- Becker has been eligible to apply to the Home Office for re-entry since October
- The BBC have resisted the temptation to rehire Becker for the Championships
- Becker worked for TNT Sports at the French Open but will not at Wimbledon
Boris Becker will not be part of the BBC’s Wimbledon line-up – even though he can now apply to re-enter the UK.
The German has not worked for the Beeb at SW19 since he was jailed in April 2022 for hiding £2.5million in assets and loans to avoid paying debts.
Becker was released after serving just eight months of his 30-month sentence, but was then deported from the country, barring him from even attending the All England Club.
Under the terms of his conviction and deportation, the three-time Wimbledon champion has been eligible to apply to the Home Office for re-entry to the UK since October 2024 – and had hoped to return to SW19 this summer.
However, Mail Sport understands that the BBC has resisted the temptation to bring back Becker, even in the 40th-anniversary year of his famous first Wimbledon title.
Becker – who remains the youngest men’s singles champion following his 1985 victory aged just 17 – first joined the Beeb’s team in 2002 and was a popular pundit and commentator for the broadcaster for two decades.
Boris Becker will not be part of the BBC ’s Wimbledon coverage – despite being free to return
Becker was deported from the UK in 2022 after serving eight months of a 30-month sentence for hiding £2.5million in assets and loans to avoid paying debts
Becker has been eligible to apply for re-entry since October 2024 but the BBC have resisted bringing him back – despite this year marking the anniversary of his triumph aged just 17
Since his release from prison, the 57-year-old has worked on TV again for TNT Sports, most recently appearing at the French Open earlier this month.
But TNT also has no plans to use Becker at Wimbledon – despite the pay-TV channel now holding daily highlights rights, as well as sharing live coverage of the singles finals with the BBC.
It remains to be seen whether Becker will work for another broadcaster during the tournament or visit the All England Club as a guest.
The 57-year-old, who is releasing a book about his time in prison this September, has been coy about a possible Wimbledon return in recent interviews.
However, in April 2024, Becker admitted he was hopeful of making his commentary comeback at SW19 in 2025.
‘I’m working hard with the authorities to have all the applications ready to be back for next year,’ he said.
‘I miss Wimbledon. It’s part of my life. It’s in my DNA. I don’t think anyone alive knows Wimbledon as well as I do. But let’s see who I’m working for there.
‘After October 2024, I can be given permission from the Home Office. They decide, I don’t decide.’
Becker worked for TNT Sports at the French Open, but will not be on their Wimbledon coverage
It remains unclear whether Becker, who is releasing a book about his time in prison, will work for another broadcaster during the tournament or attend the Championships as a guest
Nick Kyrgios, centre, is also to be omitted by the BBC after his controversial stint last year
The BBC plan to unveil their Wimbledon line-up later this week, with Nick Kyrgios also omitted following his controversial stint last year.
The Beeb faced strong criticism from senior MPs and women’s campaigners for hiring the Australian bad boy in 2024, a year after he admitted assaulting an ex-girlfriend.
