Gary Lineker to return to Match of the Day

Well, it was nice while it lasted. Following the farce of last night’s 14-minute episode of Match of the Day, BBC management have come out this morning waving the white flag to sue for peace with Gary Lineker. The ex-football star is going to return to the Beeb after after the corporation announced a review of its guidance on social media. Quelle surprise.

Lineker, who was suspended after his controversial tweets about the government’s asylum policy, said in a statement issued by the BBC: ‘I am glad that we have found a way forward. I support this review and look forward to getting back on air.’ Tim Davie, the Corporation’s director-general, apologised for how difficult the fallout has been for BBC staff, contributors and presenters and said in the same statement that:

The potential confusion caused by the grey areas of the BBC’s social media guidance that was introduced in 2020 is recognised.