Gary Lineker to make shock ITV World Cup appearance as axed former BBC presenter defects to arch rivals a year on from explosive antisemitism row
Gary Lineker will deliver a shocking performance for ITV at the World Cup on Saturday.
In what appeared to be a two-fingered salute to his former bosses at the BBC, his former Match of the Day The announcer will work for the rival broadcaster in what insiders describe as a ‘guest appearance’ at the Germany-Ivory Coast match in Canada.
It’s not yet clear what that will look like, but reports that he will play a specialist role are being discounted. ITV’s coverage in Toronto will begin at 8pm, with the Group E game kicking off an hour later.
Lineker would mark the end of his 26-year career with the BBC at the World Cup.
But last May, he suffered a sudden outburst following intense criticism over his political social media posts, which included the unwitting sharing of a post on Instagram depicting a mouse that has been linked to anti-Semitism.
Lineker signs £14m presenting deal with Netflix The rest is Football Podcast produced by Keeper.
Gary Lineker is set to make a sensational move by appearing on ITV’s World Cup coverage
Former BBC presenter in the US for the World Cup to host his daily podcast
Questions raised over BBC Sport chief Alex Kay-Jelski’s decision to present the contest from Salford
The 65-year-old actor broadcasts segments with Alan Shearer and Micah Richards every day from a studio in Times Square.
Meanwhile, the BBC does not plan to send experts to the US until the knockout stages and does not have a studio in the country.
ITV spared no expense, broadcasting from a spectacular location with the dramatic Manhattan skyline as a backdrop.
This move may come as a surprise, but the former England striker is not thought to have any restrictions in his Netflix deal that would prevent him from working for ITV.
Lineker, the BBC’s all-time highest earner, apologized ‘unreservedly’ following outrage over the post but would leave the company at the end of the 2024-25 season. He is expected to act as pundit on the Saturday night fixture rather than hosting.
ITV has a strong team, including the likes of Gary Neville, Ian Wright and Roy Keane.
Meanwhile, ITV appears to be winning what appears to be a lopsided battle with the cost-cutting BBC.
Viewing figures show four of the top five viewers had the highest numbers in the UK this year, including a peak of 15.4 million and an average of 10 million to see England’s 4-2 win over Croatia. ITV can also boast the second-highest figure for the first round of group matches, with a peak of 7.7 million for the World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa and an average of 6.6 million.
The BBC’s broadcast of the France-Senegal match reached a peak of 6.7 million viewers, with the match average being 5.9 million. ITV’s broadcasts of Spain v Cape Verde and Netherlands v Japan were in the top five.
Have you been paying attention to the action so far? Try our World Cup quiz HERE
