Andrew Castle facts for kids
Castle in 2009
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| Country (sports) |  Great Britain |
|---|---|
| Residence | London, England |
| Born | 15 November 1963 Epsom, Surrey, England |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Turned pro | 1986 |
| Retired | 1992 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $344,337 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 22–57 (27.85% at ATP Tour, Grand Prix tour, WCT tour, and Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 80 (13 June 1988) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (1987, 1988, 1991) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (1986, 1987) |
| US Open | 3R (1987) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Olympic Games | 2R (1988) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 63–70 (at ATP Tour, Grand Prix tour, WCT tour, and Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 3 |
| Highest ranking | No. 45 (19 December 1988) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | SF (1988) |
| French Open | 3R (1987) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (1986, 1987) |
| US Open | QF (1990) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | F (1987) |
Andrew Nicholas Castle (born 15 November 1963) is a well-known British broadcaster and a former professional tennis player. He was once the top singles tennis player in Great Britain in 1986. He reached a world ranking of No. 80 in singles in June 1988. In doubles, he reached No. 45 in December 1988, playing with Tim Wilkison from the United States.
Andrew Castle made it to one major tennis final, called a Grand Slam final. This was in the 1987 Australian Open in the mixed doubles event, where he played with Anne Hobbs. He also won three titles in men's doubles on the ATP Tour.
After his tennis career, Andrew became a popular TV presenter. From 2000 to 2010, he presented the breakfast show GMTV on ITV. He also hosted the game show Divided on ITV. In 2013, he started presenting on the radio station LBC, where he worked until 2023. He has also appeared on popular TV shows like Strictly Come Dancing.
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Early Life and Tennis Start
Andrew Castle was born in Epsom, Surrey, England. When he was young, he received a tennis scholarship to attend Millfield School. However, his parents separated when he was 15, and he had to leave the school.
He then received another scholarship that took him to Kansas in the United States. There, he taught tennis to both children and adults at the Wichita Racquet Club. His father owned several fish and chip shops in different parts of England.
Andrew Castle's Tennis Career
Andrew Castle became a professional tennis player in 1986. Before that, he completed a marketing degree in the United States, where he was on an athletic scholarship. During his time as a player, he was often ranked as the number one tennis player in Great Britain.
In 1987, he had his best performance in a Grand Slam singles event at the 1987 US Open. He reached the third round before losing to the famous player Boris Becker. Andrew also represented Great Britain at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988 and the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992. He was a regular member of the British Davis Cup team. His highest world ranking was No. 80 in singles and No. 45 in doubles.
Today, Andrew still plays tennis and also represents Surrey in squash at the over-45s level.
Singles Results
Andrew Castle reached one singles final during his career.
| Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Apr 1988 | Seoul Open, South Korea | Hard |  Dan Goldie |
Doubles Results
Andrew Castle won three doubles titles and was a runner-up twice.
| Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Apr 1988 | Seoul Open, South Korea | Hard |  Roberto Saad |
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| Loss | Aug 1988 | Toronto, Canada | Hard | Tim Wilkison |
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| Win | Aug 1988 | Rye Brook, USA | Hard | Tim Wilkison |
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| Win | Jan 1990 | Adelaide, Australia | Hard |  Nduka Odizor |
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| Loss | Jun 1991 | Manchester, England | Grass | Nick Brown |
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Mixed Doubles Results
Andrew Castle reached one mixed doubles final.
| Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1987 | Australian Open | Grass | Anne Hobbs |
Zina Garrison Sherwood Stewart |
Media Career
After he stopped playing professional tennis in 1992, Andrew Castle started a new career in broadcasting. He worked as a commentator and presenter for Sky Sports, covering tennis, basketball, motor racing, and golf.
In September 2000, he joined GMTV, a popular breakfast TV show on ITV, as a presenter. He left the show in September 2010 after a decade.
Andrew is also a key part of the BBC tennis team. He comments on major tournaments like Wimbledon, the French Open, and the Australian Open. Since 2003, he has been the main commentator for all men's singles finals at Wimbledon, working alongside famous tennis players like John McEnroe and Boris Becker.
He also presented the quiz show Perseverance and two series of the game show Divided on ITV. In 2010, he took part in the ITV adventure show 71 Degrees North.
Andrew also presented radio shows. He hosted a breakfast show on Smooth Radio and later a weekend breakfast show on the talk radio station LBC until November 2023.
Strictly Come Dancing
Andrew Castle competed in the sixth series of the celebrity dance competition, Strictly Come Dancing. His dance partner was Ola Jordan. He was the third main presenter from GMTV to take part in the show. Andrew was voted off the show after week 7 of the competition on 2 November 2008.
Personal Life
Andrew Castle married Sophia Runham in May 1991. They have two daughters, one of whom is Georgina Castle, a musical theatre actress.
He is also the great-great-grandson of Annie Besant. Annie Besant was a very important person in history. She was a socialist, a strong supporter of women's rights, and worked for India to become independent.
