Chris Hughes suffers career blow as he's 'dropped from the BBC' ahead of major sporting coverage - after leaving ITV Racing following CBB stint
In a blow for Chris, 33, it's reported he has been axed from his presenting duties with BBC Sport.
Since 2021, Chris had been a regular face of the BBC's Hundred cricket competition coverage, a format that appeals to younger viewers.
With just days to go until this year's league kicks off, Chris has been snubbed from the hosting lineup.
A BBC insider told The Sun: 'Chris has done a good job for four years, but we're going in a different direction.
'There will be more focus on the cricket this year, rather than promoting the Hundred as an entertainment show.
'Former England cricketers Alex Hartley and Isa Guha and will lead the presenting team, as they know the sport inside out. Rick Edwards from Radio Five Live will be used in the Chris Hughes role.'
World Cup winners Isa Guha and Alex Hartley will anchor the coverage on TV, with Chris' role now being filled by BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast star Rick Edwards.
Daily Mail has contacted reps for Chris, while the BBC declined to comment.
It comes after the BBC told Chris in 2023 that his comment towards female cricketer Maitlan Brown during the BBC's coverage of The Hundred was 'not appropriate'.
Chris was interviewing Southern Brave's Australian star during her side's innings against the Trent Rockets, in which he provided plenty of positivity about the women's game.
However, he became sidetracked after Brown mentioned a recent team bonding session among the Brave stars.
'We watched Barbie the other night altogether and it was really good team bonding and the group is gelling really well together,' she said.
'That is the key to success I think in tournaments like this, how well and how quickly you can gel as a group.'
Since 2021, Chris had been a regular face of the BBC's Hundred cricket competition coverage, a format that appeals to younger viewers (pictured hosting the racing on ITV)
Cricket fans flocked to Twitter to blast the Love Island star for his awkward remark
Hughes quipped in response: 'You're a little Barbie yourself innit, with your blue eyes.'
Brown awkwardly laughed at the remark, before Hughes emulated Chris Gayle by saying: 'She's blushing now.'
Cricket legend Gayle was criticised for his awful 'don't blush baby' remark during the Big Bash League in Australia back in 2016.
The BBC have since confirmed that they have discussed the incident with Hughes. A spokesperson told Mail Sport: 'We have spoken to Chris and explained that his comment was not appropriate.'
The news comes after it was reported earlier this year how Chris was leaving his role on ITV Racing in an apparent dispute over pay.
Chris, who is a lifelong horse racing fan, had co-hosted coverage of the channels biggest events such as the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot since 2019.
The former Love Island hunk took part in the latest series of Celebrity Big Brother in April this year.
Whilst locked in the spy house, he grew close to American singer and reality star JoJo, 22.
After leaving the show, the pair later confirmed they had progressed from a platonic to a romantic relationship.
Meanwhile, Chris was recently forced to hit back at trolls this weekend after they accused him of being a 'creep' and 'doing anything for fame' amid his romance with JoJo.
Chris shared a slew of loved-up snaps with JoJo amid their long-distance relationship and penned in the caption: 'just everything - missing you.'
Underneath one troll had commented saying: 'Does anybody else find this creepy.'
Chris then responded to the woman named Pauline, saying: 'no Pauline, you're miserable, p**s off kindly.' She then responded: 'lol we see long it lasts.'
He then continued in a second comment: 'yeah again, you don't need to speak, you don't follow me, respectfully do one thank you.'
Chris had previously described JoJo as the 'love of his life' in a sweet interview, whilst also revealing the nickname JoJo has for his private parts in a shocking X-rated confession.
The star told E! News last month: 'She calls my balls Jimmy and Timmy. So she must like Jimmy and Timmy,' adding that she loves 'the rhyming lingo.'
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