Gary Lineker shortlisted for National Television Award after Match of the Day exit

Daily Mirror

a day ago

Gary Lineker has been shortlisted for the National Television Award for best TV presenter, just months after his exit from Match Of The Day following a social media row
Gary Lineker has made it to the shortlist for the coveted National Television Award for best TV presenter, just a few months after his departure from Match Of The Day. The ex-footballer is set to go toe-to-toe with Ant & Dec, who have bagged the award for an impressive 23 years on the trot.
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Lineker bid farewell to the BBC's flagship football programme in May after a 26-year stint, following a controversy when he shared a post about Zionism, featuring a depiction of a rat, a symbol historically linked to antisemitic insults He offered a heartfelt apology over the social media post.
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It was later confirmed that he would be stepping down early from his presenting role at the BBC, and would not be leading the coverage of the 2026 World Cup or the upcoming season's FA Cup.
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READ MORE: Gary Lineker sends seven-word message to BBC chief after what he saw on Match of the Day
Earlier this month, news broke that he has signed up to host a new ITV game show titled The Box, which will be filmed in the UK later this year and is set to air in 2026.
Lineker and Ant & Dec are set to battle it out for the television presenter prize against Alison Hammond, famed for her appearances on This Morning and The Great British Bake Off; Claudia Winkleman, the host of The Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing; and Stacey Solomon, the presenter of Sort Your Life Out.
The NTAs will be presided over by comedian Joel Dommett at The O2 in London on 10 September, where Adolescence stars Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham, who portray an on-screen father and son duo, will compete for the drama performance prize.
They are set to compete against Tom Hardy for his crime drama MobLand and Rose Ayling-Ellis for her role as a lipreader assisting the police in the thriller Code of Silence, while Brenda Blethyn is acknowledged for her final case as the titular detective in Vera.
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Adolescence, the powerhouse Netflix drama about a teenage lad who is arrested for murdering a classmate, is also vying for the new drama award.
Also nominated are the adaptation of Jilly Cooper's Rivals, the gangster saga MobLand, Code Of Silence and the enigmatic comedy drama Ludwig.
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The eagerly awaited telly return of Gavin & Stacey at Christmas is shortlisted for the comedy award, competing against stalwart Mrs Brown's Boys, crime caper Brassic and Michael McIntyre's 25th Year Stand-Up Special.
Comedian McIntyre is also recognised with a nod in the Bruce Forsyth entertainment award category, for his variety show Michael McIntyre's Big Show, squaring off against The Graham Norton Show, The Masked Singer and panel game Would I Lie to You?
He is also in contention for the quiz show prize, with a nod for his programme The Wheel, alongside nods for Richard Osman's House of Games, The 1% Club and The Chase.
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Flintoff, in which former cricket star Freddie Flintoff opened up about his life-changing Top Gear car crash, is shortlisted for the authored documentary prize.
It's up against There's Only One Rob Burrow, a tribute to the late rugby league player-turned-MND campaigner; Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me, which follows Strictly professional Amy Dowden's cancer battle; reality star Molly-Mae Hague's revealing Molly-Mae: Behind It All and Boyzone: No Matter What, chronicling the rise and tragedy of the 90s boyband.
TV star Solomon has bagged two nominations in the factual entertainment category, with her lifestyle programme Sort Your Life Out and behind-the-scenes series with hubby Joe Swash – Stacey & Joe – both in the running.
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They're up against Jeremy Clarkson's farming antics in Clarkson's Farm, as well as Gogglebox and The Martin Lewis Money Show Live.
Meanwhile, The Great Pottery Throw Down has nabbed its first nomination for the talent show award, securing a spot alongside Strictly Come Dancing, The Voice UK, Britain's Got Talent and The Great British Bake Off.
The National Television Awards will be aired live on ITV1 and ITVX from 8pm on September 10, with the final round of voting now open.