Andrew Castle
Andrew Nicholas Castle (born 15 November 1963) is a British broadcaster and former tennis player. Castle was Great Britain's number 1 in singles tennis in 1986, reaching as high as World No. 80 in June 1988, and No. 45 in doubles in December 1988, with Tim Wilkison of the United States.
Country (sports)
London, England
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
1986
1992
Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
$344,337
22–57 (27.85% at ATP Tour, Grand Prix tour, WCT tour, and Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup)
0
No. 80 (13 June 1988)
3R (1987)
2R (1988)
63–70 (at ATP Tour, Grand Prix tour, WCT tour, and Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup)
3
No. 45 (19 December 1988)
SF (1988)
3R (1987)
QF (1990)
0
F (1987)
Castle reached one Grand Slam final in his career in the 1987 Australian Open mixed doubles event with Anne Hobbs. He won three ATP titles in men's doubles, as well as one title on the Challenger tour. He won US$344,338 in prize money (equivalent to £196,195 in 1992).
Between 2000 and 2010, Castle was a presenter on the now defunct ITV breakfast programme GMTV, sharing duties with Ben Shephard to present its weekday magazine programme. In 2009, he began presenting the ITV daytime game show Divided. In 2013, Castle began presenting for LBC.[1][2]
He has also taken part in Strictly Come Dancing and 71 Degrees North.
Early life[edit]
Castle was born in Epsom, Surrey. His mother, Lavinia Pollock (the great-grandchild of Annie Besant), married Frank Castle in April 1953. Andrew was born in 1963. Castle won a tennis scholarship to Millfield School in Somerset but at 15 his parents separated and he had to leave. Another scholarship sent him to Kansas. He taught tennis at the Wichita Racquet Club to both children and adults.[3]
Castle's father ran the fishmonger's in Westerham, Kent, where his customers included the lady of nearby Chartwell House, Winston Churchill's wife Clementine. He went on to own shops in North Cheam; Norbury; Stoneleigh, Surrey; and owned a fish and chip shop in Taunton, Somerset (Kingston Road).
Personal life[edit]
Castle married Sophia Runham in May 1991.[7] They have two daughters.[8]
He is the great-great-grandson of Annie Besant, a prominent socialist, women's rights activist, and supporter of Irish and Indian self-rule.[9]