'I BRING MY OWN PERSONALITY TO BROADCASTING'

FORMER ENGLAND CRICKETER TURNED PRESENTER ISA GUHA SAYS SHE AND WIMBLEDON CO-HOST CLARE BALDING MAKE A GREAT TEAM

- CHRISTINE SMITH

As she returns to our screens to take a starring role in this year’s BBC Wimbledon coverage, Isa Guha reveals the secret advice former presenter Sue Barker gave her before she bade an emotional farewell last year.

Sue, 67, stepped down a year ago after 30 years hosting the prestigious Grand Slam tournament for the BBC, paving the way for Clare Balding, 52, to take over as the main presenter.

But Isa, a former England cricket player, has also been given a big role in this year’s coverage after making her debut last year. She will host the morning’s coverage of Wimbledon before handing over the baton to Clare.

And for Isa, 38, the fact that more women are now being invited to present big sporting events such as Wimbledon is a sure sign that female presenters are becoming the norm.

“There are a growing number of amazing female sports presenters on our screens now and it has become normalised,” she says. “Before, it was celebrated in a way that was positive because there hadn’t been many female sport presenters around, but now there are. Now people are talking about the job you do rather than what you look like or what gender you are.

“I can’t wait for Wimbledon to start and I am really looking forward to being part of the team again.”

Predicting that this year’s tournament will be an incredibly exciting one, Isa goes on to reveal the “significant” advice given to her by Sue that she still holds close to her heart – namely, to be yourself and don’t try to be someone you aren’t.