Sue Barker to reunite with A Question of Sport co-stars four years after brutal BBC axing
SUE Barker has confirmed plans to reunite with her A Question of Sport co-stars after the show was given the boot by the BBC.
She fronted the show alongside Phil Tufnell and Matt Dawson between 1997 and 2021 before the Beeb opted to overhaul the show.
Sue will reunite with Phil and Matt for a live version for A Question of Sport. The live tour will kick off in 2025.
The BBC have confirmed A Question of… Live will bring Sue Matt, and Phil back together to entertain audiences with a string of one-of-a-kind, exciting, and hilarious live shows.
Their trademark chemistry and wit, which made them fan favourites on screen, will now light up the stage.
And, of course, the live show will feature rounds and challenges familiar to everyone, along with exciting new elements created just for the tour.
Each show will feature a panel of special guest sporting superstars, with line-up announcements coming closer to the event.
Audience members will get a chance to test their sporting knowledge against Matt, Phil, and their teams right from their seats.
Sue previously hosted the BBC One show from 1997 to 2021 alongside team captains Matt (who joined in 2004) and Phil (since 2008).
The trio’s natural chemistry and fast-paced banter quickly became a hit with viewers in what many consider to be the glory years of the show.
Not only that, the sporting legends will share stories from their time on screen as well as behind-the-scenes tales from their careers you definitely won’t hear on TV…
Gushing about their big reunion, former tennis player Sue said: “I am thrilled to be reuniting with Matt and Phil. We love a quiz. We love a laugh. Can’t wait!!”
“I am delighted to be going on tour with Sue and Tuffers and welcoming back some of our favourite sporting guests from over the years,” Matt added.
While Phil teased: “I can’t wait to get back on the road with the dream team of Sue, Matt and me! Good luck Sue in looking after Matt and me and all our great guests.”
The beloved trio will be taking their show on the road in 2025 with a series of live events.
The dates are as follows:
- 1 March – Brighton Centre
- 2 March – London Eventim Apollo
- 5 March – Bath Forum
- 6 March – Leicester De Montfort Hall
- 7 March – BIC Bournemouth
- 10 March – Ipswich Regent Theatre
- 11 March – Basingstoke Anvil
- 12 March – Torquay Princess Theatre
- 21 March – Oxford New Theatre
- 22 March – Manchester Palace Theatre
- 23 March – Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Tickets go on sale on Wednesday 9 October at 10am.
BBC departures and returns
LEAVING/LEFT
Newsnight’s Mark Urban after 35 years on air
Claudia Winkleman quitting BBC Radio 2 after 15 years
Correspondent Robin Brant after two decades
Sports presenter Garry Richardson after 50 years
BBC Radio star Jason Rosam after 16 years on air
Jordan North quitting Radio 1 and moving to Capital
RETURNING/RETURNED
Martine Croxall after launching legal action against the Beeb
Karin Giannone after a horror injury and year off air
Annita McVeigh after losing out on a chief presenter job last year
Geeta Guru-Murthy after also being off air for more than a year
The live tour comes four years after Sue was asked to step down from A Question of Sport, which she previously described as her “dream job.”
With Sue as the host, the quiz show achieved an average of four to five million viewers every episode.
The star was the leading host of the panel quiz show for years before she was replaced by Paddy McGuinness in a move which appeared to seal the show’s future.
Viewing figures plummeted to below one million, with the BBC pointing to “funding challenges” as its reason for axing the show.