BBC’s ‘disastrous’ new 'Wimbledon 2day' show comes under fire - fairly?

Well, for a start it seems most tennis fans enjoyed the reliably straightforward previous format of ‘Today at Wimbledon’, hosted by John Inverdale, which simply sought to show working people highlights of the matches they missed through the day with room for expert analysis from the likes of John McEnroe.

‘We just want to watch some tennis after a long day at work’, was the consistent feedback from fans on social media, only that has now been re-worded in a much more negative manner after the seemingly unwelcome arrival of ‘Wimbledon 2day’.

Still present are the sharp and informative McEnroe and Lindsay Davenport as expert pundits, only they are not afforded the opportunity to be sharp and informative amid the ‘interactive’ features of the new format.

‘Dumbed down’ and full of gimmicks, ‘Wimbledon 2day’ attempts to incorporate quirky skits and fan interaction with the chatty show played out in front of a live audience of fans who are made to stand in The Gatsby Club (one of Wimbledon’s hospitality suites) clutching drinks and trying to catch the camera’s eye over McEnroe’s shoulder.

The Daily Mail’s Jan Moir was particularly scathing about the new show, arguing that the “disastrous” new show was “a travesty and a tragedy” more about Balding and silly features than about giving the fans what they actually wanted – which was to watch some tennis.

“Like some nightmarish cross between Top Gear and Play School, guests must chat to Clare while standing around one of those high top tables that are so popular in wine bars,” she said. “Precious little court action from the day’s matches is shown. Instead of crisp analysis and lots of tennis, there are gimmicky items.

“Tennis fans who have been working all day, which means the vast majority of us, want to come home and watch a plain and simple, comprehensive round-up of the day’s play. We want as many on-court highlights as possible and straight-forward scrutiny and expert opinion. What we don’t want is Clare reading out inane tweets or talking over match play while rock’n’roll musk is played over her words.”

The Guardian's Stuart Heritage was equally critical and dismissive, saying: "Wimbledon 2day has a horrible name. But that’s only part of the reason why everyone hates it – and, let’s be clear, they really do hate it. They hate it because it can’t decide whether it wants to be Top Gear or The One Show, when actually it should be a sober review of matches that people missed because they were working. They hate it because it has a shipped in a pseudo-studio audience who are only there to look bored and go Weeeey” whenever prompted."

The BBC's decision to appoint Balding as the presenter of the highlights show came after a series of embarrassing gaffes from Inverdale, who was subsequently dropped from the show, including saying former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli was “never going to be a looker”.

Inverdale, for all his blunders, fronted what was a much-loved show in ‘Today at Wimbledon’ for a dozen years, something that could so easily have been continued even with a fresh presenter if it was considered necessary.

Indeed, even leading pundit McEnroe was left confused by the ‘cross out an eliminated seed by putting a sticker over their face’ feature, saying “this is so bizarre and crazy”. When later randomly asked by Balding if he ever had a beard, McEnroe responded bluntly, “What the hell are you asking me about beards for?”

Media insider Charles Sale said in his column of the new show: “There is much bemusement among the BBC’s Wimbledon team as to why it was felt necessary to dispense with the successful highlights show hosted by John Inverdale for a woeful Clare Balding-presented programme that is being panned from all quarters.

“Such has been the criticism that Balding, a frequent Twitter user, hasn’t been on the site since the hugely negative response to her new programme, which is the talk of Beeb personnel.”

A BBC spokeswoman has defended the revamped show, saying: “The focus of the highlights show remains the tennis, which forms the vast part of the programme, along with analysis from expert pundits. 

“This is a new look for the show which we expect to evolve as the fortnight progresses.”

Many fans were frustrated that they could not just enjoy watching some tennis on what was supposed to be a highlights show.

However, some fans did at least come to the new format's defence on social media - well, kind of.

It certainly seems strange that the BBC has chosen to present from the Gatsby Club corporate hospitality venue across the road from the All England Club, as opposed to the famous roof of the broadcasting centre with its iconic backdrop of Wimbledon’s grounds and the London skyline.

It is perhaps commendable that the corporation has sought to engage a younger audience with more quirky, glossy and interactive features, but surely the strongest attraction for any fan is to see their heroes in action on the biggest stage the sport can offer.

There is a reason why the previous format under Inverdale was so successful and popular and that is simply that fans like to watch tennis rather than people chatting in front of an awkward live audience.