Having thought it was all over, several times, it is now – for Gary Linker as presenter of Match of the Day. Lineker who has occupied the hot seat since 1999, has announced he will be quitting the show at the end of the season, though he will remain at the corporation until the end of an 18 month contract extension taking him up to the 2026 World Cup.
It is tempting to think that Lineker may have thrown in the towel as a result of certain political events across the pond, that the crushing defeat of all things woke stateside had caused a tsunami that has engulfed our progressive public broadcaster and swept our most right on presenter away. In truth though, Lineker’s phased exit has clearly been in the works for a while.
Lineker never seemed to understand was that it wasn’t his political views that people found so annoying, but that he chose to broadcast them to the world while an employee of the BBC
Last month a leaked email apparently quoted Director General and Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski referencing Lineker’s departure.
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