John McEnroe paid extra by BBC than Sue Barker final yr after Wimbledon pay rise

John McEnroe pocketed extra money from his stint working at Wimbledon this yr than lead presenter Sue Barker did throughout final yr’s event. The seven-time Grand Slam champion was already being paid big wages by the BBC for simply two weeks’ work however was given a pay rise within the area of £30,000 this yr.

Television licence-fee payers got a little bit of a shock final week when the BBC printed its listing of highest earners in 2022. The run-down included anybody who pocketed £178,000 or extra for the calendar yr however did not embody people who’re paid by BBC Studios or different third-party manufacturing firms.

One man who was on the listing, nonetheless, was tennis legend McEnroe. The outspoken American all the time enjoys his Wimbledon fortnight and it is hardly stunning on condition that this yr he picked up round £210,000 working as a co-commentator for the company – up from the £185,000 he obtained in 2022.

The enormity of McEnroe’s payment could be measured in opposition to former presenter Barker, who was paid £30,000 much less for main protection of each Wimbledon and Queen’s with the BBC revealing final yr he pay packet was between £185,000 and £189,999.

This yr the BBC‘s tv broadcasting was anchored by Clare Balding, however regardless of entering into Barker’s sneakers she was denied her personal second of glory on centre court docket following the boys’s ultimate.

Traditionally Barker would interview the winner and runner-up in the midst of the court docket, however surprisingly that duty was given to former tennis participant Annabel Croft, not Balding.

In an extra snub, McEnroe was not even in a position to supply Balding any post-match evaluation following the ultimate as a consequence of his personal US media obligations. It raises questions as as to if the three-times Wimbledon champion might be invited again to share his pearls of knowledge once more subsequent yr, with the BBC needing to maintain a lid on prices and make sure the finest worth for cash for its licence payment payers.

Reaction to McEnroe’s BBC payment prompted some disapproval on social media. Utilising the tennis star’s personal notorious catchphrase, @GravyGravy91 wrote: “John McEnroe, £200,000 for 2 weeks Wimbledon work. The BBC can’t be severe.”

@Tambourineman88 tweeted: “The most overpaid is surely John McEnroe, 205k for two weeks of work, utterly ridiculous,” whereas @ScottElkington agreed, writing: “I can’t believe we pay John McEnroe £200,000 for 2 weeks ‘work’ at Wimbledon!!?”

But not everybody took exception to the American’s lofty look payment. @AnneMazza17 tweeted: “He is the most interesting. I find the others pretty boring and tend to mute them completely. They do too much waffling and pontificating for my liking, Just talk about tennis and comment on what you are seeing in front of you and try to stay neutral.”