Lineker could stick two fingers up at BBC and front ITV World Cup coverage

Telegraph

4 hours ago

It is the big question to emerge from Gary Lineker's reported return to television with ITV weeks after he was forced to quit the BBC.
Would he commit the ultimate act of revenge on the corporation by fronting its arch-rival's World Cup coverage?
It seemed unlikely he would be given the chance after the 'anti-Semitic' rat emoji he reposted on Instagram back in May wrecked his bid to use next summer's tournament to bid farewell to his 30-year BBC career.
But while an unreserved apology for his latest social-media misstep – one he said was not intentional – was not enough for corporation chiefs fed up with his political activism, ITV bosses have taken little time to come to a different conclusion.
Indeed, there could hardly be a more ringing endorsement than picking Lineker to front a new game show – called The Box – which has been tipped to fill the void left by one of its biggest hits, presented by its biggest stars: Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.
What The Sun has dubbed a 'huge deal' for Lineker has inevitably fuelled speculation that all this could eventually pave the way for him to join ITV's World Cup presenting team.
This has hardly been dampened by the silence from both parties in response to queries on Wednesday about whether that might end up being the case.
Lineker planning to travel to the World Cup
Bookmakers have also begun slashing their odds in anticipation of a flurry of bets on just such a move.
Lee Phelps, a spokesman for William Hill, said: 'After leaving the BBC just three months ago, Gary Lineker has been quick to switch to ITV, reportedly penning a deal to present new game show The Box.
'With the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico next year, we think it's likely, at 1/3, that Lineker is in line to present ITV's coverage of the tournament.'
For Lineker, there would be every incentive to accept an offer from the broadcaster, which shares the rights to the World Cup with the BBC.
Last week, in his first interview since he lost his job, the 64-year-old told The New World, formerly The New European, that he thought his apology should have been enough to spare him the axe – hardly the words of someone at peace with his departure.
Public relations consultant Mark Borkowski told Telegraph Sport: 'When you're sort of 'castrated' away from a position, you want to prove that you're absolutely the polished populist – which he is.'
But sticking two fingers up to the BBC would not be the only motivating factor for a man who repeatedly topped its list of highest-paid stars before his exit.
Telegraph Sport has been told that despite blowing the chance to front the corporation's World Cup coverage next summer, Lineker is still planning to travel to the tournament to anchor his increasingly lucrative The Rest is Football podcast.
That is after last year's European Championship helped make the podcast one of the UK's most-listened to, largely thanks to Lineker and co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards being mainstays of the BBC's coverage.
And while the corporation would doubtless fund Shearer and Richards's World Cup trips, a contract with its arch-rival would help support Lineker on what could prove an expensive endeavour criss-crossing North and Central America for an expanded 48-team tournament.
Borkowski said: 'I'd be very, very surprised if he didn't front ITV's World Cup coverage.
'That's his sweet spot and he clearly wants to do that. And there might be a deal to be done.
'He's not going to be under scrutiny for his wage, and so his agent can cut him a great deal.'
But not everyone is convinced Lineker would be willing to put his Match of the Day legacy on the line in such a fashion.
Des Lynam, whose decision to do just that back in 1999 handed Lineker his big break with the BBC, said: 'I can't imagine him doing it, really.'
For ITV, meanwhile, there are plenty of reasons why it might turn to Lineker next summer.
Love him or loathe him, he is a major star who would guarantee a bumper audience for his first fixtures on the network – not least for the curiosity factor.
With the BBC replacing him with one or more new World Cup anchors in the shape of Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates, this may also allow ITV to steal a march in any ratings war between the broadcasters.