LONDON, November 17, 2016

Tennis has come together to help the Aegon Championships raise £150,000 for Children In Need.

The annual grass court tournament at The Queen’s Club promised to give the eight highest bidders in the annual Chris Evans Show auction on BBC Radio 2 the chance to ‘be a tennis player’ for a day. They will play doubles with the pros at the Aegon Championships in the Pudsey Pro-Am, use all The Queen’s Club player facilities, and draw the names in the official draw, as well as receiving VIP treatment with Keith Prowse hospitality. The bids came flying in.

Marin Cilic and Jamie Murray lent a helping hand, Cilic joining the show by phone after setting an early alarm following his loss to Andy Murray at the 02 Arena 10 hours previously. Jamie Murray, who would play his second doubles match a few hours later, also called in. The Aegon GB Davis Cup captain Leon Smith, putting a group of local kids through their paces at the 02 for Tennis For Kids,  took a few minutes out to speak to the show, and promised to prepare the winning bidders for the Pudsey Pro-Am in a training session at the National Tennis Centre.

Cilic, who won the tournament in 2012, told the show: “The Aegon Championships is one of the best tournaments we have – it is voted year after year the best in its category. The organisation is top class, the transportation, the hotel, the people working there, and they have one of the best grass courts in the world. There is always a great field of players, packed crowds and they are even expanding the stadium, so it is going to be a great experience for the winning bidders. It’s great that we can help to raise money for Children In Need like this.”

The Aegon Championships will take place 19th-25th June, 2017. In 2016, Andy Murray won the title for a record fifth time.

The Chris Evans Breakfast Show has a regular audience of 10 million listeners, making it the most popular show of its type on radio or television in the UK.

Children In Need – http://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk