at Wimbledon in 2016 After retiring as a tennis player, Barker became a commentator and sports reporter for Australia's
Channel 7 in 1985 before anchoring tennis coverage for
British Sky Broadcasting from 1990 to 1993. In 1993, Barker joined the
BBC and hosted its
Wimbledon coverage as a regular guest on
Today at Wimbledon with
Harry Carpenter. She took over as host of
Today at Wimbledon in 1994, and from 2000 until 2022, she anchored the two-week-long broadcast for the network. Barker has branched out since joining the BBC, becoming one of their chief sports presenters. She was one of the presenters of
Grandstand and the presenter of the long-running sports
quiz show A Question of Sport She was a host of the annual
BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony from 1994 to 2012 before stepping down in 2013. Barker has hosted
BBC Sport's coverage of the Australian Open, the French Open,
Queens Club Championships,
Eastbourne, the
Davis Cup, the
ATP World Tour Finals and Wimbledon. Other sporting events she has hosted have included the Grand National (2000–2007), the Derby (2001–2007), Racing at Ascot and Longchamp (1995–1999),
Hennessy Gold Cup at
Newbury, the Great North Run,
World Athletics Championships and
European Athletics Championships (1999–2009),
BBC Sports Personality of the Year (1994–2012),
Commonwealth Games (1994–2010),
Summer Olympics (1996–2012) and
Winter Olympics (1994–2010). For the
Sydney 2000 Olympics, Barker led the BBC's coverage of the games alongside
Steve Rider. At the
Athens 2004 Olympics, Barker again headed the BBC's coverage alongside Rider. At the
Beijing 2008 Games, Barker fronted the day's evening action, as well as coverage of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. At the
London 2012 Games, Barker presented coverage of events through the afternoon. This was Barker's final time presenting the Summer Olympics. For the
Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics, Barker was one of the BBC's lead presenters. This was a role she took up again for the
Turin 2006 Games. For the
Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Barker once again lead the BBC's coverage, as well as commentating on the figure skating alongside
Robin Cousins. Barker did not present coverage at the
Sochi 2014 Games but did commentate on the figure skating events once again. At the
Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, Baker headed the BBC's coverage alongside Rider. At the
Melbourne 2006 Games, Barker lead coverage again, alongside
Hazel Irvine and
Clare Balding. Barker again presented for the BBC at the
Delhi 2010 Games, which would be her final Commonwealth Games. Barker provided commentary for the 1998 video game
Actua Tennis, along with fellow BBC broadcaster
Barry Davies. In June 1999, she co-presented coverage of
Prince Edward's wedding to
Sophie Rhys-Jones at
Windsor alongside
Michael Buerk. Barker had introduced Rhys-Jones to
Queen Elizabeth II's youngest son at a charity function a few years earlier. In 2008, Barker and the BBC extended her contract to cover the London
2012 Summer Olympics. It was estimated to be worth £375,000 a year. In July 2012, the
Advertising Standards Authority in the UK received over 40 complaints for a
Go Compare advert featuring Barker who was shown firing a large rocket launcher at opera singer
Gio Compario (Wynne Evans) in an attempt to kill off the face of the brand. A spokesperson for the ASA said: "Some people think it offensive especially at a time when children are watching. Others think it inappropriate when our security forces are coming under fire on a daily basis. As with all complaints, we are looking into the matter before deciding if we launch a full investigation." Barker was appointed
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the
2000 New Year Honours for services to sport and broadcasting,
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the
2016 New Year Honours for services to broadcasting and charity and
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the
2021 Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting and charity. In September 2020, it was announced that Barker would step down from her role as host of BBC game show
A Question of Sport after 24 years; she stated that she was "sad to say goodbye". Barker has since stated that she was dismissed from the show rather than leaving by choice. She alleges that she was asked to put her name to an untrue pre-prepared statement claiming she left of her own accord when this was not the case. Barker accepted the BBC's decision to replace her, which she claimed was because they wished to "refresh" the show. However, she criticised the BBC's handling of the matter, describing this as "insulting" and saying that she felt "slightly damaged" by the experience. On 9 June 2022, Barker announced she would be stepping down from BBC coverage of the Wimbledon tennis championship after the 2022 finals, which she had covered since 1993. ==Personal life==