Football Focus to end after 52 years
BBC Sport has announced that Football Focus will end after 52 years.
Launched in 1974, the Saturday lunchtime television program offered fans interviews, analysis and stories from across the game ahead of weekend fixtures.
Changing spectator habits means increased use of digital platforms and getting the same pre-match content on demand.
As a result, linear television viewing figures have steadily declined since 2018.
Football Focus will continue until the end of the season.
BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski said: “Football Focus has been a pivotal program in the history of BBC Sport and has played a key role in telling the stories of the game to generations of viewers.
“This decision comes ahead of the BBC’s announcement of sweeping savings last week, reflecting the ongoing shift in how audiences engage with football and our determination to improve the way we deliver content to reach fans wherever they are.”
From next season Kelly Somers’ Football Interview will air on BBC One on Saturdays at 12:45 BST. Jason Mohammad’s Final Score will air on BBC One earlier than this season, at 15:45 BST.
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva, Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike and Manchester United boss Michael Carrick are among the players and coaches featured in The Football Interview this season.
BBC Sport has announced that it will expand its digital output across BBC platforms, including special programs on YouTube. The aim is to deliver higher quality, accessible and engaging football coverage at scale.
Football Focus began as part of the Tribune, with Sam Leitch introducing a pre-cursor called Football Preview.
It was renamed Football Focus, with Bob Wilson becoming an iconic figure. The former Arsenal goalkeeper first took up the presenting role in 1974 and remained in the role for 20 years.
Steve Rider, Gary Lineker, Ray Stubbs, Manish Bhasin and Dan Walker served in the chair – for 12 years.
The show’s final presenter will be Alex Scott, who has presented Football Focus for the last five years and will continue to work for the BBC.
“Alex Scott is one of our best presenters, hugely popular in men’s and women’s football and a big part of our present and future,” added Kay-Jelski.
“She will continue to be at the heart of our sporting activities at both the men’s World Cup this year and the 2027 Women’s World Cup, as well as maintaining her leading role in the Women’s Super League and BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.
“We are also working on a very exciting new project with him – more to come.”
Scott said it was “incredibly special” to be a part of the show and an “honor” to have hosted it for five years.
“Working with some of the best people in the industry, both on screen and behind the scenes, has been such an important part of my life,” he said on Instagram.
