BBC Wimbledon commentator has admitted he can't see a benefit to The Championships being put behind a paywall. The BBC have been screening the tournament since 1937, but this year.

Wimbledon is currently ring-fenced as a Category A event by Ofcom, which means live coverage must be made available on free-to-air channels. The BBC reportedly spend around £60million every year to show Wimbledon, with the corporation's current deal running until 2027. But TNT Sports will screen the daily highlights show this year and will also show the singles finals alongside the BBC.

Castle has worked for the BBC as a commentator and pundit at Wimbledon since 2002 following a spell with Sky Sports.

And commenting on the Beeb's television deal, the 61-year-old told : "I don't think they ever would [allow a rival broadcaster to take over].

"In terms of a domestic audience in the UK is concerned, I'd be very surprised if it wasn't on the BBC and free to air.

"But I've been surprised before. I just don't see why or the particular benefit and that's what matters to me. It's an institution and an event, not a tennis tournament. As long as people see it because it is the big showcase.

"When I think of Wimbledon on the BBC, what is really lovely is there are no commercial breaks.

"And from my point of view in commentary, I've got to think about what we are going to talk about in the breaks with Tim Henman, John McEnroe, Nick Kyrgios - that's what I'm thinking about towards the end of a game."

Carlos Alcaraz is the reigning men's champion at Wimbledon, having thrashed seven-time winner Novak Djokovic in last year's final.

The Spaniard dropped just 10 games in the one-sided showpiece match after seeing off the likes of Ugo Humbert, Tommy Paul and Daniil Medvedev earlier in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Barbora Krejcikova clinched the ladies' singles title a year ago following a three-set victory over Jasmine Paolini in the final.

This year's edition of Wimbledon is due to get underway in south west London on Monday, June 30. Alcaraz has been made the slight favourite ahead of Jannik Sinner to win the men's tournament after in a five-set thriller in the French Open final on Sunday, with Aryna Sabalenka leading the field ahead of Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff in the ladies' tournament.