Comedian Michael McIntyre beamed alongside his wife Kitty as they joined fellow celebrities at Wimbledon
Michael McIntyre was all smiles as he cosied up to his glamorous wife Kitty (Image: WireImage)
Michael McIntyre was all smiles as he cosied up to his glamorous wife Kitty during a rare date at Wimbledon on Monday.
The comedian, 49, was spotted looking dapper at the All England Lawn Tennis Club for day eight of the tournament, joining fellow famous faces Gabby and Kenny Logan, as well as Lenny Henry and his partner Lisa Makin.
The second week of the iconic event got underway with No1 seed Jannik Sinner back on Centre Court to face 19th seed Grigor Dimitrov, as the Men’s Singles fourth round continued under sunny skies following a damp start to the day.
Michael McIntyre enjoyed Wimbledon with his wife alongside a number of famous faces (Image: WireImage)
Michael kept things classic in a sharp navy suit layered over a crisp white shirt and dark tie, while Kitty turned heads in a pink floral mini dress. The aromatherapist, who shares sons Lucas, 20, and Oscar, 17, with the comic, finished her summery look with pastel heels and a matching bag as the couple posed before taking their seats.
Also soaking up the action was TV presenter Gabby Logan, 52, who nailed courtside chic in a navy polka dot co-ord teamed with a cream blazer draped over her shoulders. She was joined by husband Kenny, 53, who looked equally smart as they enjoyed the day without their 19-year-old twins Reuben and Lois.
Michael and Kitty posed for sweet photos together(Image: WireImage)
Meanwhile, Lenny Henry, 65, and partner Lisa Makin kept cool in matching summer suits and shades as they enjoyed the sunshine. Lisa, a casting director and theatre producer, has been with the comic for over a decade after they first started dating in 2012. Lenny shares daughter Billie, 34, with ex-wife Dawn French.
Despite their long-standing relationship, Lenny and Lisa have largely kept things low-key and out of the spotlight.
Michael, meanwhile, has shared how his own romance with Kitty began when he was “pretending to be a really cool writer” while trying to break into film.
Michael previously explained how he wooed Kitty(Image: WireImage)
He previously said he hired her to work on his movie, admitting: “I wasn’t very good with girls” at the time.
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The star sweetly compared his love life to a rom-com, recalling on The Jonathan Ross Show in 2022: “A long time ago. Through a friend, we made friends. For a while, she stopped liking me. I started writing a romantic comedy movie because I wanted to get into it some. I finally found the woman.
Wimbledon has made changes to its electronic line calling system to remove the possibility of “human error” after it was accidentally deactivated in a controversial episode on Sunday.
An “operator error” meant the ball-tracking technology was turned off for one game in the fourth-round match between Britain’s Sonay Kartal and Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Centre Court.
“Following our review, we have now removed the ability for Hawk-Eye operators to manually deactivate the ball tracking,” the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) said in a statement to BBC Sport.
“While the source of the issue was human error, this error cannot now be repeated due to the system changes we have made.”
Kartal sent a backhand long when game point down at 4-4, but this was not detected by the line-call system, which instead made two automated calls of “stop”.
Umpire Nico Helwerth opted to replay the point – which Kartal won – but was criticised by Pavlyuchenkova and some pundits for not using his authority to overrule and call the ball out.
TV replays had shown the ball was well long and Pavlyuchenkova suggested there should be a video review system, similar to that in football, which would have enabled the umpire to make the call.
The AELTC said Helwerth had “followed the established process”, but later added that the issue of video reviews would be “among the matters considered” at the end of the Championships.
Club chief executive Sally Bolton said earlier on Monday that Helwerth was “having a rest day”.
“We have rotation of our umpires regularly. A little bit like the players, the umpires also need rest days throughout the tournament,” Bolton told BBC Sport.
“He’s having a rest day today. He’s fine.
Could Wimbledon bring in video reviews?
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Electronic line calling is used at many top-level tournaments, and the US Open and Australian Open also have a video review system.
When there were line judges at Wimbledon, players could challenge the calls by using an electronic review. The new technology is an “enhanced” version of the Hawk-Eye system that was used for player challenges.
There are no challenges under the current system and video replays are not used.
At the moment, replays of points can be shown on the big screens – but they are essentially replays of what the technology has determined and only show that something was a “close call”.
But with millions able to see the replays of points on their televisions at home, fans will always wonder why the umpire is not able to use that footage if they are unsure over a call.
Pavlyuchenkova suggested tennis should use video checks like football does “so that we can review the point”.
“On such a big event I think it is necessary, since this isn’t the first time this has happened,” she told BBC Sport on Sunday.
The AELTC said: “We do not have a video review system as part of our suite of officiating tools.
“As we do every year, we will fully review all aspects of The Championships’ operation following the event and this will be among the matters considered.”
‘When it’s activated, it works extremely well’
Wimbledon’s first week of electronic line calling system has been a big topic of discussion.
Some players questioned its accuracy, others said the calls were too quiet – and some simply missed the 147-year-old tradition of smartly dressed officials around the court.
Former British number one and BBC pundit Tim Henman pointed to the accuracy of the technology as a reason why video reviews were not necessary.
“The technology, when it’s activated, works extremely well,” he said.
“There’s another sort of narrative that the line calling has been inaccurate, and that’s just absolute rubbish.
“When you’re on the court, you’re hoping that it goes out, because if it goes out, you win the point.
“But actually, 100 times out of 100 when you go back and look at it, the human – the player – gets it wrong. The technology doesn’t.”
The AELTC said it continued to have “full confidence in the accuracy of the ball-tracking technology”.
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Wimbledon has made changes to its electronic line calling system to remove the possibility of “human error” after it was accidentally deactivated in a controversial episode on Sunday.
An “operator error” meant the ball-tracking technology was turned off for one game in the fourth-round match between Britain’s Sonay Kartal and Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Centre Court.
“Following our review, we have now removed the ability for Hawk-Eye operators to manually deactivate the ball tracking,” the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) said in a statement to BBC Sport.
“While the source of the issue was human error, this error cannot now be repeated due to the system changes we have made.”
Kartal sent a backhand long when game point down at 4-4, but this was not detected by the line-call system, which instead made two automated calls of “stop”.
Umpire Nico Helwerth opted to replay the point – which Kartal won – but was criticised by Pavlyuchenkova and some pundits for not using his authority to overrule and call the ball out.
TV replays had shown the ball was well long and Pavlyuchenkova suggested there should be a video review system, similar to that in football, which would have enabled the umpire to make the call.
The AELTC said Helwerth had “followed the established process”, but later added that the issue of video reviews would be “among the matters considered” at the end of the Championships.
Club chief executive Sally Bolton said earlier on Monday that Helwerth was “having a rest day”.
“We have rotation of our umpires regularly. A little bit like the players, the umpires also need rest days throughout the tournament,” Bolton told BBC Sport.
“He’s having a rest day today. He’s fine.
Could Wimbledon bring in video reviews?
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Electronic line calling is used at many top-level tournaments, and the US Open and Australian Open also have a video review system.
When there were line judges at Wimbledon, players could challenge the calls by using an electronic review. The new technology is an “enhanced” version of the Hawk-Eye system that was used for player challenges.
There are no challenges under the current system and video replays are not used.
At the moment, replays of points can be shown on the big screens – but they are essentially replays of what the technology has determined and only show that something was a “close call”.
But with millions able to see the replays of points on their televisions at home, fans will always wonder why the umpire is not able to use that footage if they are unsure over a call.
Pavlyuchenkova suggested tennis should use video checks like football does “so that we can review the point”.
“On such a big event I think it is necessary, since this isn’t the first time this has happened,” she told BBC Sport on Sunday.
The AELTC said: “We do not have a video review system as part of our suite of officiating tools.
“As we do every year, we will fully review all aspects of The Championships’ operation following the event and this will be among the matters considered.”
‘When it’s activated, it works extremely well’
Wimbledon’s first week of electronic line calling system has been a big topic of discussion.
Some players questioned its accuracy, others said the calls were too quiet – and some simply missed the 147-year-old tradition of smartly dressed officials around the court.
Former British number one and BBC pundit Tim Henman pointed to the accuracy of the technology as a reason why video reviews were not necessary.
“The technology, when it’s activated, works extremely well,” he said.
“There’s another sort of narrative that the line calling has been inaccurate, and that’s just absolute rubbish.
“When you’re on the court, you’re hoping that it goes out, because if it goes out, you win the point.
“But actually, 100 times out of 100 when you go back and look at it, the human – the player – gets it wrong. The technology doesn’t.”
The AELTC said it continued to have “full confidence in the accuracy of the ball-tracking technology”.
