Sue Barker has embraced a tranquil existence in the Cotswolds following her departure from BBC broadcasting.
The former tennis champion now resides in the picturesque village of Stanton, Gloucestershire, with her husband of over 35 years, Lance Tankard.
At 69, Barker has traded the spotlight for the serenity of rural life.
The couple purchased their quaint property in 2007 and have "absolutely adored living there".
Sue Barker lives with husband Lance Tankard in the Cotswalds
Getty
Their £1 million cottage sits in what the Huffington Post described in 2014 as "one of the prettiest and idyllic unspoilt villages of the Cotswolds".
Away from the cameras that captured her presenting Wimbledon and hosting A Question of Sport, Barker now enjoys the peaceful rhythms of village life.
Having previously lived on a 26-acre estate in Godalming, Surrey, the move to the Cotswolds marked a significant lifestyle change.
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The former BBC broadcaster lives in a £1million cottage
PA
Their cottage forms part of a village constructed predominantly from Cotswold stone, the distinctive Jurassic limestone that "glows with a distinguished honey tint".
The property sits amongst architecture that exemplifies the timeless appeal of this corner of Gloucestershire that commands astonishing property prices.
According to Rightmove, properties in Stanton averaged over £1.2million between 2023 and 2024.
Detached properties sold for an average of £2.275million whilst semi-detached properties fetched £935,000.
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Barker's broadcasting career concluded after she chose to leave the BBC on her own terms, stemming from earlier experiences at the BBC.
She presented Wimbledon coverage from 2000 until 2022 and hosted A Question of Sport from 1997 until 2020.
Her departure from the quiz show came after BBC management informed her she was being replaced.
"We were being sacked," Barker revealed, describing how she, along with former co-hosts Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell, were called into separate meetings.
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The 69-year-old left the BBC on her own terms
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The handling of her exit left her "damaged" and "wretchedly sad".
She refused to sign a BBC statement claiming the trio had "decided to step aside" and rejected requests to announce she was leaving "for the good of the show".
"The overwhelming feeling I was left with was a determination that this sort of treatment, this lack of care and consideration, was never, ever going to happen to me again," she stated.
She recalled being informed of her removal from athletics and racing coverage by "a woman in the BBC accounts department" in 2008.
When her BBC contract came up for renewal in 2022, it wasn't until eight weeks before Wimbledon "and only because I'd reminded them the contract was ending" that they offered a new three-year deal.
"The lateness of the offer gave me too much time to evaluate my position and think about my future," she explained. "And once I started to question my role, it was a door that wouldn't close."
Having witnessed how departures were handled at the corporation, Barker ensured her final exit would be entirely on her own terms.
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