Clare Balding's BBC Wimbledon 2Day Show Is Being Absolutely Slammed By Everyone

The BBC's New Wimbledon Show Could Not Have Had Worse Reviews

The BBC's new daily tennis round-up show, “Wimbledon 2Day”, has been slated by critics for being a "fake" production reminiscent of "Top Gear".

The new programme replaces the popular show “Today At Wimbledon”, which ended last year.

Controversial presenter John Inverdale used to host the old daily highlights.

(L-R) Clare Balding interview tennis champions Marion Bartoli and John Mcenroe on Wimbledon 2Day

He was heavily criticised for the "sexist" comments he made about Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, saying she was "never going to be a looker".

The new show, which discusses the day's play at Wimbledon, features Clare Balding in a bizarre set up.

The hour-long programme sees Balding interview guests, sitting on stools, on fake grass, surrounded by a standing, often rather uncomfortable looking, audience at "The Gatsby Club".

Jan Moir's comment in Thursday's Daily Mail "savages" the new show, which is a "travesty and a tragedy".

She writes: "In his place comes the super right-on, tooth-achingly trendy 'Wimbledon 2Day', so much like a parody of something that might be suggested on W1A, the satirical show about the BBC, that it is painful to watch.

"Even the hashtag-friendly name speaks volumes, suggesting that some focus group informed the Beeb that they were not attracting enough teenagers to tennis… and to sharpen up their image, pronto.

"So like some nightmarish cross between “Top Gear” and “Play School”, guests must chat to Clare while standing around one of those high top tables that are so popular in wine bars."

The Radio Times also slated the "dreadful" show. Alison Graham said she believes the show is aiming to be "Top Gear with strawberries and cream".

She wrote: "BBC2’s nightly highlights package is a mess, a giddy mix of inane Tweets, snippets of matches (let’s not forget actual tennis is being played, something, presumably we all want to see which is why we’ve tuned in) and a bit of chat. All marshalled by a panicky-looking Clare Balding."

Audiences watching from home were not any more impressed by the new programme.

The new format has even led to calls to bring back Inverdale.

The new show does have a few fans, however.

The BBC did not respond to The Huffington Post UK's request for comment before this article went live.

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