New face of BBC’s coverage of Wimbledon is handsome environmentalist and self-proclaimed ‘tennis nerd’

With Sue Barker retiring from the BBC’s coverage of Wimbledon after 30 years as chairman and Clare Balding taking over, a vacancy has arisen in the daily evening reporter Today at Wimbledon.

With veteran cricket presenter Isa Guha set to occupy one of the team’s two presenting rooms, it’s likely to be in safe hands – and this year she’ll be joined by the equally experienced but lesser-known Qasa Alom.

A huge tennis fan (and self-confessed tennis nerd), Alom has previously presented programs on Radio 4 about one of the sport’s most iconic stars, Arthur Ashe, and is also interested in cricket, rugby and athletics.

Yesterday, he posted on Twitter about his new gig, saying, “I’m really excited to be making great TV, talking to experts about the day’s action and having a little fun with it!” I’ve been following the news coverage since I was a kid. Now I can’t wait to be a part of it’

He added in a second tweet: “It’s fair to say today is a good day… I’m a bit obsessed with the sport – I remember commenting on my own backyard games as a kid , when I tried to serve like Goran. From that until now – yes, I’m going to do my best to do this program justice.’

On Instagram, he added that he was a “tennis nerd” who always wanted to host shows about the sport.

Last summer he was part of the team on the BBC’s coverage of the Commonwealth Games and the London Marathon – as well as helming shows on BBC’s Asian Network and 5 Live.

Elsewhere, the filmmaker runs his own YouTube channel, QasaVision, which explores issues arising from the climate crisis, and is passionate about protecting the environment.

As Alom prepares to take the chair in the studio at the end of this month, he will continue his lifelong love of tennis, which he has spoken about on his Instagram account.

The host (pictured) has helmed several television and radio shows and now makes documentaries on his YouTube channel

Qasa doesn’t share much about his personal life, though he adores his cockapoo, Rafa (who might be named after Rafael Nadal)

Alom posted a photo of himself on the pitch carrying a racket on a sunny day in March 2021 as the country was in the middle of its third Covid lockdown, writing about how important it was to do what you love to do to yourself through difficult times.

He said, “We all haven’t had as much of a chance to do what we love in the past year, but today I remembered how important fun, enjoyment and laughter are in life.

“Hopefully all the little things in life that made it great will come back to all of us little by little soon!” Tennis is back for me. So is being able to see family. Soon gyms, restaurants, hairdressers and holidays…!

That same month, Alom announced he was leaving his BBC Asian Network show, The Big Debate, to move on to bigger and better things.

This summer, Alom will join Isa Guha on Today at Wimbledon, while Clare Balding will step into the shoes of Sue Barker

In the summer of 2021, he was hired as the host of The Hundred and also launched a podcast with Davis Cup champion Dominic Inglot, the Real Tennis Pod, where he discusses one of his greatest passions.

As if Alom wasn’t busy enough already, he also travels the world making short documentaries for his YouTube channel QasaVision.

In particular, the environmentalist (who also spoke at COP 27) uses the channel to research communities affected in some way by climate change.

A video shows Alom traveling to the community of Sunamganj in Bangladesh, which is flooded for eight months a year, to see how the people living there cope with the extreme weather conditions.

In another, Alom traveled across Europe, reporting on the wildfires raging through forests across the continent.

Recently, Alom teamed up with journalist Matthew Parris to profile tennis icon Arthure Ashe, who became the first black man to win Wimbledon and campaigned for social justice off the court.

In his personal life, Alom seems to enjoy traveling and has recently taken trips to European destinations such as Ibiza and Rome. When he’s home, he hangs out with his dog, Rafa – who may be named after tennis star Rafa Nadal.

Writing on Instagram about his new presenting gig last night, Alom said: “Can’t wait to wander around SW19, watch tennis, analyze the matches with the ex-players and just have a little fun making great TV!’