Lineker confirms when Match of the Day deal ends after hinting at replacement
Gary Lineker is set to continue hosting Match of the Day until 2029 - with the BBC closing in on a fresh deal with the Premier League.
Lineker, 62, has hosted the flagship football highlights show for more than two decades but was briefly suspended earlier this year. The legendary England striker was taken off air by the BBC after criticising the government's language towards refugees.
The BBC quickly reinstated Lineker but rumours continue to swirl about his future. The former Barcelona and Tottenham star has even joked that fellow footballer-turned-presenter Jermaine Jenas wants his job. But it appears he's going nowhere just yet.
Lineker has revealed he will continue to present Match of the Day if a new deal is agreed with the Premier League. That's looking likely, as ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 aren't expected to bid for the highlights - paving the way for the BBC to extend their contract.
Lineker confirmed the details of his contract with the BBC during an interview with GQ. He said: "I’ve got two years left (contractually). Beyond that it depends on the rights because the BBC have got to keep winning the rights to show the highlights."
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As reported by the Daily Mail earlier this month, the BBC are set to agree a new four-year deal with the Premier League - starting in 2025. It's claimed none of the BBC's rivals believe paying for Premier League highlights is commercially viable.
The BBC hosted Premier League highlights between 1992 and 2001 before losing them to ITV. The latter broadcaster showed 'The Premiership' - an equivalent programme to Match of the Day - but it wasn't as popular and highlights returned to the BBC in 2004.
Jermaine Jenas is the big favourite to succeed Lineker (PA)Do you think Gary Lineker should continue to host Match of the Day? Let us know in the comments below!
The way fans consume Premier League highlights has changed. In previous years, highlights weren't available to non-Sky customers until Match of the Day was broadcasted. Yet they can now be legally watched on YouTube shortly after each game finishes.
Although many fans are no longer dependent on Match of the Day to watch their team in action, Lineker believes the Premier League will continue to show highlights on terrestrial TV. Millions of people are still tuning in to watch Saturday's show.
Lineker wrote on X earlier this month: "We’ve had some amazing viewing figures for Match of the Day this season... averaging 4m per show across TV and iPlayer... thanks so much for watching."
In his interview with GQ, Lineker added: "The Premier League have been very clever, making sure that there is a show on terrestrial television to maintain interest in the sport, as still over half the public don’t have Sky or BT. So hopefully that will continue."
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