Today at Wimbledon

Today at Wimbledon is a BBC TV show, showing highlights and discussion from the day's play at the Wimbledon Championships currently hosted by Clare Balding. The show lasts for 60 minutes and is broadcast on BBC Two at 8:30 pm with a next day repeat at 10:30 am (6:00 am on BBC One at the weekend).

Today at Wimbledon
Also known asWimbledon: Match of the Day (1964–1989)
Wimbledon 2day (2015)
GenreSport highlights
Presented byClare Balding (2015–present)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
Production locationsAll England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London
Running time60 minutes
Production companyBBC Sport
Release
Original networkBBC One
BBC Two
Picture format1080i (HDTV)
Original release23 June 1964 (1964-06-23) –
present
External links
Website

Origins

The BBC (the UK host broadcaster of the Championships) began broadcasting Wimbledon in 1937. David Coleman hosted the live coverage from 1964 to 1966 and from 1968 to 1969. Harry Carpenter hosted the live coverage in 1967 and from 1970 to 1990 (and in some years also hosted the evening highlights programme). Des Lynam fronted Wimbledon live coverage on BBC television from 1991 to 1997 and in 1999 (Steve Rider hosted the live coverage in 1998). After Wimbledon 1999, Lynam moved to ITV and was replaced from 2000 by Sue Barker who continues to front Wimbledon live coverage on BBC television to this day.

Broadcast history

The evening highlights programme was initially broadcast late evening on BBC2 when the channel launched in 1964 and titled Wimbledon: Match of the Day. It moved to BBC1 in 1984,[1] in the era when Des Lynam hosted with Gerald Williams as a studio guest. It was renamed Today at Wimbledon in 1990 and moved back to BBC2 in 1995.[2] It settled into a 9.30 pm slot before moving again to an 8:00 pm slot in the late 2000s, to allow BBC2 to schedule non-sports output between 9 pm and 10.30 pm.

As a result, if significant matches last beyond 8:30 pm, the programme is usually cut short (and occasionally not shown at all) to allow the live tennis coverage to be shown; something which attracts regular viewer complaints.

The show is presented either from the BBC's dedicated studio in the Wimbledon media centre, or from the landscaped garden on the building's roof, adjacent to court 18.

Hosts
Presenter Duration[3]
Jack Kramer 1964–1970
Harry Carpenter 1971–1978
David Vine 1979–1982
Des Lynam 1983–1989
Harry Carpenter 1990–1993
Sue Barker 1994–1999
John Inverdale 2000–2014
Clare Balding 2015–present

Controversy

In 2015, the programme was rebranded Wimbledon 2day (a pun on the channel's name). Clare Balding became the new presenter after long-time host John Inverdale left to join the BBC's Wimbledon commentary team. The opening week was presented from The Gatsby Club – a temporary hospitality venue outside the grounds – with stand-up presentation, handheld cameras, various social media features and a small live audience. The changes prompted many complaints, in particular the reduction in highlights.[4] The BBC tweaked the format in the second week, Balding hosting a more traditional show, without an audience, from the upper floor of Centre Court with views across the grounds.[5][6]

For 2016, the show returned to the Today at Wimbledon name and format.

References
  1. "Wimbledon 84, BBC Genome". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.
  2. "Today at Wimbledon, BBC Genome". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.
  3. "BBC Genome". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.
  4. "Wimbledon 2day: what Clare Balding will have 2 do 2 save this balls-up". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  5. "BBC bows to pressure over Wimbledon 2Day show complaints". BBC. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  6. "Wimbledon 2Day: BBC admits defeat over format". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 July 2017.


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