Outgoing Match of the Day host and legendary England striker Gary Lineker has explained why he never enjoyed presenting one show for the BBC
16:10, 20 Dec 2024Updated 16:13, 20 Dec 2024
Former England striker Gary Lineker has explained why he never enjoyed hosting a prominent BBC programme.
Last month, it was confirmed Lineker would be leaving his role as the BBC's flagship host of Match of the Day, a show he has fronted for the last 25 years. The 64-year-old, who now runs a successful podcast empire through his company 'Goalhanger Podcasts', also stepped aside from presenting the BBC Sports Personality of the Year too this December, a show he admits he "never really enjoyed."
Lineker had hosted SPOTY for the last 23 editions of the show prior to this year, with the award being won by Olympic star Keely Hodgkinson. And the reason behind Lineker not being a part of the show this year was due to it having been move to an independent production company.
"Just to make it clear, what happened with Sports Personality of the Year is that it went to an independent production company," Lineker explained on his podcast 'The Rest is Football'.
"It was granted at the start of the year. Now, I saw that as an opportunity to get out of presenting Sports Personality. It’s a great show, but it’s the one TV gig that I never really enjoyed."
And Lineker also revealed the reason he disliked hosting the show was due to having a lack of a creative license when it came to interviewing the athletes who were nominated for the prestigious BBC award.
"It’s a very strange show to do," added Lineker. "Also, it’s the one thing where every single word that you say on it has to be agreed by all parties at the BBC. Every single interview you do, you have to say what questions you’re going to ask. I mean, I like to ad-lib, I like to go off-piste."
Following the confirmation Lineker would be stepping aside from hosting Match of the Day at the end of the 2024/25 season, it was also confirmed the former England star would not be leaving the BBC altogether just yet.
Lineker is set to lead the BBC's FA Cup coverage for the 2025/26 season, as well as front their coverage of the 2026 World Cup, which will serve as his final presenting job for the organisation.
He will be replaced by the trio of Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates, who will share the Match of the Day host role. Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport said: "Gary is a world-class presenter, and we’re delighted that he’ll lead our coverage of the next World Cup and continue to lead our live coverage of the FA Cup.
"After 25 seasons Gary is stepping down from MOTD. We want to thank him for everything he has done for the show, which continues to attract millions of viewers each week. He’ll be hugely missed on the show but we’re so happy he is staying with the BBC to present live football."
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