Gary Lineker pokes fun at BBC exit in hilarious shock ITV appearance – and makes dig at Beeb’s ‘work from home’ World Cup
Gary Lineker has poked fun at the BBC as he returns to terrestrial football coverage for the first time since leaving the corporation.
In a move that shocked football fans when it was first mooted, Lineker made a guest appearance on ITV’s Germany v Ivory Coast match on Saturday night.
The former Match of the Day presenter, 65, humorously introduced the show before ITV presenter Laura Woods intervened and reminded Lineker of his role.
‘Thank you so much for joining us on ITV for this – another day, another game, another channel,’ Lineker said as he opened the programme, before playfully apologizing for slipping into ‘old habits’.
Lineker later mocked the BBC, confirming that ITV’s breathtaking studio overlooking the Manhattan skyline was real, with his former employers staying at Salford MediaCity until the knockout stages.
Lineker then continued: “I do a show every day for Netflix, we’re in Times Square.” ‘But I really wanted to come and see your set because I think it’s absolutely amazing and I can confirm it’s real.’
The panel asked Lineker about the tournament as a whole; Harry Kane equalizing England’s World Cup goal record, the art of being a striker and Thomas Tuchel. Lineker took the broadcast to the first commercial break after 11 minutes.
Host Woods then gave him a chance to play politics and asked about ticket prices, which FIFA criticized.
‘FIFA will argue that the stadiums are full and they are, and the stadiums are magnificent,’ Lineker said.
But I think for fans who have to take out a second mortgage or sell their cars to watch a football game to line the pockets of a non-profit organization, I don’t understand what FIFA is doing and why they are making it so difficult.
‘It’s incredible how many fans still come here. I’m just thinking, why? Why do they have to make it so expensive?’
Lineker remained on air for 20 minutes and before leaving, jokingly asked if she had failed the audition.
“If you pass the test you get my job, so you failed,” Woods said.
“I don’t stand a chance of that, Laura,” Lineker replied. ‘Can I just say what an amazing job you did? ‘You’re very good at this.’
The 65-year-old actor joined Duncan Ferguson, Gary Neville and Ian Wright as a ‘special guest’ in ITV’s extended panel.
Lineker introduced the program humorously, as he did as a presenter on the BBC, before presenter Laura Woods intervened and said it was her own doing.
The 65-year-old actor joined Duncan Ferguson, Gary Neville and Ian Wright as a ‘special guest’ in ITV’s extended panel
Lineker was due to include the BBC in his final bow on behalf of the company at this summer’s World Cup after 26 years of service.
But last May it was withdrawn following a backlash over a series of political social media posts, including the unwitting sharing on Instagram of a post featuring a depiction of a mouse that has been linked to anti-Semitism.
The former Match of the Day presenter, the BBC’s all-time highest earner, apologized ‘unreservedly’ following outrage over the tip-off but would go on to leave the Beeb at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Lineker is in New York for the World Cup and hosts The Rest Is Football podcast, produced by his company Goalhanger. Episodes are released every day on Netflix and the value of the deal is stated to be £14 million.
Lineker recently joined the wider ITV family and fronts upcoming hit game show The Box in September.
