BBC Personality Still Under Pressure From His Wimbledon Comment

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 18th July 2013

BBC Personality Still Under Pressure From His Wimbledon Comment

epa03778177 Marion Bartoli of France celebrates with the trophy after her victory over Sabine Lisicki of Germany in the women's final for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 06 July 2013. EPA/POOL |

Nearly two weeks on from Marion Bartoli’s unexpected triumph to win the Wimbledon ladies singles title, major rumblings of discontent from within the British government are still being directed at the BBC and in particular leading television and radio front man John Inverdale.

Inverdale, who is thought to be paid about £600,000 a year, shocked listeners when he said of Bartoli during coverage of the Wimbledon women’s final: “I just wonder if her dad did say to her when she was 12, 13, 14 maybe: ‘Listen, you are never going to be, you know, a looker.

“’You are never going to be somebody like a Sharapova, you’re never going to be 5 feet 11ins tall, you’re never going to be somebody with long legs, so you have to compensate for that. You are going to have to be the most dogged, determined fighter that anyone has ever seen on the tennis court if you are going to make it.’ And she kind of is.”

The Conservative government’s Culture Secretary Maria Miller was aghast at the comments and expressed her anger scathing letter to the BBC’s Director-General Lord Anthony Hall.

Her letter stated: “I am writing to express my concern over the comments made by John Inverdale about Marion Bartoli, during the BBC’s radio coverage of the Wimbledon women’s final.

“It is a matter of some concern to me that any comment on the looks and stature of a female athlete could be made in the context of one of the highlights of the UK’s, and indeed the world’s, sporting calendar.

“I am sure you will agree with me that it is vital that young women and girls in this country feel motivated both to take part in and to watch coverage of sport, and to know that they are included in the enjoyment of sport, and catered for by the media just as much as the male audience.”

Mrs. Miller, demanded updates on ‘further action that is likely to be taken’ over the comments, which prompted hundreds of complaints to the BBC and she has called also called for better coverage of women’s sport.

The comments generated more than 700 complaints, and led to demands that Inverdale should be sacked. But the 55-year-old escaped severe sanction by writing a letter of apology to the French champion, and apologizing on-air the day after the final.