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Sue Barker leaves A Question of Sport after 23 years in a move that will stun her army of fans.
Sue, 64, who earns around £ 200,000 on the Beeb, goes while the BBC changes the current format.
Team captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell are also following her out the door in a massive makeover.
A source told the Sunday Mirror: “It is a huge shock.”
The move will disappoint millions of viewers of the world’s oldest television sports contest. Former tennis player Sue took over as host of QS from commentator David Coleman in 1997.
Rugby legend Matt, 47, and cricketer Phil, 54, have been the patrons of his team for 16 and 12 years.
The three are now preparing to film their last episode later this month, with a new show returning with a different team next year.
It comes just weeks after a selection of experts, including Matt Le Tissier, Phil Thompson and Charlie Nicholas on the Sky Sports Soccer Saturday show.
The show’s host, Jeff Stelling, also claimed that “age discrimination is alive and well” after ITV announced that 65-year-old Clive Tyldesley would be removed as the channel’s top soccer commentator in July.
In the same month, Strictly Judge Arlene Phillips, 77, launched an investigation into her surprising departure from the BBC series amid an age discrimination dispute, claiming the BBC firmly denied it.
Last night a spokesperson for the BBC said: “We would like to thank Sue for her tremendous contribution as the oldest reigning presenter of the show and Matt and Phil for their excellent captaincy.
“Together they have ensured that A Question of Sport remains a firm favorite with BBC One audiences.”
Sue, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 1977 and had a close friendship with Cliff Richard, recently spoke of her pride in hosting QS, which first aired in 1970.
She said: “QS has been a huge part of my life, from watching him with my family growing up to my days playing tennis, and then of course as a presenter.”
The BBC did not reveal whether Sue will continue to work on her coverage of the Wimbledon tournament.
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