BBC Director of Sport Barbara Slater announces retirement

BBC Director of Sport Barbara Slater has announced her retirement after 14 years in the role.

Slater, who will step down next year, has worked at the BBC for 40 years after switching from a career as an Olympic gymnast.

“It has been an absolute passion, never just a job,” said Slater.

“It was this week 40 years ago that I first walked through the doors at Broadcasting House.

“Since joining in 1983 I’ve been privileged to have had such amazing opportunities and the delight of working with such talented colleagues and partners.”

Slater joined the BBC in 1983 as a trainee assistant producer in the Natural History Unit in Bristol.

But she spent the next period of her career as a producer at BBC Sport, specialising in outside broadcasts and overseeing the production of a range of sports including tennis and golf.

She was then Head of Production and Head of General Sports, before taking up the Director of Sport role in April 2009.

Barbara was awarded the OBE in 2014 for her services to sports broadcasting.