Andrew Castle's family joy two months after 'grieving' Wimbledon exit
Andrew Castle was axed from commentating at Wimbledon for the BBC in July after 23 years.
Andrew Castle has become a granddad for a third time.
The ex-GMTV presenter's 33-year-old daughter, actress Georgina Castle, and her 40-year-old husband, actor Simon Lipkin, have welcomed their first child, a baby girl.
Taking to Instagram on September 12, the Mamma Mia! star shared some adorable shots of herself and Simon bonding with their bundle of joy, with the caption: "Birdie Wilde Lipkin. 09/09/26
"Never known love like it."
The couple were showered with congratulatory messages in the post's comments section.
Hollywood star Rebel Wilson, 46, penned: "The biggest congratulations."
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 runner-up Amber Davies, 29, gushed: "OMG GGGGGG. Birdieeeee, welcome rockstar xxx (sic)."
Casualty alum Chelsea Halfpenny, 34, enthused: "WOW!!!! Huge congrats Georgina. Obsessed with her name xxx (sic)."
One fan reacted: "What a precious gift. Congratulations but don't blink. It's wild how fast they grow."
Another supporter commented: "So proud of you both! She is total perfection."
And a third follower typed: "Congratulations to you both and welcome to the world Birdie Wilde. She’s so cute. Sending you both lots of love and hugs."
Georgina and Simon got married in Westminster, London, in September 2025, three years after they met while performing in the stage adaptation of the classic Christmas comedy film, Elf.
Andrew, 62, and his wife Sophia are also grandparents to their daughter Claudia, 31, and her 36-year-old husband, former cricketer Will Tavare's son Louis and daughter India.
The latest joy in Andrew's life comes two months after he was "grieving" about being axed as one of the BBC's Wimbledon commentators after 23 years, as the corporation has decided it wants to take its coverage in a new direction.
In July, he told SunSport: "The reason I’m going has got nothing to do with me.
"Genuinely, it was all very, very civil and very, very nice.
"They came to talk to me in person and said we’re going to head in a new direction for the final next year. And I accept that.
"I’m thankful for the years I’ve had. Am I sad? Of course, I’m sad about it. And I’m just disappointed about it.
"I still think I’ve got something to offer. They said, ‘We’re going to give you great matches if you stay another year.’
"But I said, truly, gratefully, thank you very much.
"The messages I’ve had from colleagues and particularly from journalists, past and present, have moved me to tears.
"In the journalism business over the years, if your professional peers and colleagues are saying good things, that’s very moving.
"And I actually don’t want to read them because I’ve got to get through the final."
Going to the car wash and the supermarket gave the former British number one tennis player some "perspective" about leaving.
Andrew added: "There’s a sort of a strange feeling of you’re grieving for a job that’s no longer yours.
"I was feeling sorry for myself over the last 4-5 weeks. And then I went into town, and I got the car washed, because I’m lazy.
"I saw the guys doing the car wash in nearly 40 degrees Celsius. A great bunch.
"They were working their backsides off, from 8am till 8pm.
"Then I went into Sainsbury’s, and I asked somebody where something was, and they smiled, and they told me.
"Look, there’s real life. (Tennis) is a complete bubble. Let’s keep some perspective here. It’s been fantastic."
