coverage of the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and Grand National.
Speaking to BBC’s Women’s Hour last year, the presenter said she ‘wanted to be at the top job forever’, adding: ‘I wanted to do Wimbledon on my own terms. BBC Sport offered me a new contract, but I knew with age and time and with everything that’s happening around that over the next few years I would get phased out slightly.’
Sue also said she had been ‘travelling a lot’ and ‘doing a lot more’ since stepping back from the role, adding: ‘Now I don’t even have to listen to what the [tennis] commentators are saying or what the scores are. I can just enjoy it as a fan.’
Appearing on the show, Sue said: ‘Wimbledon is in my DNA but Question of Sport was such a fun programme. My dad and I used to watch it when I was growing up.
‘When I was asked to be on it, it was such good fun. It was such a lovely programme to do for so many years.
‘I’ve been so lucky to have two careers that I’ve absolutely adored.’
Meanwhile, she also commented on her decision to leave Wimbledon, adding she ‘didn’t want’ to be ‘phased out’ by the BBC.
She explained: ‘Wimbledon, you climb up to the top of it. I wanted to do the top job forever.
As well as Wimbledon, Miss Barker has fronted BBC coverage of the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and Grand National
‘I want to have another 30 years doing it, I love it so much, I love the people I work with behind the camera and in front of it.
‘I know it was the right moment to go.’
She called the standing ovation on her final day ‘a shock’, but added she was enjoying having more time in the summer for other pursuits outside of tennis.
Sue explained: ‘Normally at this time of the year I’d be deep in books, writing all this stuff, watching every tournament. I used to do it months before Wimbledon.
‘There’s 128 players, men and women, and you’ve got to come up with something about every player. It’s a really tricky thing to do.
‘Now I can sit with my feet up and watch the tennis, I don’t even have to listen to what the commentators are saying or what the scores are. I can just enjoy it as a fan.’
Prior to becoming a trailblazer for female sportscasters, Miss Barker was a top tennis player.
She was once ranked No 3 in the world, winning the French Open in 1976 and reaching the semi-final at Wimbledon in 1977.
She famously dated Cliff Richard in the 1980s. The singer has said he came close to proposing. She is now married to landscape gardener Lance Tankard.
MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.