Andrew Nicholas CASTLE

The great-grandson of the social reformer and women’s rights advocate Annie Besant, Andrew Castle was a national junior champion before leaving England to study on a tennis scholarship at the University of Wichita. He joined the ATP tour in 1986 and made his Davis Cup debut for Great Britain later the same year. In his eight years on the professional circuit he reached one ATP Tour singles final (1988 in Seoul) and won three doubles titles. Although his performances at grand slam tournaments were generally disappointing he partnered Anne Hobbs to the mixed doubles final at the 1987 Australian Open and was a semi-finalist in the men’s doubles at the same event in 1988. He was famously fined most of his prize money for carrying a placard protesting British government tax policy onto the court before the 1990 British National Championship final. After retiring from professional tennis he worked as a commentator for Sky Sports before becoming the main anchor of ITV’s breakfast programme. Castle also works on the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage.