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Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ian Wright returns to ITV for England semi-final after Eni Aluko row
Ian Wright is set to cover the England Women's team for the first time since the controversy involving Eni Aluko, when he appears on ITV's coverage of the Lionesses' match on Tuesday evening. Sarina Wiegman's side face Italy in the semi-finals of the Women's Euros in Geneva, and Wright will be part of the punditry team. This will mark Wright's first on-screen appearance as a pundit for women's football since Aluko accused him of 'blocking opportunities for women' within the sport. The former England and Arsenal striker has long been a vocal supporter of the women's game, consistently championing its growth and visibility. However, during an appearance on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour in April, former Lioness Eni Aluko suggested that Wright's involvement in the coverage of women's football may be denying roles to women, arguing that such positions should prioritise female voices. READ MORE: Joe Brolly slams Dónal Óg Cusack over 'most grotesque thing' after Cork's All-Ireland final loss READ MORE: Hilarious video shows Sharlene Mawdsley race Tipperary fan amid All-Ireland celebrations Amid a huge backlash, Aluko quickly issued an apology, but Wright refused to accept it. "I've got to say, I'm very disappointed about what Eni has said,' he said. 'She knows how I've helped her, supported her publicly, and I know the previous conversations she's had with me and my management.' Wright has kept a low profile since the row, not appearing on ITV or the BBC's coverage of the Women's Euros in Switzerland. But The Telegraph says he will be in Geneva on Tuesday night, working alongside former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, ex-England midfielder Karen Carney and presenter Laura Woods. The 61-year-old has been covering the tournament on a podcast called Crossways with former England captain Steph Houghton. But this is the first time he will step in front of the camera since he took great offence at Aluko's words. Aluko has been a part of ITV's coverage of the Euros, but has not appeared on any of England's matches. She has since finished her work and will not be present for Tuesday night's game, or for the final, on Sunday in Basel. ITV came out strongly in support of Wright during the row earlier this year. "Ian's standing in the sport is beyond question," a spokesperson said. "As one of the UK's most respected and much-loved footballers and sporting broadcasters, with a career spanning nearly four decades, Ian is an incredible advocate, ally and brilliant broadcaster of women's football from a grassroots level as well as at the highest international competitions." Aluko claimed the Arsenal legend is "dominating" coverage of women's football before backtracking and apologising in a statement on social media. "lan Wright is a brilliant broadcaster and role model whose support for the women's game has been significant,' she said. "In my interview with Woman's Hour this week, I was trying to make a broader point about the limited opportunities for women in football – whether that's in coaching, broadcasting or commercial spaces – and the importance of creating more space for women to thrive on and off the pitch. "But it was wrong for lan's name to be raised in that conversation, and for that I sincerely apologise. I've known and worked with lan for many years and have nothing but love and respect for him." Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
Metro
a day ago
- Sport
- Metro
Ian Wright vs Eni Aluko beef explained as Arsenal legend returns to ITV coverage
Ian Wright is set to be part of ITV's coverage of England vs Italy in the semi-finals of the Women's European Championship, returning to his punditry role for the first time since an unexpected clash with Eni Aluko. The Arsenal legend has been busy covering the Women's Euros but away from the television cameras, hosting the Crossways podcast with Steph Houghton. He will be back on screen on Tuesday night in Geneva, though, with the Telegraph reporting he will be alongside host Laura Woods, former Emma Hayes and Karen Carney. Aluko has been working in a punditry role during the tournament in Switzerland but has now completed her duties with ITV so will not be involved. The Telegraph note that Wright was not originally part of ITV's broadcast team, but is doing the same as he did during the 2023 World Cup, by arriving for the semi-finals onwards. Wright has long been a regular part of women's football coverage and that was actually how his unlikely argument with Aluko started. There was a surprise attack on Wright from the former England forward, which the 61-year-old did not appreciate. Aluko accused Wright of 'blocking' opportunities for female broadcasters in an interview with the BBC's Woman's Hour in April, and said that the former Arsenal and England striker is 'dominating' the women's game. 