John Barrett

John succeeded the late Dan Maskell as the BBC's 'voice of tennis'.

Born in North London and educated at University College School in Hampstead, John's television career began in 1971 when he commentated on his first Wimbledon Tournament for BBC television.

He has not missed a year since.

His other television credits include working or Australian, Hong Kong, Canadian and American television networks.

He has also worked as tennis correspondent for the Financial Times and editorial consultant for Serve and Volley, the Lawn Tennis Association magazine.

John's own publications include World of Tennis (annually since 1969), Tennis and Racket Games (1975), Play Tennis With Rosewall (1975), 100 Wimbledon Championships: A Celebration (1986), From Where I Sit (with Dan Maskell, 1988) and Oh! I Say (also with Dan Maskell, 1989).

As a player, John first competed at Wimbledon in 1950 where he played every year until 1970.

He represented Great Britain for the Davis Cup in 1956 and 1957 and was ranked nationally from 1952-1970, reaching the number five position.

Outside of his playing career, he has also been involved in other aspects of tennis and can add a long list of credits to those he achieved on court.

From 1965-68 he was Director of the Lawn Tennis Association Training Squad and qualified as a Lawn Tennis Association coach in 1969.

He has founded and directed many different tennis events for young players such as the BP International Tennis Fellowship (1968-1980), the BP Cup, and international under 21 team event (1973-1980) and the Pepsi-Cola Junior International Series (1975-1979).

He is a member of several tennis associations including the All England Lawn Tennis Club (since 1955, committee member since 1989), the Association of Tennis Professionals (1972-1973) and the International Lawn Tennis Club of Great Britain which he joined in 1953 and became chairman of in 1983.