A Question of Sport: Sue Barker says goodbye
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The show’s weekly ratings of up to five million with Sue have plunged to an average of just 850,000 since she was replaced by Paddy McGuinness. One episode last month saw just 750,000 tune in and was overtaken by a Channel 5 documentary about a farm shop.
The embarrassing news for BBC chiefs comes after the British former tennis champion told how her dismissal after 24 years left her “slightly damaged”.
She wrote in her autobiography Calling The Shots: “After 24 years in the hotseat, I was sacked. I’m afraid that has left me slightly damaged.
“Don’t get me wrong: I had no problem with being replaced. Everyone has their day. Producers must always have the right to refresh a programme and take it in a new direction.
“It was the way it was handled. It taught me there is actually no way of leaving a role in a nice, pleasant and helpful manner, with your head held high.”
Sue’s bosses dispensed with her and team captains Phil Tufnell and Matt Dawson in 2020 after deciding to revamp the quiz show first screened in 1968.
The 66-year-old said: “With me, there was a bit of, ‘We love the show and you’ve been an amazing host, but… ‘ I’d been waiting for that ‘but’.
“We were being sacked. I accepted their decision, though I couldn’t help feeling wretchedly sad. The boys were devastated, too.”
She added that the broadcaster’s management did not broach the subject with them until news of her departure was about to become public.
They then asked them to sign a statement saying they had decided to “step down” – but the three stars refused.
“As we hadn’t decided to step aside at all, we point-blank refused to sign the statement. Next, I was asked to announce that I was leaving for the good of the show.
“I was astounded. Was that because I was too old or not good enough? Either way, it was insulting. Did they actually expect me to sack myself?”
The show now features rugby star Ugo Monye and hockey player Sam Quek as team captains alongside 49-year-old Paddy.
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