Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Former professional tennis player and television presenter, best known as host of BBC's Wimbledon coverage for 30 years.
On the island
Eight records
Soundtrack to Wimbledon's Parade of Champions; chosen because it was played during the centenary celebration and the emotional ovation from the crowd.
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
Sir Clifford Curzon, London Symphony Orchestra, Eivin Fjellstar (conductor)
Chosen for her mother; she used to play it on the gramophone.
Harry HippieFavourite
Her all-time favourite; chosen to save from the waves.
Reminds her of driving in LA as a 17-year-old starting her professional career.
Memory of flying with Billie Jean King and hearing the song from the Muhammad Ali film.
Chosen for her husband Lance; they saw Al Green at the Albert Hall and it was a special moment.
Theme tune to Grandstand; she used to watch it with her dad and mum.
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:44Did you expect it to be so emotional for you to say goodbye?
No, not at all. I mean, I knew it was going to be sad. I love the job. I love Wimbledon. It's in my DNA. And I love the people I work with even more.
Presenter asks
6:43Tell me a bit more about your mum Betty. Was it all down to clean living and exercise?
Absolutely not. She wasn't known as Betty Six Gins for Nothing. Every time the clock ding up to six o'clock, the gin and tonic would come out. But also everything she ate was was wrong. I mean I I I keep looking at food and try different diets and how to be healthy and that. My mum, everything's white bread, processed meats, no water, never drank water and she's she lived to a hundred so maybe we're all getting it wrong.
Presenter asks
17:49I wonder about any loneliness that you felt. Looking back on interviews, I can see your young shyness and you talk about being lonely.
Absolutely, many, many times. And it was a hard learning curve, but the highs far outweighed the lows, and I had to deal with those lows. It was wonderful having Arthur at the end of a reverse charge telephone call. He always took the calls to be able to talk through things and just to remember why I was doing it.
The keepsakes
The book
Billie Jean King
if anyone's going to inspire me to survive on a desert island, it's BJK.
Presenter asks
26:17Was it like that for you [struggling with the transition from tennis]?
Absolutely. I remember waking up in the morning and thinking, what am I going to do today? And I suddenly thought nothing. And I suddenly thought my whole life's gone. All my friends have gone. My purpose is gone. My dreams have gone. And, you know, it could really have been traumatic for me if I if I hadn't have um had a wonderful phone call to go and work
Presenter asks
32:43Do you feel you've achieved more in your second career than you did with your tennis? And what do you think Arthur Roberts would have made of it?
Oh, I definitely. Because I don't think I had any ambition of where I would go with television. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought of where I've where I've got to. And mister Roberts, dear Arthur, not only did he give me my tennis life, but he I think he gave me the tools to challenge myself to go into a life that not even I could have ever dreamed of.
“No, not at all. I mean, I knew it was going to be sad. I love the job. I love Wimbledon. It's in my DNA. And I love the people I work with even more.”
“Absolutely not. She wasn't known as Betty Six Gins for Nothing. Every time the clock ding up to six o'clock, the gin and tonic would come out. But also everything she ate was was wrong. I mean I I I keep looking at food and try different diets and how to be healthy and that. My mum, everything's white bread, processed meats, no water, never drank water and she's she lived to a hundred so maybe we're all getting it wrong.”
“Absolutely, many, many times. And it was a hard learning curve, but the highs far outweighed the lows, and I had to deal with those lows. It was wonderful having Arthur at the end of a reverse charge telephone call. He always took the calls to be able to talk through things and just to remember why I was doing it.”
“Absolutely. I remember waking up in the morning and thinking, what am I going to do today? And I suddenly thought nothing. And I suddenly thought my whole life's gone. All my friends have gone. My purpose is gone. My dreams have gone. And, you know, it could really have been traumatic for me if I if I hadn't have um had a wonderful phone call to go and work”
“Oh, I definitely. Because I don't think I had any ambition of where I would go with television. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought of where I've where I've got to. And mister Roberts, dear Arthur, not only did he give me my tennis life, but he I think he gave me the tools to challenge myself to go into a life that not even I could have ever dreamed of.”