Inverdale blames hayfever for Bartoli "looker" gaffe

Presenter John Inverdale has "explained" why he got into hot water when he said that Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli was "never going to be a looker" — he was suffering from hay fever.

Inverdale, 56, sparked a furore last summer when he made the comment about the appearance of the French player, who had just won the ladies final.

The presenter, who has now signed up with Bartoli, 29, to commentate for ITV on the French Open, told Radio Times magazine that as well as feeling unwell, he was attempting to fill time.