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Wimbledon’s royal box taken over by a different kind of elite Wimbledon’s royal box taken over by a different kind of elite
(2 months later)
The middle Saturday of Wimbledon tells all you need to know about the values of 21st century Britain. The Royal Box, designed for the pleasure of those with the right ancestral blood, is taken over by a different kind of elite, and yesterday the sporting royalty on display included among others a track queen (Victoria Pendleton), a cricketing prince (Sachin Tendulkar) and Bradley Wiggins, who proved at London 2012 that he looks good on a throne. They were all, of course, upstaged by King David of Beckingham Palace, who gave a particularly regal wave from his front-row seat.The middle Saturday of Wimbledon tells all you need to know about the values of 21st century Britain. The Royal Box, designed for the pleasure of those with the right ancestral blood, is taken over by a different kind of elite, and yesterday the sporting royalty on display included among others a track queen (Victoria Pendleton), a cricketing prince (Sachin Tendulkar) and Bradley Wiggins, who proved at London 2012 that he looks good on a throne. They were all, of course, upstaged by King David of Beckingham Palace, who gave a particularly regal wave from his front-row seat.
Star-spotting became a key distraction since the Beeb had little else to cut away to, except the occasional forlorn shot of the Hill, covered in brollies that the cameras had to strain to pick out of the gloom. The rain pelting down on the roof was picked up by the Centre Court’s mic, and gave the likes of Lizzy Yarnold, Tom Daley and Stuart Broad extra reason to feel smug about their seats.Star-spotting became a key distraction since the Beeb had little else to cut away to, except the occasional forlorn shot of the Hill, covered in brollies that the cameras had to strain to pick out of the gloom. The rain pelting down on the roof was picked up by the Centre Court’s mic, and gave the likes of Lizzy Yarnold, Tom Daley and Stuart Broad extra reason to feel smug about their seats.
It also occasioned plenty of visual punning from the editing suite, so that a remark upon the “slugfest” between Nadal and Mikhail Kukushkin would automatically occasion a shot of Nicola Adams and David Haye, while a comment on an impressive swing would be followed up with a shot of Ian Poulter. (Poulter, perhaps worried that the dress code might constrain his natural fashion choices too far, was wearing a daring combination of check and paisley. “Shame about his fashion sense,” said a deadpan David Mercer.) It also occasioned plenty of visual punning from the editing suite, so that a remark upon the “slugfest” between Nadal and Mikhail Kukushkin would automatically occasion a shot of Nicola Adams and David Haye, while a comment on an impressive swing would be followed up with a shot of Ian Poulter. (Poulter, perhaps worried that the dress code might constrain his natural fashion choices too far, was wearing a daring combination of check and paisley. “Shame about his fashion sense,” said a deadpan David Mercer.)
Even before the first match of the day a certain cabin fever seemed to be taking hold. Sue Barker and Tim Henman had been forced to fill time to cover Rafael Nadal’s obsessive pre-match rituals. Each item of Nadal’s kit and each bottle of water had to be carefully arranged to face the correct way, explained Henman, “… and finally his pants”. Cue delighted giggles from Sue.Even before the first match of the day a certain cabin fever seemed to be taking hold. Sue Barker and Tim Henman had been forced to fill time to cover Rafael Nadal’s obsessive pre-match rituals. Each item of Nadal’s kit and each bottle of water had to be carefully arranged to face the correct way, explained Henman, “… and finally his pants”. Cue delighted giggles from Sue.
Wimbledon can often feel like one big BBC Tupperware party, where everyone’s only a second away from a giant group hug. Perhaps it’s because the broadcaster has never left this space, never ceded even an inch of its lush green turf. At the football World Cup, a certain desire to impress can lend the studio teams the impression of students competing to hold the best party in their new digs. Whereas you wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out that Sue Barker actually lived in a suite next to the players’ lounge all year round.Wimbledon can often feel like one big BBC Tupperware party, where everyone’s only a second away from a giant group hug. Perhaps it’s because the broadcaster has never left this space, never ceded even an inch of its lush green turf. At the football World Cup, a certain desire to impress can lend the studio teams the impression of students competing to hold the best party in their new digs. Whereas you wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out that Sue Barker actually lived in a suite next to the players’ lounge all year round.
