SUE BARKER has expressed her sadness after A Question of Sport was axed by the BBC.
Bosses say dwindling ratings and limited iPlayer appeal forced them to cancel the show, which first aired in 1970.
Barker hosted the show for 24 years from 1997 and she is devastated that it will no longer run.
She told The Telegraph: “I’m incredibly sad that my favourite show has been axed.
“I loved watching it with my dad as a kid and then had the privilege of taking over the host’s chair in 1997.
“From there I had 24 fun-filled years presenting it with the very best captains. I truly hope it will return one day.”
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Under Barker, the quiz show achieved an average of four to five million viewers every episode.
But in September 2020, it was announced Barker would be replaced as host by Paddy McGuinness.
Ex-Team GB hockey star and Morning Live presenter Sam Quek, and ex-rugby international Ugo Monye replaced captains Dawson and Tufnell.
Viewing figures plummeted to below one million with the BBC pointing to "funding challenges" as its reason for axing the show.
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The BBC said in a statement: “Due to inflation and funding challenges, difficult decisions have to be made, therefore A Question of Sport is currently not in production at the moment.”
Barker, 67, described the BBC's handling of her departure as "insulting" but the show still held a special place in her heart.
She said in a statement to the Daily Mail: “Obviously I am massively disappointed as it is a show that has meant so much to me.”
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