'What we don't want is a repeat dominance of men in the women's game, as broadcasters, as coaches, earning more money than women when we can't do the same in the men's game,' she said. 'I would never, ever be able to usurp Gary Neville or Jamie Carragher, these are guys who have done it for a long time, they are brilliant broadcasters, they rightly dominate their sport. I think the same should apply in the women's game. 'I've worked with Ian a long time and, you know, I think he's a brilliant broadcaster but I think he's aware of just how much he's doing in the women's game. I think he should be aware of that. 'The fact of the matter is, as I said, there is a limited amount of spaces available. If we had a situation where there was an equal opportunity in the men's game for broadcasters and coaches that there is in the women's game, it's a free for all. 'But that's not the case. I can't dominate the men's game in the way that, you know, you used Ian as an example, Ian is dominating the women's game.' Aluko's comments attracted criticism as the former Arsenal striker has been a major advocate of the women's game for several years. It also emerged that Wright has been paying £1,700 a month to fund Kayleigh McDonald's rehab after she suffered an ACL injury while playing for Stoke City last year. 'I wouldn't be in a great place mentally if it wasn't for Ian Wright,' said McDonald. 'I would probably still be waiting for my surgery if it wasn't for him. For him to do this for me, someone he didn't know, I think there should be more of a spotlight shone on him.' Wright has also made a £15,000 donation towards training courses to help increase the number of female grassroots coaches. Aluko said: 'Ian Wright is a brilliant broadcaster and role model whose support for the women's game has been significant. 'In my interview with Woman's Hour this week, I was trying to make a broader point about the limited opportunities for women in football – whether that's in coaching, broadcasting or commercial spaces – and the importance of creating more space for women to thrive on and off the pitch. 'But it was wrong for lan's name to be raised in that conversation, and for that I sincerely apologise. 'I've known and worked with lan for many years and have nothing but love and respect for him.' The Arsenal legend said he wanted to move on from the situation, but also felt that he could not accept the apology. 'I've got to say, I'm very disappointed about what Eni has said, she knows how I've helped her, supported her publicly, and I know the previous conversations she's had with me and my management,' Wright said. 'I've seen the apology on social media but I can't accept it, but I also want to move on.' 'Ian's standing in the sport is beyond question,' an ITV spokesperson told The Guardian. More Trending 'As one of the UK's most respected and much-loved footballers and sporting broadcasters, with a career spanning nearly four decades, Ian is an incredible advocate, ally and brilliant broadcaster of women's football from a grassroots level as well as at the highest international competitions.' Wright was further supported by his podcast co-host Houghton, who said: 'Ian, can I just say this, and this has not been pre-empted, I think I posted on Instagram: What you have done for our game is unbelievable and you've got to take all the credit that everybody's thrown at you this last week because you are a super-hero. And I love working with you.' Now Wright is making his return to covering the Lionesses and will be hoping to be watching them beat Italy and reach the Euro 2025 final. MORE: Why the Lionesses will not take the knee before Italy Women's Euros semi-final MORE: England vs Italy: How to watch Euro 2025 semi-final on TV and live stream tonight MORE: Three big decisions Sarina Wiegman has to make for England's Euro 2025 semi-final
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ian Wright's huge net worth, family tragedy, Euro 2025 ITV return after Eni Aluko row
Ian Wright is set to be in the ITV Sport studio for England's semi-final clash with Italy, the first time the Arsenal icon has covered the Lionessess since his falling out with Eni Aluko Ian Wright is set to appear on ITV's line-up for England's Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy for the first time since his Eni Aluko dispute. The Arsenal icon had a remarkable journey in his career all the way from non-league football to becoming the Gunners' top scorer, and he is now renowned as a beloved pundit for men's and women's football. Wright will return to the TV studio as part of the punditry team for Tuesday's Women's Euros knockout match. He is expected to be joined by ex-Chelsea boss Emma Hayes, former Lioness Karen Carney and presenter Laura Woods. It comes weeks after Aluko claimed the former England international was blocking opportunities for women in punditry with his continued involvement in broadcasting. The 38-year-old said in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour in April that Wright should be more aware of "how much he's doing in the women's game" and added that he could be affecting the chances of female pundits aiming to break into the industry. However, even after Aluko apologised, Wright refused to accept this retraction and urged people to "move on" from the incident. Now, he will return to punditry for the first time since as the Lionesses aim to make it back-to-back finals in the European Championships. Here, Mirror Football has detailed some of Wright's biggest headlines in his career, from his net worth and personal relationships to his work in broadcasting. What is Ian Wright's net worth? Despite earning 33 caps for England, Wright's chances of playing international football were initially slim, signing his first professional contract with Crystal Palace at the age of 21. The late bloomer made up for lost time by scoring prolifically for Palace before joining his childhood friend David Rocastle at Arsenal. He became the club's record goalscorer during a seven-year spell in north London, a record later broken by Thierry Henry. Even while still at Highbury, Wright began his media career, making his debut on Match of the Day in 1997. After decades on the BBC's flagship football programme, Wright left his role at the end of the 2023/24 season. He continues to work as a pundit for ITV Sport and hosts the Wrighty's House podcast. He also appears on the Stick to Football podcast and works for Premier League Productions. Thanks to his extensive work in football, Celebrity Net Worth estimates Wright's net worth to be around £15million. His punditry roles reportedly earn him about £150,000 per year. Beyond football, Wright has presented numerous television programmes, including Moneyball on ITV. In 2019, he reportedly pocketed £400k for his stint on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here. What did Eni Aluko say about Ian Wright? Wright made headlines through no fault of his own when Aluko accused the ex-Arsenal star of blocking opportunities for up-and-coming female pundits. In an interview on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, the ex-Lioness said: "I've worked with Ian a long time and, you know, I think he's a brilliant broadcaster, but I think he's aware of just how much he's doing in the women's game. "I think he should be aware of that. The fact of the matter is, as I said, there is a limited amount of spaces available. If we had a situation where there was an equal opportunity in the men's game for broadcasters and coaches that there is in the women's game, it's a free for all." "But that's not the case. I can't dominate the men's game in the way that, you know, you used Ian as an example. I don't know about wrong, but I think we need to be conscious and we need to make sure that women are not being blocked from having a pathway into broadcasting in the women's game. "It's still new, it's still growing. There's a finite amount of opportunities and I think that men need to be aware of that. Men need to be aware that, you know, you're in a growing sport, a growing sport for women, and we haven't always had these opportunities, and so it's about the awareness and supporting other women through that pathway." These words weren't taken well by the general public or Wright himself, as the former footballer is well-known and loved for his support of women's football. Later, Aluko issued an apology on social media for mentioning Wright in what she claimed should have been a "broader point about the limited opportunities for women in football." She added that she has "nothing but love and respect" for her fellow pundit. However, Wright published his response on Instagram, stating he "couldn't accept" the retraction but admitted he wants "to move on" from the incident. In the post, the 61-year-old said: "I have to talk about this week and what's going on, I don't want to endlessly be asked about it. "I've got to say, I'm very disappointed about what Eni has said, she knows how I've helped her, supported her publicly, and I know the previous conversations she's had with me and my management. "I've seen the apology on social media, but I can't accept it. But I also want to move on. For anyone watching this, I really don't need any further social commentary directed on any of this. The thing about where the women's game is, it isn't about me – it has to be about the collective. "Because of the past, we know the men blocked the women's game for 50 years, because of the past we know the game has serious systemic challenges, and it's going to take everyone to help fix it. So, for me, I always give back to the game, it's given me so much." Who is Ian Wright's wife? Wright is a dad to eight children, including ex- Premier League players Shaun and Bradley Wright-Phillips. The Arsenal legend was still a teen when he adopted Sharon Phillips' son Shaun, who played for Chelsea and England, before the pair welcomed Bradley Wright-Phillips, who carved out a brilliant career overseas