Latest news with #NickMullins
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
I'm a BBC TV Wimbledon commentator who covered Carlos Alcaraz epic – I somehow held my pee for five-and-a-half hours
COMMENTATOR Nick Mullins joked not going to the toilet during Carlos Alcaraz's epic five-and-a-half-hour thriller was a bigger achievement than the Spaniard's French Open final win. Alcaraz came from two sets down and saved three Championship points at Roland Garros to beat Jannik Sinner in a record-breaking final last month. 12 Mullins called every point alongside Jim Courier for UK tennis fans watching on TV - with the tournament broadcast by TNT Sports for the first time. And for a man who has covered some of the grandest sporting events, he reckons nothing tops the Alcaraz-Sinner showdown. Speaking to SunSport from the BBC's Centre Court commentary box at Wimbledon, Mullins, 59, said: 'I've commentated on England in Rugby World Cup finals but I think that was as good as it has ever got for so many reasons. 'Roland Garros is special in a different way from Wimbledon. The duration. The quality of the play. 'Jim and I realised we were seeing something special, we knew this was one of the great all-time finals. 'By the time we got to the fifth-set Championship tie-break, we had been yabbering away for five-and-a-half hours. 'We said nothing pretty much for the entire tie-break. 'It's a little bit depressing as a commentator because you think you're delivering little nuggets of gold with all the words that you use but actually I've never had more praise for saying nothing which is a double-edged sword!' But as well as commentating on one of the most gripping and dramatic tennis matches ever, Mullins somehow managed to do so without a single comfort break. He quipped: 'It's the height of my athletic achievement. 'We were supplied with Haribos. 'But for a man of my age to go five hours and 29 minutes without needing to go for a pee, that is almost one of the proudest things I've ever achieved. 'Forget what Alcaraz did, I don't think I get the credit for going five-and-a-half hours without a pee!' Mullins is best known for his rugby union coverage, where matches are done and dusted within a third of the time of that Roland Garros masterpiece. So how does he find new ways to describe Alcaraz's ever-growing collection of outrageous winners? Well, sometimes the secret is not to even try. The experienced broadcaster - who first covered Wimbledon for BBC radio in 1993 - explained: 'There are two things. React naturally, try to imagine how you would react if you were at home. 'And sometimes again say nothing. The most powerful thing when he's done an extraordinary shot is for the audience to know that it's an extraordinary shot without me having to tell them. 12 'The key to television commentary is actually knowing when to shut up. We just drop little bits of perfume or paint in every now and again, just to add to the picture. 'I need to give my ears a rest. The art of television commentary is knowing not really what to say but when to say and when just to let you ride along with the natural sounds. 'TV commentators are almost like the conductors because there are several voices and sounds that you want to hear as the viewer: the umpire, the natural sounds… even if that is silence. 'Sometimes Centre Court is the most silent of silent places when they're waiting to serve on match point, so don't spoil that sound by talking over it.' TV commentary is a different art form from radio, where listeners are reliant on those on the microphones to paint the full picture they cannot see. But the power of silence was made abundantly clear to Mullins when he first started doing BBC TV duties at Wimbledon 15 years ago. Mullins - who is ironically more recognised by his voice rather than his face - said: 'There was an editor who used to say we never get letters from anyone complaining that the commentators don't talk enough. 12 12 12 12 12 'Every word I use, I'm aware that there's a chance I'm going to upset somebody. 'The fewer words I use, the less I'm going to get in the way and get between you and the players and the match. 'The editor used to say, 'If you can go a whole game without saying a word, I'll buy you a bag of doughnuts as a prize.' 'When Emma Raducanu hits a fabulous shot against Sabalenka last Friday night and the place goes wild, you don't want a commentator talking over that. 'I'm thinking, 'What do people at home want to hear now? Do they want to hear 15,000 people celebrating Emma doing extraordinary things against the world No1 or do they want to hear me talking about second serve percentages?' I don't have to think about it for long.' 12
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘It's ridiculous' – Inside ‘special' BBC commentary box on Wimbledon's Centre Court where McEnroe and Henman squeeze in
