The BBC commentator and former tennis player Andrew Castle has risked sparking another Wimbledon sexism row after making comments about the appearance of the girlfriend of Brit-of-the-moment Marcus Willis.
During Willis’s second-round match against the former Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, as the camera lingered on Jennifer Bate, a dental surgeon, Castle said: “It’s a pity my dentist doesn’t look like that.”
The broadcast remarks triggered a wave of outrage on social media, including some who labelled the broadcaster “creepy” and “sexist”.
. Yes @bbctennis any chance Andrew Castle could cut out the horribly creepy and sexist remarks? @DriverSteph
— Jen Martin (@jenheffa) June 29, 2016
He apologised to one Twitter user but had earlier lashed out at his critics for lacking a sense of humour.
@BethWright26 Brilliant. I knew there would be someone just you who would comment. Earnest, humourless and probably no fun at all. Regards
— Andrew Castle (@AndrewCastle63) June 29, 2016
The BBC is understood to have received a small number of complaints about his remarks.
In 2013 the BBC presenter John Inverdale was accused of sexism and misogyny after commenting on the French player Marion Bartoli’s appearance.
Inverdale was forced to apologise after saying: “Do you think Bartoli’s dad told her when she was little: ‘You’re never going to be a looker’?”
Willis ultimately lost to Federer in three sets on Wednesday but his rise from the low-ranks to centre court has seen the underdog turn into an overnight sporting hero.
He came into the tournament as the 23rd best player in Britain and the world No 772. The 25-year-old was the second-lowest-ranked player in the men’s singles competition when he defeated Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis – ranked 718 places above him – on the opening day of the tournament, setting up his match with Federer.
Bate, a former Miss England contestant with two young children, hit back earlier in the week at comments that she was another “Wag”.
@Daily_Express I see I'm supposedly a dental nurse! I'm Dr Jennifer Bate, who spent 5 years at GKT London, after 10 A* GCSE's & 5 A-levels 😂
— Jennifer Bate (@Jennyloubate) June 29, 2016
