Sue Barker is leaving A Question of Sport after 23 years in a move that will stun her army of fans.
Sue, 64, who earns around £200,000 at the Beeb, is going as the BBC axes the current format.
Team captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell are also following her out the door in a massive revamp.
A source told the Sunday Mirror: “It is a big shock.”
The move will disappoint millions of viewers of the world’s longest- running TV sports quiz. Former tennis player Sue took over as host of QS from commentator David Coleman in 1997.
Rugby legend Matt, 47, and cricketer Phil, 54, have been her team skippers for 16 and 12 years.
All three are now preparing to record their last episode at the end of this month – with a new-look show set to return with a different team next year.
It comes just weeks after a cull of pundits including Matt Le Tissier, Phil Thompson and Charlie Nicholas on Sky Sports show Soccer Saturday.
The show’s presenter Jeff Stelling also claimed “ageism is alive and well” after ITV announced Clive Tyldesley, 65, would be dropped as the channel’s main football commentator in July.
In the same month Strictly judge Arlene Phillips, 77, launched an investigation into her shock departure from the BBC series amid an ageism row – claims the BBC firmly denied.
Last night a BBC spokesman said: “We would like to thank Sue for her enormous contribution as the show’s longest reigning host and Matt and Phil for their excellent captaincy.
“Together they have ensured A Question of Sport remains a firm favourite with BBC One audiences.”
Sue – who reached the semis of Wimbledon in 1977 and had a close friendship with Cliff Richard – told recently of her pride in hosting QS, which first aired way back in 1970.
She said: “QS has been such a huge part of my life, from watching it with my family growing up through my tennis-playing days, and then, of course, as the presenter.”
The BBC did not reveal if Sue will carry on working on their coverage of the Wimbledon tournament.
