Wimbledon viewers rip into ‘unprofessional’ Clare Balding for ‘mocking’ tennis player on BBC broadcast
WIMBLEDON viewers have ripped into veteran broadcaster Clare Balding for her tennis coverage.
The personality replaced Sue Barker, 67, as the lead presenter for the corporation’s coverage of the highly-anticipated tournament.
However as Clare, 52, took to the airwaves, viewers in turn took to social media in their droves.
Fans hit out at the veteran sports broadcaster as they accused of her ‘mocking’ players, mispronunciation of names and not letting them ‘speak’ during BBC interviews.
One tweeted: “Why are people being so nasty towards Stefanos and Badosa? Leave them be. Very poor professionalism from Claire Balding to be mocking them in their videos.”
Another claimed: “Claire Balding’s pronunciation of Rybakina makes no sense. RE-BIKER-NER can’t be right surely? #Wimbledon”
“Clairebalding let them speak Jesus #Wimbledon,” exclaimed a third.
A fourth added: “Listening to Claire Balding anchoring #Wimbledon coverage, you realise just how good #SueBarker was…”
Meanwhile, a fifth viewer noted: “Something about Claire Balding just absolutely grates on me #Wimbledon”
Whilst a sixth added: “For goodness shake stop Claire Balding blurting out the results of matches. She spoilt for us watching Broady-Ruud on WIMBLEDON TODAY #Wimbledon.”
And a seventh commented: “Doesn’t Clare Balding ever shut up yapping , give us all. Break #Wimbledon”
And another tennis enthusiast was cheering Andy Murray’s rival on, just because they were irritated by the presenter’s “sycophantic love in” with the British star.
They tweeted: “Come on @steftsitsipas knock Miserable Murray out … even just to shut Claire Balding up with her sycophantic love in with him! #Wimbledon.”
Claire has presented Today at Wimbledon since 2015 after John Inverdale left to join the BBC’s commentary team.
Initially the programme was re-branded to Wimbledon 2day – a pun on BBC Two – and was presented from The Gatsby Club hospitality venue.
However viewers complained about the informal setting of the programme which included stand-up presentation, handheld cameras and even a small live audience.
The BBC returned to a traditional format after only a week of broadcasting and in 2016 the show returned to it’s traditional name.