Gary Lineker addresses Match of the Day future with ‘final show’ remark after BBC exit claims

Speculation has been mounting that Gary Lineker would be walking away from the BBC and Match of the Day after Saturday night’s show – and he met it head on immediately after the opening credits

Gary Lineker couldn’t resist a pop at suggestions that Saturday night’s Match of the Day would be his last.

The £1.3million-a-year presenter’s future at the BBC is in question, with the 63-year-old into the final year of his BBC contract.

The former England striker has anchored the show since 1999 but it has been suggested that he could soon become yesterday’s man. The Daily Mail claimed this week to have seen an internal email from the BBC which suggests that the corporation is drawing up a statement to announce his departure.

That has led to rampant speculation that Saturday night’s show would be Lineker’s finale. And he faced the questions head on with the opening of the show.

Straight from the off after the opening credits, Lineker opened saying: “Seven games on the way and it’s my final show…. Before the international break.”

Lineker had previously refused to comment on that specific allegation when questioned this week. The BBC themselves have moved to dismiss those reports, underlining the fact that Lineker remains under contract and no decisions have been taken beyond that. A statement from a BBC spokesperson said: “We have nothing to announce, and we have not agreed next steps with regard to his contract. He is on contract until the end of the season.”

The suggestion is that Lineker, who was temporarily taken off air last year after comparing the Tories’ immigration policy to Nazi Germany, could be dispensable under new director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski, who the Mail on Sunday claims is unhappy with some of Lineker’s views that have been made on his hit podcast, The Rest is Football.

A source close to Lineker told the Mail on Sunday: “Gary doesn’t deserve this. If they are worried about how much they pay him, then they should pay him less. What’s Gary supposed to do?

“He’s been a great presenter, people love him. He’s Mr Football. The BBC are lucky to have had him.”

Earlier this year Lineker was quizzed on his future in the Match of the Day chair whilst on BBC Breakfast. “It depends how long they want me, I suppose,” he said. “I love doing it at the moment; I’ve still got another year left, at least. So we’ll have to wait and see what happens.

“Obviously it’s another change in football and television and the rights of the Premier League and stuff like that. All of these things will play a part. But I just feel it’s been an absolute privilege to have presented it for 25 years now. I must be getting old!”

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