THE BBC TV Wimbledon commentary box on Centre Court may only be a couple of square metres in size. But Nick Mullins insists sitting in the 'best seat in the house in the world' as he calls the biggest matches in tennis just a few feet away from the players is like 'dying and going to heaven'. 11 The BBC TV commentary box on Centre Court has the perfect view Credit: SunSport 11 The tiny room has just enough space for three commentators Credit: SunSport 11 The booth is in the north-west corner of the stadium Credit: REUTERS 11 Nick Mullins described the seat as the 'best in the world' Credit: SunSport The likes of Mullins, Andrew Cotter and Andrew Castle provide the lead commentary for the BBC during Wimbledon. And they do so in a tiny booth in the north-west corner of one of sport's greatest arenas, measuring barely 5m wide and 2m deep. Talking to SunSport from that very position, Mullins, 59, said: 'We're lucky enough covering sport all around the world to sit in some of the best seats in the house but this is the best seat in the house in the world. 'It's just ridiculous. There is something special about any commentary box but specifically about this commentary box on Centre Court. 'When there are 15,000 people in here like there were for Emma Raducanu on Friday night, the place is in full sail and you're sitting watching it with Tracy Austin you've just died and gone to heaven. 'It's as good as commentating gets. There's nothing like it. 'The challenge of working in a place like this is because it is so magical and magnificent, you want to gabble all the time about how magical and magnificent it is. 'But the trick with television commentary is to know when to shut up and that's always the formula that you've got to get right - never easy when you're sitting somewhere as beautiful as this.' CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Asked whether the view is almost too good because being so close to the court could make it hard to see the far end, Mullins is having none of it. He replied: 'No! I wouldn't swap this for any other. 'Ruthless US star' Ben Shelton slams 'garbage and terrible' part of Wimbledon which leaves British fans fuming 'In most commentary boxes around the world you're higher up. 'In the sport that I work in most of all, rugby union, you're looking down on the players. 'But here you're eye level so you'll have Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz walking this way to towel down and get balls. 'Very often you'll see them looking into the box so you do feel a connection with the players that you don't really feel with any other sport because you're part of it. 'I find this from a commentary point of view the perfect spot.' But it not just the sight that takes the breath away - but the sounds, also. 11 WIMBLEDON 2025 LIVE - FOLLOW ALL THE LATEST SCORES AND UPDATES FROM A THRILLING FORTNIGHT AT SW19 And Mullins himself has to deal with a host of different channels, including his director, statiticians, the live BBC TV feed and, of course, his co-commentators, including John McEnroe, Tim Henman and Tracy Austin. Mullins - who covered the five-hour-29-minute French Open final classic without going to the toilet - added: 'When Ben Shelton serves one down at 150mph and it thuds against the front of the commentary box you hear it and it's as good as it gets. 'When it sounds like we're not making much sense on the television it might be because we're also hearing seven voices in our head at the same time. 'Effects is actually the most important feed in your ears as a commentator, it is the crowd effects and I have that turned up quite high. 'It makes me talk to you like we would do sitting outside. You don't want it to sound like you're in a library. 'You've got to be able to roll with that sound and to have the noise of the crowd in your head is probably the most important thing.' 11 Emma Raducanu had Centre Court on its feet at times against Aryna Sabalenka Credit: EPA 11 Mullins prepares handwritten notes for all matches including these for Raducanu vs Sabalenka Credit: SunSport Mullins works across various sports and various broadcasters. But while rugby has 40 minutes of action then a long break for analysis, tennis has brief 60-90 second changeovers to take stock. On most channels, there are TV commercial breaks. But not so on the BBC, which means Mullins must adapt for Wimbledon. He added: 'You do approach it differently. When I was doing Roland Garros for ITV and TNT, we do have the ad breaks. 'So I know I have to gently drop the stats and analysis in during the game because I don't have time when we go to the ad while also balancing the fact that I don't want to over-talk. 'Here, I know that I could go up a whole game without saying anything. 'So actually it is a completely different discipline.' But what else goes into preparing for a tennis commentary? Mullins dug out his full A4 page of handwritten notes from the Raducanu match with Aryna Sabalenka. He explained: 'The rota comes out at 11pm the night before but prep is a year-round thing as I'm watching tennis all the time. 'I'll re-watch press conferences, re-watch their previous match, work out what their wife, girlfriend, husband, mum, dad look like. 'I keep all my notes just because they're brilliant things to look back on and there'll be bits that are applicable to the next match. 'The key to prep is not trying to be too clever.' 11 Mullins commentated on Ben Shelton's quarter-final, which was watched by the American's girlfriend Trinity Rodman and sister Emma Credit: AP 11 The BBC do not cut to advert breaks at the changeovers Credit: AP 11 The media press seats for journalists are directly above the BBC commentary box Credit: SunSport