There’s something almost intergalactic about the size of the BBC’s presence in SW19, as evidenced by a studio that appears, Tardis-like, to use up more physical space than actually exists in Wimbledon’s earthly corridors. That’s not to mention the Starship Enterprise laser design on the floor, or the fact that John McEnroe is looking more and more like a Thunderbird puppet. Seriously, watch his arms dance around from side to side: you’ll swear they’re on strings.There’s something almost intergalactic about the size of the BBC’s presence in SW19, as evidenced by a studio that appears, Tardis-like, to use up more physical space than actually exists in Wimbledon’s earthly corridors. That’s not to mention the Starship Enterprise laser design on the floor, or the fact that John McEnroe is looking more and more like a Thunderbird puppet. Seriously, watch his arms dance around from side to side: you’ll swear they’re on strings.
It is an admirably epic quantity of coverage that the BBC provides. While Nadal played Kukushkin on BBC1, he was also playing Federer in 2008’s famous into-the-night final on BBC2, courtesy of the weather, or possibly a rift in the space-time continuum. In the morning, the rain also provided a chance to watch a heartwarming piece on Andy Murray’s win last year. If you thought you had no more tears to spend on that event, you obviously haven’t heard the story about the sports-loving little girl with a brain tumour who Murray met the week previously, and who passed away while the match was being played. It’s still on iPlayer if you want a good weep.It is an admirably epic quantity of coverage that the BBC provides. While Nadal played Kukushkin on BBC1, he was also playing Federer in 2008’s famous into-the-night final on BBC2, courtesy of the weather, or possibly a rift in the space-time continuum. In the morning, the rain also provided a chance to watch a heartwarming piece on Andy Murray’s win last year. If you thought you had no more tears to spend on that event, you obviously haven’t heard the story about the sports-loving little girl with a brain tumour who Murray met the week previously, and who passed away while the match was being played. It’s still on iPlayer if you want a good weep.
Murray is, of course, as crucial a part of the BBC’s Wimbledon universe as any of the commentary team. (You can’t imagine him allowing anyone else but Sue Barker into his home to sit and chat with him and Kim and their terrier Rusty.) The Crown Prince of Centre Court, he can give ratings a boost even when he’s not actually at the ground, and he popped up again, mid-afternoon, taking on all-comers in the tennis ball keepy-uppy game that he and his team invented. It must have done the job, because they played it again later.Murray is, of course, as crucial a part of the BBC’s Wimbledon universe as any of the commentary team. (You can’t imagine him allowing anyone else but Sue Barker into his home to sit and chat with him and Kim and their terrier Rusty.) The Crown Prince of Centre Court, he can give ratings a boost even when he’s not actually at the ground, and he popped up again, mid-afternoon, taking on all-comers in the tennis ball keepy-uppy game that he and his team invented. It must have done the job, because they played it again later.
Back on Centre, Maria Sharapova was dispatching Alison Riske. Unfortunately, the sporting royals hadn’t made it back from their tea break after Nadal’s victory, and the cameras caught an unfortunate shot of an utterly abandoned Royal Box. “Well, it’s exhausting watching a match of that intensity,” said Mercer, perhaps a little too sympathetically. “They need a break.”Back on Centre, Maria Sharapova was dispatching Alison Riske. Unfortunately, the sporting royals hadn’t made it back from their tea break after Nadal’s victory, and the cameras caught an unfortunate shot of an utterly abandoned Royal Box. “Well, it’s exhausting watching a match of that intensity,” said Mercer, perhaps a little too sympathetically. “They need a break.”