Sue Barker has shared a hilarious anecdote about being called out by Katherine Jenkins for breaking the rules of Wimbledon. The renowned BBC presenter was caught out by the Neath-born songstress - who reportedly has a net worth of around £17million - for donning heels on the hallowed turf of Centre Court.

The faux pas occurred at the 2009 ceremony marking the debut of the court's new retractable roof. Amongst the tennis royalty in attendance, Tim Henman, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Kim Clijsters, Jenkins was set to sing. Barker recalled the event in her book, Wimbledon, A personal history, writing: "She was wearing a pink lace strapless dress and lovely sparkly little flip-flops."

As the roof dramatically retracted, Jenkins delivered a moving performance of 'Amazing Grace', capped with a heartfelt solo of Bryan Adams' classic '(Everything I Do) I Do It for You', serenading the service stewards. Barker, synonymous with Wimbledon's coverage, had the duty of conducting interviews with the pros before turning the spotlight on Jenkins for some banter with the audience.

As Barker approached with microphone in hand, Jenkins called her out live for her choice of footwear, saying: "But I was told I couldn't wear heels!"

Adhering to the revered Centre Court code that prohibits heels to safeguard the grassy surface, Jenkins had opted for flip-flops. Barker added: "So the first part of our interview was me trying to pretend that I wasn't really in heels (you know, because obviously the rules are you're not allowed to wear heels on the Centre Court grass). It was hugely embarrassing!"

The tale resurfaced years later during a tea party on the day of the ladies' final, where Barker crossed paths with fellow tennis legend Billie Jean King. Shortly into the gathering, Katherine and her husband, Andrew Levitas, arrived to greet King, and the singer didn't skip a beat.

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Barker added: "Without so much as a hello, Katherine pointed me out to her husband like she was identifying a criminal in a police line-up and blurted out, 'SHE broke the rules on Centre Court.' That was 2009 - nearly 15 years ago - and her first association on seeing me again was to recall my illegal high heels!"

This light-hearted dig, referring to the 2009 heels incident, highlights the 45-year-old's wit, charm and respect for Wimbledon's traditions. Even in flip-flops, her performance on Centre Court was a standout, with her powerful voice and heartfelt dedication captivating the audience.

However, for some, her ribbing of Barker was the highlight. The 69-year-old took it in good humour, though. She added: "But we had a lovely chat, another really special time just relaxing with someone rather than the fleeting catch-ups I had when I was relentlessly working."