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Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter in Zurich
Midfielder Georgia Stanway said England “underperformed” in the defeat by France but there is “no crisis” despite knowing they could be eliminated in the group stages at Euro 2025.
Sarina Wiegman’s side, who are attempting to defend their title in Switzerland, were outplayed by France in their opening match on Saturday, losing 2-1 in Zurich.
Stanway was among the players who came under criticism for her performance, with France overloading England’s midfield and causing problems up front.
“It was difficult. Everything that we wanted to happen, didn’t happen. We know as a team – and as individuals – that we underperformed,” said Stanway.
“If I’m being totally honest, I’m disappointed with my performance on Saturday. For some reason I couldn’t do the things that I wanted to be able to do in possession.
“I just knew I had to run around and put some tackles in. My way of communicating – when I can’t do something on the ball – is to work my socks off.”
If England lose to the Netherlands on Wednesday and France pick up at least a point against Wales, then the defending champions are knocked out.
Asked if she was willing to contemplate that scenario, Stanway said: “It’s reality. If we’re not good enough on Wednesday then we don’t deserve to continue in the tournament.”
England keen to forget ‘bad night out’
The Lionesses face a strong Netherlands, with the Dutch national side having won Euro 2017 under current England manager Wiegman.
“What we want going forward is to make actions and stop talking. I didn’t want to do the press conference today because I’m fed up of talking now,” added Stanway.
“It’s time that we focus and we want to put things right on the pitch in order for us to be able to talk. We want to make change.
“We’ve spoken about wanting to be ‘proper England’ and going back to what we’re good at and our traditional style of football – tough tackles and remembering why we’re here.
“Sometimes it’s about blocking out the noise and getting on the pitch and getting stuck in.
“I had a message from someone I know that said ‘[the France game] was just like a bad night out and you want to forget it as quickly as possible!'”
The 26-year-old also revealed that experienced defender Lucy Bronze brought the team together to reflect on England’s opening match at the 2015 Women’s World Cup, when they also lost to France in their opening game but went on to reach the semi-finals.
“We lost 2-1 [against France on Saturday]. We could have got a draw. Even at our worst, we were able to put a performance together that was [almost] worthy of a draw,” said Stanway.
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Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter in Zurich
Midfielder Georgia Stanway said England “underperformed” in the defeat by France but there is “no crisis” despite knowing they could be eliminated in the group stages at Euro 2025.
Sarina Wiegman’s side, who are attempting to defend their title in Switzerland, were outplayed by France in their opening match on Saturday, losing 2-1 in Zurich.
Stanway was among the players who came under criticism for her performance, with France overloading England’s midfield and causing problems up front.
“It was difficult. Everything that we wanted to happen, didn’t happen. We know as a team – and as individuals – that we underperformed,” said Stanway.
“If I’m being totally honest, I’m disappointed with my performance on Saturday. For some reason I couldn’t do the things that I wanted to be able to do in possession.
“I just knew I had to run around and put some tackles in. My way of communicating – when I can’t do something on the ball – is to work my socks off.”
If England lose to the Netherlands on Wednesday and France pick up at least a point against Wales, then the defending champions are knocked out.
Asked if she was willing to contemplate that scenario, Stanway said: “It’s reality. If we’re not good enough on Wednesday then we don’t deserve to continue in the tournament.”
England keen to forget ‘bad night out’
The Lionesses face a strong Netherlands, with the Dutch national side having won Euro 2017 under current England manager Wiegman.
“What we want going forward is to make actions and stop talking. I didn’t want to do the press conference today because I’m fed up of talking now,” added Stanway.
“It’s time that we focus and we want to put things right on the pitch in order for us to be able to talk. We want to make change.
“We’ve spoken about wanting to be ‘proper England’ and going back to what we’re good at and our traditional style of football – tough tackles and remembering why we’re here.
“Sometimes it’s about blocking out the noise and getting on the pitch and getting stuck in.
“I had a message from someone I know that said ‘[the France game] was just like a bad night out and you want to forget it as quickly as possible!'”
The 26-year-old also revealed that experienced defender Lucy Bronze brought the team together to reflect on England’s opening match at the 2015 Women’s World Cup, when they also lost to France in their opening game but went on to reach the semi-finals.
“We lost 2-1 [against France on Saturday]. We could have got a draw. Even at our worst, we were able to put a performance together that was [almost] worthy of a draw,” said Stanway.
