BBC’s Question of Sport staff and presenters are ‘gutted’ as bosses AXE long-running quiz show after plunge in viewing figures amid fury over sacking of beloved host Sue Barker

The staff and presenters of Question of Sport were left 'gutted' last night after the BBC dramatically announced the long-running program would be axed.

In making the shock announcement, the Corporation blamed inflation and falling ratings as the long-running sports quiz show, which spanned more than 1,300 episodes, was cancelled.

The decision to halt production comes after long-running presenter Sue Barker was sacked, sparking anger among viewers.

The show first debuted in 1970 and was initially helmed by former Match of the Day reporter David Vine, but is best known for being hosted by Barker, who captained the program for 24 years.

The Wimbledon semi-finalist joined the program in 1997 and quickly became the face of the show.

However, in 2020 she was dropped in a shocking move that the presenter admitted left her feeling 'slightly damaged'.

“Naively, I expected more after 24 years,” she wrote in the Ny Breaking after the consequences. “Don't get me wrong, I had no problem being replaced,” she said. 'Everyone has their day. Producers should always have the right to renew a program and take it in a new direction.

“It was the way it was handled. It has taught me that you cannot actually leave a role with your head held high in a nice, pleasant and helpful way.'

Staff at the programme, which has been running for more than 50 years, were left 'exhausted' after being told the news

Numbers at the sports show have declined since Barker left in 2020

The former tennis star was axed from the program along with captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell so bosses could recruit new talent to revamp the long-running sports quiz show.

Paddy McGuinness was brought in to replace Barker in 2021. Olympian Sam Quek and retired rugby star Ugo Monye replaced Dawson and Tufnell as team captains.

A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline this evening: 'Due to inflation and funding issues, difficult decisions have to be made, which is why Question of Sport is not currently in production.'

Insiders working on the show said the presenters and captains had been informed of the show's demise and were 'gutted', the Mirror reported.

It is a particular blow for 50-year-old McGuiness, who lost his presenting program on Top Gear earlier this year when the BBC announced that the program would be axed for the 'foreseeable future'.

When McGuiness was called up to replace Barker, he said: 'I love the fiercely competitive nature of sports stars, combined with laughter.

“That's why 'A Question of Sport' has always been one of my favorite programs and having been involved with it from a young age, this is an honor and an opportunity that I certainly don't take lightly.”

McGuiness said he will try to put his own stamp on the show, which was previously hosted by David Coleman and David Vine.

He added: “I grew up with both of David's hosts, but it's Sue who has made this show her own.

'She will always be an icon of A Question of Sport, but I will do my best to put my own stamp on it.'

But earlier this year he revealed his Top Gear co-star and friend Freddie Flintoff warned him ahead of presenting BBC panel show A Question Of Sport.

Paddy McGuinness was brought in to replace Barker in 2021. Olympian Sam Quek and retired rugby star Ugo Monye replaced Dawson and Tufnell as team captains

The show, which first aired in 1970, has always had a loyal viewership of around three to four million per episode, but has failed to attract young viewers. Mrs Barker is pictured here in 1998 with the then team captains – footballer Ally McCoist, left, and snooker star John Parrott

The former tennis player, pictured as a BBC presenter in 1996

Barker, 64, (centre) was dropped as host of BBC's A Question Of Sport, along with team captains Matt Dawson (left) and Phil Tufnell (right), so bosses can attract new talent

Barker admitted she was left 'slightly damaged' after being axed from Question Of Sport after 24 years (Sue (centre) pictured with Matt Dawson (left) and Phil Tufnell (right))

The BBC sports quiz was led by Sue from 1997 until she was replaced by Paddy McGuinness in 2021

Audience numbers fell to an average of 850,000 this series (Paddy (centre) pictured with new team captains Sam Quek (left) and Ugo Monye (right))

Princess Anne starred in A Question of Sport in 1987, with no fewer than 19 million viewers

David Coleman, Emlyn Hughes, Princess Anne and David Coleman

“For me personally, the pressure I felt was more for 'A Question of Sport' than for Top Gear,” he said.

“I remember Freddie (Flintoff) when I got the job, and he called me and said, 'Oh God, be careful, because it can be talked about online and stuff,'” he added.

The show's heyday was in the 1980s and broke records in 1987, when 19 million people tuned in to see Princess Anne take part.

At the time, David Coleman ran the show along with team captains Bill Beaumont, Gareth Edwards and Emlyn Hughes.

Beaumont was one of the longest serving captains making 319 appearances and was beaten by footballer Ally McCoist who featured in 363 episodes.

While Barker was still presenting, 4 million people were still watching the show, and that number almost halved to 2.2 million when Mr McGuiness took over. Soon, less than a million viewers tuned in.

In 2022, viewing figures for Question of Sport fell to an all-time low, with an average of 850,000.

One episode on 19 August peaked at 750,000, with the program beaten by a Channel 5 show about Britain's Poshest Farm Shops.

Between four and five million viewers regularly watched Sue as host before she was handed the move in 2020 when bosses decided to revamp the programme.

The cut comes after BBC bosses complained it was recently announced A £10.50 increase in license fees is not enough and will lead to programs that the public love being axed.

Last week, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer revealed the family payment would rise to a total of £169.50 as she announced a review of the broadcaster's funding model.

However, the broadcaster's governing body has said the below-inflation rise will have an impact on content budgets and as a result will have 'a significant impact on the wider creative sector in the UK'.

In a statement, the board said the increase “will mean further changes on top of the major savings we are already making.”