BBC forced to defend hiring Nick Kyrgios for Wimbledon coverage after MP told them to ‘hang their heads in shame’

THE BBC have defended their decision to hire Nick Kyrgios as a Wimbledon pundit after coming under fire from an MP.

Kyrgios, 28, has been working for the broadcaster, as well as US network ESPN, this week at the Championships.

Nick Kyrgios has been working at the All England Club this week © 2024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved

Reuters

Kyrgios, 28, caught up with John McEnroe and Andy Murray earlier this week[/caption]

The Aussie was hired by the Beeb after impressing with previous punditry work on Tennis Channel and Eurosport.

Conservative MP Caroline Nokes has slammed the BBC‘s decision to appoint Kyrgios, calling it a “disgrace”.

The women and equalities committee chair, 52, said: “The BBC should hang its head in shame at this appointment.

“It’s a disgrace and shows the utter contempt our national broadcaster has towards women.

“Not content with consistently underpaying their own female staff and forcing out women once they hit a certain age, they now bring a man who admitted assaulting a woman on board for Wimbledon.”

Last year, Kyrgios pleaded guilty to assaulting ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari in 2021.

A Canberra court heard that the former Wimbledon finalist pushed her on to the pavement during an argument.

Magistrate Jane Campbell spared Kyrgios a criminal record by dismissing the offence as it was at the low end of seriousness for a common assault, and was not premeditated.

Campbell described it as an “act of stupidity and frustration”.

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Caroline Nokes has complained about the BBC’s Kyrgios appointment[/caption]

AP

Kyrgios appeared in court in Canberra last year[/caption]

Kyrgios pleaded guilty to assaulting ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari

In a statement released at the time, Kyrgios said: “I was not in good place when this happened and I reacted to a difficult situation in a way I deeply regret.

“I know it wasn’t okay and I’m sincerely sorry for the hurt I caused.”

Defending their decision to hire Kyrgios, the BBC said in a statement: “As a current and high profile player, Nick Kyrgios will provide insight and analysis of the action on the court from his experience in the game.

“We are in no way condoning his cited previous actions or behaviours, on and off the court, and he is employed to share his views on tennis only.

“He has provided similar services to other major sports broadcasters in recent months.

“The legal process he was involved in has concluded, is well documented, and he has spoken about it publicly.”

Kyrgios called his first match for the BBC on Monday, being on the mic for defending champion Carlos Alcaraz‘s first round clash with Mark Lajal.

Despite forging a promising media career, which has included launching his own podcast, Kyrgios has not retired from tennis.

He has played one match since October 2022, having suffered with knee, foot and wrist injuries.

The big-serving star hopes to return later this year, and is targeting the US Open as a possibility.