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Gary Lineker's blunt three-word response when BBC offered him very different new job

Gary Lineker's blunt three-word response when BBC offered him very different new job

Wales Online25-05-2025
Gary Lineker's blunt three-word response when BBC offered him very different new job
Gary Lineker will present his final Match of the Day show this Sunday after being axed by the BBC, who reportedly offered him the chance to host his own cooking show
TV Presenter and ex-Leicester City player Gary Lineker
(Image: Getty Images )
Gary Lineker expressed disbelief at a BBC pitch for him to start a cooking programme following his departure from Match of the Day, saying: "Are you kidding?".
Lineker is poised to make his final appearance on Match of the Day this Sunday, following the furore that erupted over his comments on social media regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The ex-England striker was embroiled in controversy last week, facing allegations of anti-Semitism after tweeting a video critical of Zionism that included a depiction of a rat.

In response to the backlash, Lineker issued an apology for what was perceived by some as an insensitive comment towards Jews, admitting he was unaware of its implications. A recent statement announced Lineker's forthcoming exit from the BBC had been settled "by mutual agreement".
Initially, Lineker was expected to conclude his 26-year tenure as host of Match of the Day at the end of the current season, while still helming BBC's coverage of upcoming major football events such as next season's FA Cup and the 2026 World Cup, reports Leicestershire Live.
Yet, his departure has been hastened to arrive a year sooner than anticipated. In a prior interview with Amol Rajan for the BBC last month, Lineker disclosed that there were figures at the corporation who "wanted me to leave", which predated the latest row.
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Gary Lineker disclosed his realisation that BBC executives no longer wanted him on their leading football highlights programme emerged as early as last year. Astonishingly, the former Leicester City forward noted he was propositioned to helm his own cooking show on the BBC as a form of compensation.
Lineker shared his story with The Telegraph just days before posting a video accompanied by a rat emoji, saying: "It's funny, when I was talking to the Beeb and they told me they didn't want me to do another three years, they said, 'We think you could do a cooking show.'".
Recounting the eccentric offer that suggested a significant career pivot, Lineker couldn't help but express his incredulity with an eye roll, adding: "Are you kidding? I thought it was hilarious."

He continued to divulge in the same interview, responding to queries over which BBC personnel had seemingly wished for his departure, and the extent he believes the situation has altered since Alex Kay-Jelski took on the role of BBC Director of Sport in April the previous year.
"I think it has [changed], and that's what I was alluding to," Lineker observed. "He has his reasons, he wants to change Match of the Day slightly. In the end, I'm unconvinced they will because where can a highlights show diverge from showcasing highlights? His vision is to incorporate more journalists – he himself springs from that realm, absent any television acumen."
In January, Kay-Jelski revealed that Gabby Logan, Mark Chapman, and Kelly Cates were set to take on shared hosting responsibilities for Match of the Day, with a view to supporting Gary Lineker at next year's World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
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However, following a recent development as reported by The Sun, there's been a shift in plans. It is understood that Chapman, Logan, and Cates will now vie for the lead presenting position during the World Cup coverage.
An insider reportedly commented: "Now Gary's gone, there has to be a lead anchor for the World Cup coverage.
"Mark, Gabby and Kelly can definitely share the duties between them, but it will boil down to who gets the big games. For example, who will be taking the lead role on the final - which will be the game they all want to be the leading voice on."
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Man City stunned by Premier League suggestion to partner with comedian who MOCKED the club and Pep Guardiola over their 115 charges
Man City stunned by Premier League suggestion to partner with comedian who MOCKED the club and Pep Guardiola over their 115 charges

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

Man City stunned by Premier League suggestion to partner with comedian who MOCKED the club and Pep Guardiola over their 115 charges

