BBC staff 'fear MOTD will go woke with middle-aged, male former players to be axed'

Fears have been raised that Match of the Day will go woke after Gary Lineker's shock exit (Image: Getty)

BBC staff reportedly fear Match of the Day will go ‘woke’ by hiring influencers and celebrities to replace fans’ favourites. Presenter Gary Lineker will leave the show after 26 years at the end of the Premier League season, while the highlights programme has undergone huge change over the past few years.

There are reportedly concerns among staff that ex-players with genuine expertise could be replaced by online personalities to draw in younger viewers. BBC bosses have been warned they risk “alienating” their core viewership.

Staff worry that reducing the number of middle-aged male pundits could lead to Match of the Day becoming more like Football Focus, which has seen a number of influencers and celebrities introduced as viewers dwindle. It is feared those changes could be made under the BBC’s new Director of Sport, Alex Kay-Jelski.

An insider allegedly told The Sun: “The hope would be to draw in younger, new audiences — but the danger is they end up alienating their current viewers and driving them away.

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“Everyone expects there to be some changes but they don’t want to have MOTD left unrecognisable just because of the whims of a handful of executives.

“They want experts on the show who have some genuine expertise and experience, not amateurs who are brought on for their star appeal or online pulling power. But with change at the top, there’s the concern that the BBC will take the chance to make a major overhaul.”

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There is reportedly a fear that Match of the Day could end up looking like Football Focus, another long-running show which first aired in 1974. Former Love Island contestant Jordan Mainoo-Hames - brother of Manchester United star Kobbie - has interviewed stars.

Mark Chapman is the favourite to replace Gary Lineker on Match of the Day (Image: Getty) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

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Actors Will Mellor and Ralf Little - of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps fame - were also guests. Last year, it was revealed that the show had lost a third of its viewers in four years.

That prompted Dan Walker to post on X: “It’s hard to see Football Focus struggling. I loved it growing up and it was an honour to host it and I still miss it. We poured everything into that show each week and worked hard to keep it relevant. I hope it stays part of the TV landscape.”

Meanwhile, Mark Chapman remains the favourite to replace Lineker as host. It comes after recently-retired Premier League stars Joe Hart and Theo Walcott were hired as new studio guests during the summer.