in the MLS. By the time he encountered his first spouse, Deborah, the broadcaster had already fathered a third child, Brett. They wed in 1993, but their union came under pressure after it surfaced that Wright had been unfaithful to his wife. The duo had son Stacey and daughter Bobbi-Lee before their divorce in 2004. Wright also fathers a daughter, Coco, whom he financially backs but maintains no relationship with. Looking back on his love life in his autobiography, Wright confessed his remorse as he said: "I got caught up in all of that and cheated on first wife, Debbie, which destroyed my marriage. That was a really horrible period. If there's ever been a time in my life I wish I could change, that would be it." A visit to a Notting Hill pub resulted in Wright meeting his current spouse, Nancy Hallam. The pair tied the knot in 2011 and have welcomed daughters Lola and Roxanne. While he has discovered contentment, Wright has expressed regret for his previous errors. He added: "I didn't experience an enormous amount of love from my mum when I was a child, so I've had to learn what it is and learn how to be happy and at peace. "I've put other people through horrible experiences along the way. If people think that's selfish, then I'm really sorry. Nancy's the perfect woman and I can't stand to be apart from her and our daughters. My love for them is unconditional and my upbringing means I have a lot of love to give now." Family tragedy Wright disclosed that he had lost two significant figures in his life during the summer of 2024. As the football community grieved the passing of Wright's dear friend and former Arsenal attacking partner Kevin Campbell in June last year, the pundit revealed that weeks afterwards his elder brother had also died. "It's been a tough summer," Wright said on the Stick to Football podcast at the time. "My man Kevin Campbell and a couple of weeks later I lose my brother. It's been one of those situations where you just have to get on with it. It catches you every now and then." Speaking about his brother, Wright said: "I'm driving along and I'm thinking of my brother. He was a really good cricketer, a really good footballer. He didn't come up to the house as often as [I'd] like but that's because he's just a loner. "And then all of a sudden you're constantly trying to get in touch with him, come and do this, come and do that, and then bam, he's gone. You know what I mean? "It's tough, man. Now I feel pretty much in control of it, but I know that at some stage later on it just catches you. But you just have to deal with it. "It helps being among people. Grieving is a process. You never know when it's going to come and it's not like it ever leaves you. It's going to come at some stage. Even like now, I just don't know what to say. I just miss them both." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Cosmopolitan
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Easyjet summer 2026 sale: The best limited flight deals under £50
This is not a drill, Easyjet has just launched their summer sale for 2026, with flights available from £21.99. Earlier today [22 July] the budget airline released 'millions' of tickets for all their flights available to book up until 13 September 2026. You can also book Easyjet package holidays up until October 2026. The way the Easyjet summer sale works is the prices are based on dynamic pricing aka when there's a lot of demand for flights the prices go up, and when there's less demand the prices are generally more affordable. Included within the flights for this year's summer sale are trips to destinations including Marrakech, Majorca, Milan, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Venice, and many, many more including a number of UK destinations. These are some of the best deals we've found so far for trips departing the UK next summer: It's worth noting these prices are purely just for the flights and not any added baggage apart from the standard allowance of your small underseat bag. Now the only question left to decide is where to go next year? Find more flight details at Easyjet Lydia Venn is Cosmopolitan UK's Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer. She covers everything from TV and film, to the latest celebrity news. She also writes across our work/life section regularly creating quizzes, covering exciting new food releases and sharing the latest interior must-haves. In her role she's interviewed everyone from Margot Robbie to Niall Horan, and her work has appeared on an episode of The Kardashians. After completing a degree in English at the University of Exeter, Lydia moved into fashion journalism, writing for the Daily Express, before working as Features Editor at The Tab, where she spoke on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour and Talk Radio. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of Gilmore Girls and 00s teen movies, and in her free time can be found with a margarita in hand watching the Real Housewives on repeat. Find her on LinkedIn.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Christine McGuinness highlights the challenges parents of neurodiverse children face as she makes a glam appearance on Woman's Hour: 'It's a right for everybody'
