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Katherine Jenkins outed Sue Barker for breaking golden Wimbledon rule
Katherine Jenkins outed Sue Barker for breaking golden Wimbledon rule
Katherine Jenkins once called out former tennis ace and BBC legend Sue Barker for breaking one of Wimbledon's strict rules when the pair were together on Centre Court
Sue Barker was once outed embarrassingly by Katherine Jenkins
(Image: Getty Images )
With Wimbledon 2025 in full swing, a funny story from Sue Barker's new book about Welsh icon Katherine Jenkins is making waves.
The Neath-born singer called out the BBC presenter for breaking a strict Wimbledon rule - wearing heels on Centre Court's sacred grass. The incident took place during the 2009 opening ceremony for the arena's retractable roof.
Tennis legends Tim Henman, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Kim Clijsters were present, and Jenkins was there to perform. "She was wearing a pink lace strapless dress and lovely sparkly little flip-flops," Barker recalls in her book, Wimbledon, A personal history.
The Welsh mezzo-soprano performed Amazing Grace as the roof opened theatrically, followed by a solo rendition of Bryan Adams' (Everything I Do) I Do It for You, dedicated to the service stewards.
Barker, a Wimbledon broadcasting legend, was tasked with interviewing the players and then chatting with Jenkins for the crowd. As she walked toward her, microphone in hand, the singer spotted Barker's heels and exclaimed live on air: "But I was told I couldn't wear heels!"
Centre Court's strict dress code bans heels to protect the grass, a rule Jenkins adhered to with her flip-flops. Barker writes: "So the first part of our interview was me trying to pretend that I wasn't really in heels (you know, because obviously the rules are you're not allowed to wear heels on the Centre Court grass). It was hugely embarrassing!"
Katherine Jenkins and Andrew Levitas are regulars at Wimbledon
(Image: Getty Images )
The story resurfaced years later during a tea gathering on the day of the ladies' final, where Barker met up with fellow tennis icon Billie Jean King. Not long into the meet-up, Katherine and her husband, Andrew Levitas, arrived to greet King, and the singer didn't miss a beat.
"Without so much as a hello, Katherine pointed me out to her husband like she was identifying a criminal in a police line-up and blurted out, 'SHE broke the rules on Centre Court,'" Barker recounts.
"That was 2009 - nearly 15 years ago - and her first association on seeing me again was to recall my illegal high heels!"
Sue Barker is a bona fide Wimbledon legend
(Image: Getty Images )
The playful jab, referring to the 2009 heels incident, showcases the 45-year-old's wit, charm and respect for Wimbledon's traditions. Even in flip-flops, her performance on Centre Court was a highlight, with her powerful voice and heartfelt dedication moving the crowd.
But for some, her teasing of Barker stole the show. The 69-year-old took it in her stride, though.
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She added: "But we had a lovely chat, another really special time just relaxing with someone rather than the fleeting catch-ups I had when I was relentlessly working."
Sue Barker's book, Wimbledon, A personal history, is available to purchase.
