Phil Tufnell's frank five-word answer to controversial Question of Sport exit
Phil Tufnell was one of three stars that were replaced on A Question of Sport in 2020 along with Sue Barker and Matt Dawson in a controversial shake-up of the show
It did not come as a shock to Phil Tufnell when the BBC dropped himself, Sue Barker and Matt Dawson from A Question of Sport in 2020. The 59-year-old cricket icon had been a staple member of the show ever since he was named as a team captain in 2007.
After 13 years he, Barker and Dawson were told that they would not be continuing in their role as the Beeb wanted to shake up the format and the personnel of the show. Barker was replaced by Take Me Out presenter Paddy McGuinness, while Tufnell and Dawson made way for Olympian Sam Quek and rugby's Ugo Monye.
After the revamped format was put on the shelf in 2023, former Football Focus host Dan Walker took to social media and suggested the BBC had "alienated their core audience while searching for a new one" with their decision-making. Tennis icon Barker, who had presented the show for more than 20 years, has also admitted that she was unhappy with the way in which they were let go by the BBC.
While speaking at the launch of The Overlap and Betfair's Stick to Cricket show, Tufnell admitted he was not left speechless when the decision was broke to him. He told Wales Online: "You can't do things forever."
Tuffers explained: "They had been talking about it and what have you. I wasn't really involved in it. We'd all been doing it for a while. Well, more than a while, around 13 or 14 years I'd been captain.
"They fancied a bit of a refresh. We were just sort of like, 'Okay, well, there you go. Thanks very much for the memories. I thoroughly enjoyed every single show. Loved every minute of it.'
"Now we're doing the theatre show. It's not called a Question of Sport, of course. We're all good friends, all got a very similar sense of humour.
"We all get on very well so it's great to be back recreating it a little bit. Obviously, you think to yourself, 'Oh crikey,' but we wished everyone the best. It was part of our lives."
In a statement released at that time, the BBC said: "We would like to thank Sue for her enormous contribution as the show's longest reigning host over the last 24 years, and Matt and Phil for their excellent team captaincy over 16 and 12 years respectively.
"Together they have ensured A Question of Sport remains a firm favourite with the BBC One audience. Sue, Matt and Phil's final series will be broadcast next year."
When the show was shelved in 2023, a BBC spokesman hinted at the possibility of its revival by stating the decision was "not the final whistle." Tufnell said he would like to see the show return to the nation's screens, but would not expect a phone call from the BBC if it did.
He added: "I hope it does come back. It was part of my childhood. It had been going for 55 years, a long time.
"I loved the show when I was on it and I loved it as a boy. It was one of those little half hours that you sat round with your family.
"Hopefully, it comes back. I'd be delighted to sit down and watch it. Whether we do it again, I'm not so sure. But, we've had our time, haven't we?"
Betfair are set for a big summer and winter of cricket, launching a new show with The Overlap: Stick to Cricket. Don't miss the first episode next week, where the team will be reviewing the opening test of the series between England and India
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
26 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
BBC Breakfast boss takes extended leave after allegations about behaviour
Richard Frediani has been in charge of the morning show since 2019 and accepted a Bafta last month when BBC Breakfast: The Post Office Special scooped the news coverage award. Media outlets reported that an internal investigation is being carried out following allegations of bullying. BBC News reported that an HR adviser from consultancy firm PwC is also supporting the corporation as it looks into the culture of the morning TV show. Meanwhile, The Sun newspaper has reported that BBC bosses have spoken to Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty about two alleged incidents, which include an allegation of bullying, in three years. A BBC spokesperson said: 'While we do not comment on individual cases, we take all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously.' It is understood that any complaint at the BBC is reviewed on its own merits and the appropriate action taken as a result, with a range of actions on the table. In April, BBC executives Tim Davie and Samir Shah vowed that 'today is the day we draw a line in the sand' after an independent review found some 'well-known names' are 'not being held to account for poor behaviour'. The workplace culture review, led by management consultant Grahame Russell from Change Associates, was launched in the wake of the furore over disgraced former newsreader Huw Edwards.
South Wales Guardian
26 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Mark Wood hoping to play a part in England's Test series against India
The 35-year-old was expected to miss the entirety of the marquee five-match series after undergoing knee surgery in March, the latest in a long line of injury setbacks. But the Durham quick says he is back bowling in the nets and harbours hopes he could return in the final Test against Shubman Gill's India, which is set to begin on July 31 at the Kia Oval. 'I have just started bowling – very lightly – but I am on the comeback trail now officially,' Wood said on the BBC's Test Match Special. 'I am hoping still to play a part in this series. I am still targeting maybe the last Test. 'Anything before that is probably a bit too soon. The last Test I might not get there but at the minute that is still my focus, that I might play a part.' Wood's ability to hit breakneck speeds of up to 97mph mark him out as an invaluable asset and, if he stays fit, he is likely to be crucial to England's bid to regain the Ashes in Australia later this year. He is among a lengthy list of pacemen currently on the sidelines, with Olly Stone out for the summer and Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson missing the first Test at Headingley, which started on Friday.
South Wales Guardian
26 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
BBC will not broadcast Gaza documentary over ‘perception of partiality' risk
The corporation commissioned Gaza: Doctors Under Attack more than a year ago from an independent production company called Basement Films. The documentary includes witness accounts from frontline Palestinian health workers in Gaza and documents attacks on hospitals and clinics. It was delayed by the BBC until an ongoing review into a different programme in the region was completed. The BBC pulled the documentary How To Survive A Warzone in February after it emerged that its 13-year-old narrator was the son of a Hamas official. The corporation has now confirmed that Gaza: Doctors Under Attack will not air on the BBC at all. In a statement, the BBC said they had paused production of this film in April, having made a decision that they could not broadcast the film while a review into a separate Gaza documentary was ongoing. The BBC said that with both films coming from independent production companies, and both about Gaza, it was right to wait for any relevant findings – and put them into action – before broadcasting the film. 'However, we wanted the doctors' voices to be heard. Our aim was to find a way to air some of the material in our news programmes, in line with our impartiality standards, before the review was published. 'For some weeks, the BBC has been working with Basement Films to find a way to tell the stories of these doctors on our platforms. 'Yesterday, it became apparent that we have reached the end of the road with these discussions. 'We have come to the conclusion that broadcasting this material risked creating a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect of the BBC. 'Impartiality is a core principle of BBC News. It is one of the reasons that we are the world's most trusted broadcaster. 'Therefore, we are transferring ownership of the film material to Basement Films. 'Contrary to some reports, since we paused production of Gaza: Doctors Under Attack in April, it has not undergone the BBC's final pre-broadcast sign-off processes. 'Any film broadcast will not be a BBC film,' the BBC said. The corporation added: 'We want to thank the doctors and contributors and we are sorry we could not tell their stories. The BBC will continue to cover events in Gaza impartially.' Last month, Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon and comedian Frankie Boyle were among hundreds of signatories calling on the BBC to air the documentary. The letter, signed by figures from across the film, TV, journalism and cultural sectors, was sent on behalf of the UK Screen Industry, made up of a 'group of concerned film and TV professionals'. Earlier this month, the BBC defended its coverage of the war in Gaza, after the White House criticised its reporting of an apparent incident in the territory, which reportedly left a number of people dead. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the corporation, after updating an article's headline with new information, had to 'correct and take down' its story about fatalities and injuries following a reported incident near an aid distribution centre in Rafah. The BBC said it had not removed its story and explained that its headlines about the incident were 'updated throughout the day with the latest fatality figures as they came in from various sources', which is 'totally normal practice'.