Christine McGuinness highlighted the challenges parents of neurodiverse children often face as she made a glam appearance on the BBC radio show Woman's Hour on Wednesday. The model, 37, shares three children with her ex-husband, Paddy McGuinness, 51, including 10-year-old twins Penelope and Leo and seven-year-old Felicity – all of whom have autism. During the show, Christine discussed with Krupa Padhy, how the majority of playgrounds in the UK are inaccessible for children with disabilities. Discussing her children and how their autism presents, she said: 'It's different for all three of them like it is for all autistic children. She continued: 'I always say if you've met one autistic person, you've met one, we're not all the same. 'And my three are evidence of that. All of their personalities, the way they play, the way they socialise, the way they communicate, it is all completely different. 'But the one thing that we have in common with all of them is finding places to play, especially outdoors, that is suitable for them is a real challenge, 'It's very limited the places that we can go to, and it's not really gotten any easier since they've gotten older.' When asked to elaborate further on the specific challenges, Christine explained: 'Finding places that are tailored for them where it feels like they are included with the other children, there's not many parks or outdoor play areas that will have sensory equipment.' She continued: 'Or that will have a quiet area, or that are gated, you know, to keep them safe. And more so for children with additional needs, especially neurodiverse, when they haven't got that awareness of danger.' 'It's really important to have a park that's got a fence around it where I can close the gate. Because if they do get overwhelmed, or even if they're really excited, it might be a positive feeling for them, and they're running around or they're overstimulated in a positive way, they can run, and they can climb. 'And there may not be a gate there that I can close for when they're not aware of everything else going on outside the car park and everything, and they'll run, excited, and there's nowhere to keep them safe.' 'Like I said with the sensory areas, to try and help them calm down or to give them something that they are actually going to enjoy doing, there isn't really a lot. She added: 'I mean, the research shows there really isn't enough, and families are travelling up to five miles if not more, to go and try and find somewhere that is suitable for their children, which it's not okay, 'Outdoor play should be there for everyone. It is a right for everybody it shouldn't just be as limited as what it is.' Christine also discussed her autism and ADHD diagnosis, which came about at the age of 33. When asked how she came to realise that she might be autistic, she revealed she found out after her children were diagnosed with autism. She said: 'It was after my children's diagnosis, I didn't understand why they were considered different because they were just like me, She continued: 'And so, when they got their diagnosis, then I kind of had to go okay, well we've got this in similar, we're common in that area, 'I thought it was just because they were my babies. So, of course, they're going to be like me, but there were areas of quite difficult times and challenges, 'Like when it came to socialising, sensory food issues, sensory just being out and about, you know in busier places I always struggled with. 'I just thought that was me and part of my personality. In some ways, I suppose it is, it doesn't completely define us. 'Yes, we are autistic, I'm autistic and ADHD, but I'm still me, and it's just a part of me, and I accepted that, and I accepted that with my children. 'So when I realised that it was because of autism and ADHD, then it answered a lot of questions, but it also opened up a load more (changed my outlook). 'It's helped me massively. I always understood my children anyway, but it's helped me keep that strong bond that we always had. She concluded: 'And it's helped me reassure them that everything is going to be okay and mummy is capable of doing things and you're going to be capable of doing things too.' Christine publicly shared her autism diagnosis in 2021, at the age of 33, after receiving the news earlier that year. This revelation was part of a BBC documentary called 'Christine McGuinness: Unmasking My Autism'. She had previously suspected she was autistic, and the diagnosis of her three children with autism prompted her to seek an assessment herself. Following her Woman's Hour appearance, Christine flaunted her gym-honed body in a figure-hugging baby blue bodysuit and navy blue wide-leg trousers. The model appeared in great spirits as she smiled for the cameras while departing the BBC studio.
