Gary Lineker’s departure from Match of the day It was one of the worst-kept secrets in British television, but today’s news confirmation brings the curtain down on a 25-year era of Premier League highlights.
Match of the Day Ia TV institution in the UK, and having averaged 2 million viewers for BBC1 on Saturday nights this season, it remains an important part of the soccer schedule at a time when highlights and goal clips are readily available online.
Lineker has been instrumental in demonstrating the club’s continued relevance. This rare combination of former professional broadcaster and globalist has a loyal fanbase and the ability to make headlines with a flick of his eyebrow or a gag at the expense of his co-hosts.
For the most part, this has been a good thing for the BBC and Lineker, even if the relationship has been somewhat strained in recent years. The broadcaster’s outspoken views on the Conservative government and support for the Palestinian cause clashed with his employer’s over-emphasis on neutrality.
The BBC’s announcement of Lineker’s future included an interesting line about how this will be done Match of the day is “constantly evolving to change viewing habits,” with notes suggesting the show could be reinvented for a younger audience.
It will be a difficult balancing act. And the BBC won’t want to alienate Match of the day Loyal viewers will recognize a similar reinvention of another iconic sports show. Question for sportsHe finished by putting the series on the shelf. A youth version of Match of the daytitled Motodexwas also canceled last year.
Roger Mawsey, former BBC sports director, noted that there is a “high failure rate” in the renewal of programs such as Match of the Day. “The offer is not interrupted,” he added.
Despite the risks, there will be a wide field of bidders sitting on the bench to replace Lineker. Here’s a look at his potential Match of the day Successors.
Mark Chapman
Chapman is seen by many of his contemporaries as the natural successor to Lineker Match of the Day 2 for more than a decade. Chapman is highly regarded at the BBC, where he mixes his TV duties with BBC Radio 5 Live. He also hosts the international podcast Sports agents and Sky’s coverage of the Carabao Cup. He is respected by BBC critics, including Lineker’s close friend Alan Shearer, but is he the right man for the job if the corporation is considering a more radical revamp?
Alex Scott
Alex Scott is very popular with BBC bosses, and her television career has won her awards and critical acclaim following her retirement from women’s football. She currently presents the BBC’s flagship program Focus on soccerbut was blamed for the show’s low ratings because it chased a friendlier audience on TikTok. Scott was also not deployed by the BBC during the Summer Olympics, despite being a key part of the company’s lineup for the 2021 Games in Tokyo.
Gabby Logan
Logan has been a fixture at BBC Sport for nearly two decades, including covering athletics at the Paris Olympics. She is a classy, polished presenter, highly regarded by her peers, but she is not as synonymous with sport as Lineker. Logan also has interests outside the BBC, including sports agents – which she co-hosts with Chapman – and Amazon Prime Video, which offers Champions League matches.
Alan Shearer
Could the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer follow Lineker in moving from the pundit’s chair to the hot seat of hosting? His record on television suggests not. Shearer has always seemed more comfortable providing analysis rather than overseeing coverage. He is also fiercely loyal to Lineker, with whom he co-hosts The rest is soccer podcast, as well as appearing on Match of the day.
Micah Richards
Richards’ presenting career has reached new heights in recent years thanks to his winning personality and infectious laugh. Like Shearer, the former Manchester City player seems more comfortable as an analyst, but his ambition and desire for TV work is clear. Again, his loyalty to Lineker could be a factor in any decision, given his regularity of play Match of the day Co-hosted by The rest is soccer.
Dan Walker
Dan Walker was a BBC sportscaster and co-host of the BBC Breakfastbefore leaving the company for Paramount 5 News in 2022. He has been praised for helping to raise the profile of the 5 NewsBut it is unclear whether he would welcome a return to the BBC – or whether the broadcaster would be able to match his pay.
Kate Scott
Scott’s profile has grown thanks to the viral moments she has hosted for CBS Sports’ UEFA Champions League coverage since 2020. She has a winning on-screen relationship with Micah Richards, Jamie Carragher, and Thierry Henry, making her a fan favorite. Outside bet.
Gary Neville
Gary Neville is one of the wisest pundits in the sport. The former Manchester United star is synonymous with Sky Sports, but he has fans at the BBC after presenting a topical quiz show Do I have news for you. His known political views (he is a Labor Party supporter) are likely to be against him.
Kelly Keats
As the daughter of Kenny Dalglish, Sky Sports presenter Kelly Keates has football in her blood and is firmly established among some of the sport’s best presenters. She presents on Radio 5 Live, has links to the BBC, and is respected by former professionals.