Andrew Castle, 62, Overcome with Emotion as Tributes Pour In After BBC Cuts Him After 23 Years at Wimbledon

ANDREW CASTLE says good luck messages from colleagues, past and previous, ahead of his final Wimbledon commentary have “moved me to tears”.

The likes of and – friends and long-time TV broadcasters – have contacted Castle, 62, for support in the build-up to Sunday’s finale.

Andrew Castle has become part of the furniture at Wimbledon Credit: PA Castle, 62, is set to hang up his BBC mic Credit: Alamy

For the 23rd and final time, in a role that requires a strong bladder and quick mind, Castle will call the winning shots on the BBC as the men’s singles champion is crowned on Centre Court.

The Beeb wanted to and Castle, a freelancer, will not be the main man at the 2027 Championships.

Ever the professional, Castle will not make the final about himself, focusing solely on the action, though there will be great emotion behind-the-scenes.

Having commentated on title wins by , , and famously – his words were never scripted, always spontaneous – he has been the voice of tennis for a whole generation.

And though he has been “grieving” about his exit, it was a trip to the car wash and supermarket that gave him “perspective” about stepping down.

Castle – who has two children and two grandchildren, plus another one on the way – told SunSport: “The reason I’m going has got nothing to do with me.

“Genuinely, it was all very, very civil and very, very nice.

“They came to talk to me in person and said we’re going to head in a new direction for the final next year. And I accept that.

Castle won matches at Wimbledon as a player prior to going into broadcasting Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

“I’m thankful for the years I’ve had. Am I sad? Of course, I’m sad about it. And I’m just disappointed about it.

“I still think I’ve got something to offer. They said, we’re going to give you great matches if you stay another year.

“But I said, truly, gratefully, thank you very much.

“The messages I’ve had from colleagues and particularly from journalists, past and present, have moved me to tears.

“In the journalism business over the years, if your professional peers and colleagues are saying good things, that’s very moving.

“And I actually don’t want to read them because I’ve got to get through the final.

“There’s a sort of a strange feeling of you’re grieving for a job that’s no longer yours.

“I was feeling sorry for myself over the last 4-5 weeks. And then I went into town and I got the car washed, because I’m lazy.

“I saw the guys doing the car wash in nearly 40 degrees Celsius. A great bunch.

“They were working their backsides off, from 8am till 8pm.

“Then I went into Sainsbury’s and I asked somebody where something was and they smiled and they told me.

“Look, there’s real life. (Tennis) is a complete bubble. Let’s keep some perspective here. It’s been fantastic.”

Castle – a news journalist who had appeared on GMTV, LBC radio and Smooth Radio – will be “very sad next week for a couple of days” but then he will be busy.

One avenue is building a house with wife Sophia – they have been married since 1991 – but council planning permissions have “broken our backs”.

He said: “John McEnroe, on air, referenced both me and . Just fantastic

“Sue and I have been in the trenches together on TV. Happy memories.

“And she’s been an unbelievable support to me in the last three or four weeks, she’s been absolutely fantastic.

“She sent me pictures of her lavender in the garden, which she always does. A wonderful woman.

“If I’ve made a difference on commentary and stuff, if I’ve been the backdrop to something, that’s great.

“Because the story is never, it should never be about the person either presenting or commentating.

“Enjoy the moments that we have and just relish it because you never know when these things are going to get taken away.”