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘It's ridiculous' – Inside ‘special' BBC commentary box on Wimbledon's Centre Court where McEnroe and Henman squeeze in
THE BBC TV Wimbledon commentary box on Centre Court may only be a couple of square metres in size. But Nick Mullins insists sitting in the 'best seat in the house in the world' as he calls the biggest matches in tennis just a few feet away from the players is like 'dying and going to heaven'. 11 11 11 11 The likes of Mullins, Andrew Cotter and Andrew Castle provide the lead commentary for the BBC during Wimbledon. And they do so in a tiny booth in the north-west corner of one of sport's greatest arenas, measuring barely 5m wide and 2m deep. Talking to SunSport from that very position, Mullins, 59, said: 'We're lucky enough covering sport all around the world to sit in some of the best seats in the house but this is the best seat in the house in the world. 'It's just ridiculous. There is something special about any commentary box but specifically about this commentary box on Centre Court. 'When there are 15,000 people in here like there were for Emma Raducanu on Friday night, the place is in full sail and you're sitting watching it with Tracy Austin you've just died and gone to heaven. 'It's as good as commentating gets. There's nothing like it. 'The challenge of working in a place like this is because it is so magical and magnificent, you want to gabble all the time about how magical and magnificent it is. 'But the trick with television commentary is to know when to shut up and that's always the formula that you've got to get right - never easy when you're sitting somewhere as beautiful as this.' Asked whether the view is almost too good because being so close to the court could make it hard to see the far end, Mullins is having none of it. He replied: 'No! I wouldn't swap this for any other. 'Ruthless US star' Ben Shelton slams 'garbage and terrible' part of Wimbledon which leaves British fans fuming 'In most commentary boxes around the world you're higher up. 'In the sport that I work in most of all, rugby union, you're looking down on the players. 'But here you're eye level so you'll have Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz walking this way to towel down and get balls. 'Very often you'll see them looking into the box so you do feel a connection with the players that you don't really feel with any other sport because you're part of it. 'I find this from a commentary point of view the perfect spot.' But it not just the sight that takes the breath away - but the sounds, also. 11 And Mullins himself has to deal with a host of different channels, including his director, statiticians, the live BBC TV feed and, of course, his co-commentators, including John McEnroe, Tim Henman and Tracy Austin. Mullins - who covered the five-hour-29-minute French Open final classic without going to the toilet - added: 'When Ben Shelton serves one down at 150mph and it thuds against the front of the commentary box you hear it and it's as good as it gets. 'When it sounds like we're not making much sense on the television it might be because we're also hearing seven voices in our head at the same time. 'Effects is actually the most important feed in your ears as a commentator, it is the crowd effects and I have that turned up quite high. 'It makes me talk to you like we would do sitting outside. You don't want it to sound like you're in a library. 'You've got to be able to roll with that sound and to have the noise of the crowd in your head is probably the most important thing.' 11 Mullins works across various sports and various broadcasters. But while rugby has 40 minutes of action then a long break for analysis, tennis has brief 60-90 second changeovers to take stock. On most channels, there are TV commercial breaks. But not so on the BBC, which means Mullins must adapt for Wimbledon. He added: 'You do approach it differently. When I was doing Roland Garros for ITV and TNT, we do have the ad breaks. 'So I know I have to gently drop the stats and analysis in during the game because I don't have time when we go to the ad while also balancing the fact that I don't want to over-talk. 'Here, I know that I could go up a whole game without saying anything. 'So actually it is a completely different discipline.' But what else goes into preparing for a tennis commentary? Mullins dug out his full A4 page of handwritten notes from the Raducanu match with Aryna Sabalenka. He explained: 'The rota comes out at 11pm the night before but prep is a year-round thing as I'm watching tennis all the time. 'I'll re-watch press conferences, re-watch their previous match, work out what their wife, girlfriend, husband, mum, dad look like. 'I keep all my notes just because they're brilliant things to look back on and there'll be bits that are applicable to the next match. 'The key to prep is not trying to be too clever.' 11 11 11
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘It's ridiculous' – Inside ‘special' BBC commentary box on Wimbledon's Centre Court where McEnroe and Henman squeeze in
