Wimbledon 2Day format drastically changed for second week following viewer complaints
The highlights show hosted by Clare Balding will move location
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Your support makes all the difference.The BBC has bowed to pressure and changed the format of the fiercely criticised highlights show Wimbledon 2Day.
From tonight and for the remainder of the Championships, Clare Balding will host the programme from inside a studio above Centre Court and the live audience will be axed.
It comes after a week of criticism of the show which has been an attempt to modernise the BBC's more traditional highlights round-up Today at Wimbledon.
Former host John Inverdale was dropped to be replaced by Balding, a more relaxed setting which was likened to a wine bar was used and light-hearted items were brought in to mix up proceedings.
Alison Graham, the TV critic of the Radio Times, called it “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”.
Viewers complained that highlights of the actual tennis were being overly sidelined. On Monday, there were just 21 minutes of action shown. By Friday there were 31 minutes but the BBC has opted to go even further.
A spokeswoman said: “We said from the outset that Wimbledon 2Day would evolve throughout the championship. Of course we listen to audience feedback and that helps to shape the changes we make. We have moved to a new location, on top of the Centre Court building, which gives an excellent backdrop of the heart of Wimbledon, as the championship builds to its climax.”
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