The Premier League asked Manchester City if they would enter into a collaboration with a comedian who has repeatedly mocked the club and its manager over the 115 charges. Officials at the Etihad Stadium were left stunned when counterparts at the league suggested they work with impressionist Conor Moore. The Irishman is known for his humorous takes of the likes of compatriot Roy Keane - but on a number of occasions he has mercilessly poked fun at Guardiola and City, whose legal war with the Premier League rages on. In one sketch, Moore dons a bald cap and grey sweatshirt to imitate Guardiola in a mocked-up press conference. The City manager is asked if he has made any signings in recent times. 'We know in the last few days we have to reinforce and we have done that, especially on our bench,' he responds, with a cheeky nod to the ongoing case which has seen City charged with 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League's spending rules. 'We have signed four barristers, eight lawyers and a judge.' It is understood that those who work on content at the Premier League thought City could bring in Moore to do impressions with their players while they watched, with footage then being shared by the pair. But Mail Sport understands the request was politely turned down by flabbergasted City officials. Both City and the Premier League declined to comment but sources disclosed that Moore's mickey-taking over the issue that has rocked football 'slipped through the net' at the Premier League end. Both the Premier League and Man City declined to comment, but sources disclosed that Moore's mickey-taking over the issue that has rocked football 'slipped through the net' at the Premier League end City have previously worked with Greeters Guild president Troy Hawke, with the 1930s inspired character welcoming players as they arrived for their US tour. Another Moore video titled: 'Pep Guardiola goes to court!!! MAN CITY CHARGED!' portrays the Spaniard as the accused and features the comedian, in the same outfit, stood in the dock. 'Are you the man who spent £100m on Jack Grealish?' Guardiola is asked, to canned laughter. He is then told he has many victims, with Moore first impersonating ex-Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. 'At the time I blame Luke Shaw and I blame Paul Pogba but in truth they could do nothing,' the Portuguese says. 'We were never going to catch City and now I know why.' Moore then portrays former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers. 'Steven Gerrard slipped on his hole and we lost the league by two points,' he says. 'I lost my job and I went from managing a team of wonderful characters and great technicians to managing Leicester City…' Next up is another ex-Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp, as the merciless mickey-taking continues. One skit saw Moore impersonate former Man United boss Jose Mourinho and ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who were billed as victims of Man City and Guardiola 'If Man City didn't cheat we'd be champions in 2019,' he says. 'If Man City didn't cheat we'd be champions in 2021, if Man City didn't cheat we'd be champions in 2022 and if Darwin Nunez didn't miss so many chances we could be champions in 2023…' Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who replaced Mourinho at Old Trafford, delivers the next victim impact statement. 'I could have been Premier League champion,' he says. 'It would have been fantastic but Man City obviously cheated and I became a laughing stock.' Both City and the Premier League continue to wait for a verdict to the long-running saga. City were charged after a four-year investigation and referred to an independent commission in February 2023.

TV's best (and worst) historical epics: from Wolf Hall to I, Claudius:
TV's best (and worst) historical epics: from Wolf Hall to I, Claudius:

The Guardian

timean hour ago

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TV's best (and worst) historical epics: from Wolf Hall to I, Claudius:

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The 9 lost UK festivals fans want to see brought back
The 9 lost UK festivals fans want to see brought back