THE BBC TV Wimbledon commentary box on Centre Court may only be a couple of square metres in size. But Nick Mullins insists sitting in the 'best seat in the house in the world' as he calls the biggest matches in tennis just a few feet away from the players is like 'dying and going to heaven'. 11 The BBC TV commentary box on Centre Court has the perfect view Credit: SunSport 11 The tiny room has just enough space for three commentators Credit: SunSport 11 The booth is in the north-west corner of the stadium Credit: REUTERS 11 Nick Mullins described the seat as the 'best in the world' Credit: SunSport The likes of Mullins, Andrew Cotter and Andrew Castle provide the lead commentary for the BBC during Wimbledon. And they do so in a tiny booth in the north-west corner of one of sport's greatest arenas, measuring barely 5m wide and 2m deep. Talking to SunSport from that very position, Mullins, 59, said: 'We're lucky enough covering sport all around the world to sit in some of the best seats in the house but this is the best seat in the house in the world. 'It's just ridiculous. There is something special about any commentary box but specifically about this commentary box on Centre Court. 'When there are 15,000 people in here like there were for 'It's as good as commentating gets. There's nothing like it. 'The challenge of working in a place like this is because it is so magical and magnificent, you want to gabble all the time about how magical and magnificent it is. 'But the trick with television commentary is to know when to shut up and that's always the formula that you've got to get right - never easy when you're sitting somewhere as beautiful as this.' Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Asked whether the view is almost too good because being so close to the court could make it hard to see the far end, Mullins is having none of it. He replied: 'No! I wouldn't swap this for any other. 'Ruthless US star' Ben Shelton slams 'garbage and terrible' part of Wimbledon which leaves British fans fuming 'In most commentary boxes around the world you're higher up. 'In the sport that I work in most of all, rugby union, you're looking down on the players. 'But here you're eye level so you'll have 'Very often you'll see them looking into the box so you do feel a connection with the players that you don't really feel with any other sport because you're part of it. 'I find this from a commentary point of view the perfect spot.' But it not just the sight that takes the breath away - but the sounds, also. 11 WIMBLEDON 2025 LIVE - FOLLOW ALL THE LATEST SCORES AND UPDATES FROM A THRILLING FORTNIGHT AT SW19 And Mullins himself has to deal with a host of different channels, including his director, statiticians, the live BBC TV feed and, of course, his co-commentators, including John McEnroe, Tim Henman and Tracy Austin. Mullins - who covered the five-hour-29-minute French Open final classic without going to the toilet - added: 'When 'When it sounds like we're not making much sense on the television it might be because we're also hearing seven voices in our head at the same time. 'Effects is actually the most important feed in your ears as a commentator, it is the crowd effects and I have that turned up quite high. 'It makes me talk to you like we would do sitting outside. You don't want it to sound like you're in a library. 'You've got to be able to roll with that sound and to have 11 Emma Raducanu had Centre Court on its feet at times against Aryna Sabalenka Credit: EPA 11 Mullins prepares handwritten notes for all matches including these for Raducanu vs Sabalenka Credit: SunSport Mullins works across various sports and various broadcasters. But while rugby has 40 minutes of action then a long break for analysis, tennis has brief 60-90 second changeovers to take stock. On most channels, there are TV commercial breaks. But not so on the BBC, which means Mullins must adapt for Wimbledon. He added: 'You do approach it differently. When I was doing Roland Garros for ITV and TNT, we do have the ad breaks. 'So I know I have to gently drop the stats and analysis in during the game because I don't have time when we go to the ad while also balancing the fact that I don't want to over-talk. 'Here, I know that I could go up a whole game without saying anything. 'So actually it is a completely different discipline.' But what else goes into preparing for a tennis commentary? Mullins dug out his full A4 page of handwritten notes from the He explained: 'The rota comes out at 11pm the night before but prep is a year-round thing as I'm watching tennis all the time. 'I'll re-watch press conferences, re-watch their previous match, Read more on the Irish Sun 'I keep all my notes just because they're brilliant things to look back on and there'll be bits that are applicable to the next match. 'The key to prep is not trying to be too clever.' 11 Mullins commentated on Ben Shelton's quarter-final, which was watched by the American's girlfriend Trinity Rodman and sister Emma Credit: AP 11 The BBC do not cut to advert breaks at the changeovers Credit: AP 11 The media press seats for journalists are directly above the BBC commentary box Credit: SunSport 11 Mullins will never get tired of the view of Centre Court Credit: SunSport
