Sue Barker: BBC could have handled my Question of Sport exit better

Sue Barker was the host of the game show Question of Sport for two years before she left.

The quiz show was hosted by Barker for 24 years but he left in 2020.

Matt and Phil Tufnell were axed along with her.

Barker said the corporation wanted her to say she was stepping back rather than being replaced.

The 66-year-old former professional tennis player, who has just released her autobiography calling the shots, said that they wanted to refresh the programme.

We knew that it was going to happen and the way it was handled made me want to leave.

I would never leave a job I loved. Being replaced didn't bother me. It's absolutely fine. It happens. It was handled in the way it was done.

We could have handled it better. I don't think it was handled well by the BBC.

When she left the show, Barker said she was sad to say goodbye to her dream job, but she understood why the show was going in a new direction.

Sue was the third host of the show since it first aired.

The 1976 French Open champion said in an interview that it was a shame because she loved it.

I don't look back on it badly because I think it affected a lot of people.

Big names are put to the test on the longest running TV sport quiz.

After 17 and 13 years on the show, former England international cricketer Tufnell was replaced by ex-hockey player Sam Quek.

She said that she was blown away by the send off she received.

Barker had presented the Olympics and Sports Personality of the Year during her 30 year career at the BBC.