Scotsman

timean hour ago

  • Scotsman

The 9 lost UK festivals fans want to see brought back

Memories along aren't good enough - here's the UK music festivals fans want to see make their triumphant returns. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Take a moment to reflect on those music festivals we have lost over time. Be it mismanagement, cost of living or local noise complaints, some of those that disappeared still live in the minds and hearts of UK festival goers. Here are nine festivals that you would like to return to our calendars, and the reasons they disappeared in the first place. As August rolls around, so too do the final remaining music festivals set to take place as part of the 2025 UK summer festival season – but don't cry yet, there is still plenty to come. Instead, save those tears for the dearly departed festivals that we once frequented during the halcyon days where pints cost just over £1 and a ticket to a music festival didn't involve rearranging a mortgage in order to attend; that is, of course, if you were lucky enough to get them at face value after waiting in an online queue. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There is some hope that some of our festivals from our own formative years growing up might return, but with moments when a 'fallow year' becomes a permanent closure, and with the cost of living making it harder not only to run festivals and events, but to attend them also, could there be more additions in the near future? Then again, perhaps with an interest in live music slowly growing once again, a couple we've said farewell to might come back into our lives? SpinGenie surveyed music lovers to ask them what music festivals they'd like to see return – either those that have long since become distant memories or recent festivals taking 'fallows' currently – while we have looked at the reasons why the festivals disappeared in the first place. The nine UK music festivals fans want to see return What music festivals lost to mother or father time do UK music lovers want to see return over the course of the next few UK summer festival seasons? | Getty Images/Canva Witcombe Festival (2012 - 2024) Witcombe Festival (originally Witcombe Cider Festival) began in 2012 and successfully ran for 12 years, with its last event in 2024. It grew significantly, attracting over 25,000 attendees in its later years. Organisers announced that the festival will not take place in 2025. The primary reason cited was the "ongoing cost of living crisis," which impacted ticket sales and planning. Despite efforts to reduce capacity, strict licensing conditions prevented these adjustments; they've opted for a temporary halt to ensure they can "return stronger in the future." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Black Deer Festival (2018 - 2025?) Black Deer Festival launched in 2018 and quickly became a highly regarded Americana and country music festival, running successfully for 7 years. The festival will not take place this year, with plans for a return in 2026. Organisers explicitly stated that the decision was due to the "widely reported pressures on the festival industry," specifically mentioning rising production costs and general economic conditions. Bestival (2004 - 2018) Bestival ran annually from 2004 to 2018, a total of 15 years. For most of its run, it was held on the Isle of Wight before relocating to Dorset for its final two editions. The festival was cancelled for 2019 amidst significant and spiralling debts. The festival owed large sums of money to the police and reportedly to performing acts. While the tragic death of a festival-goer in 2017 added to negative publicity, the overwhelming debt was the primary reason for its cessation. Its sister event, Camp Bestival, continues to run. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad V Festival (1996 - 2017) V Festival ran annually in the UK from 1996 to 2017, spanning 22 years. It was famously a dual-site festival, with artists playing both Hylands Park and Weston Park. In 2017, Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, announced that V Festival would be discontinued in its original dual-site format. While no single reason was definitively stated, it's widely believed that factors included changing audience tastes, increasing competition from other festivals, and potentially rising operational costs. It was succeeded by the one-off "Rize" festival in 2018. Those who SpinGenie surveyed wanted to see T In The Park and V Festival return to future UK festival calendars, with 6% citing other festivals including Phoenix and Deconstruction. | Canva T in the Park (1994 - 2016) T in the Park ran annually from 1994 to 2016, a total of 23 years. It was a cornerstone of the Scottish festival scene, primarily held at Balado before moving to Strathallan Castle. The festival faced a multitude of severe issues in its later years. The move to Strathallan Castle brought significant health and safety challenges, logistical problems, and planning permission issues. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Alongside these site-specific difficulties, T in the Park experienced increasing incidents of anti-social behaviour and drug-related deaths. Organisers decided to take a break after the 2016 edition, citing these persistent problems, and it has not returned since - though TRNSMT has taken its place as a spiritual successor of sorts. The Big Chill / Big Chill Festival (1994 - 2011) The Big Chill (including its early iterations as a smaller event) and Big Chill Festival ran from 1994 to 2011, a span of 18 years. It was known for its relaxed atmosphere and eclectic mix of electronic, dub, reggae, and indie music. But the festival was put "on hiatus" indefinitely after its 2011 edition. The main reasons cited were financial difficulties and a need for a "rethink" of the festival's format. Factors likely included rising operational costs, increased competition in the festival market, and perhaps a decline in ticket sales or profitability that made it unsustainable to continue in its existing form. Sundown Festival (2012 - 2024) Sundown Festival ran for 12 years, typically as an "end-of-summer" festival held on the outskirts of Norwich. Its last physical event was in 2024. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Organisers announced the cancellation of the 2025 event, stating that the decision was primarily financial. They cited "The rising costs of production, along with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis," as significantly impacting Sundown's future. While they expressed hope for a future return, the immediate cause was economic unviability. Lovebox (2002 - 2020) Lovebox, founded by Groove Armada, was held annually in London between 2002 and 2020, a total of 19 years. It moved through various London parks during its run. The 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival has not been held since, and while there hasn't been a definitive "closure" announcement in the same way as some others, the pandemic effectively put an end to its annual run. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Prior to this, the festival had faced challenges with venue permits and local resident objections when trying to secure new locations within London. All Tomorrow's Parties (ATP) (2001 - 2016) All Tomorrow's Parties (ATP) ran numerous festivals and events from 2001 (with earlier roots in 1999) through to 2016 (though later attempts were often quickly cancelled), totalling around 15 years of significant operation. It was known for its unique "curated" format. ATP faced significant and prolonged financial difficulties, leading to numerous cancellations and a tarnished reputation. The company went into liquidation in 2012, owing millions, and subsequent attempts to continue under new entities also struggled with debt.

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