Wimbledon 2015: John Inverdale dropped by BBC following on-air blunders

Inverdale came under fire for making a sexist remark and recently said the c-word during live radio

John Inverdale has been dropped from presenting the BBC’s Today at Wimbledon programme in the wake of a series of blunders including making sexist remarks about a former female champion.

The presenter will be replaced by Clare Balding on the high profile Today at Wimbledon programme. Balding also last year took over his Radio 5 Live presenting duties.

The removal of Inverdale the BBC’s main coverage of the Wimbledon tournament follows a series of blunders committed by the 57-year-old.

Clare Balding is taking over from John Inverdale (Getty)

In March while presenting racing coverage at Cheltenham Inverdale committed the cardinal sin of live radio by dropping the c-word.

He made a joke about looking at life through “rose-c***ed…rose-tinted glasses” before apologising for his “slip of the tongue”.

In 2013 he provoked widespread accusations of sexism after he said that Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli was “never going to be a looker”. He later blamed the gaffe on hay fever but more than 600 people complained to the BBC over his remark.

Despite giving up his hosting chair to Balding Inverdale will continue to work as part of the BBC’s commentary team during Wimbledon.

“John Inverdale will take up a new role on TV commentary duties at this year’s championship and we are looking forward to having him as part of

More than 600 people have complained to the BBC after presenter John Inverdale suggested Wimbledon winner Marion Bartoli was “never going to be a looker” (Getty Images)

the team,” a BBC spokesman said in a statement.

“The introduction of Wimbledon 2Day, presented by Clare Balding, will provide a fresh new look for the highlights show and continue to develop the ‘today at the games’ brand which Clare presented at both the Sochi Winter Olympics and Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.”