Alex Scott is determined to end Football Focus on a high note as she presented its first show since news of the programme being axed.
The broadcaster made a note of the show being cut at the start of the episode after plummeting viewership figures forced the BBC to remove it from its schedules.
The former England international said: “Hello and welcome to Football Focus. In the words of Declan Rice: ‘It’s not done, it’s not done yet.’
“We’ve got five games left to decide the Premier League title and five shows left in the proud history of Football Focus.
Alex Scott is determined to end Football Focus on a high note
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BBC“We’re going to be finishing our 52nd season strong, beginning today with a ‘tough-tackling’ partnership of Ashley Williams and Farah Williams.”
The BBC announced earlier this week that Football Focus was going to come to an end after its long 52-year history.
Following the news of the cutting, Scott took to social media, saying: “After 52 years on air, Football Focus is coming to an end.
“To have been part of it has been incredibly special, and I’m so grateful and proud of the eight years I’ve been involved, including the five years I’ve had the honour of presenting it.”
Alex Scott has fronted the show since 2021 | PA
The presenter continued: “It has been such an important part of my life, working with some of the very best people in the business, both on screen and behind the scenes.
“I’ve loved so much of it, the conversations, the laughter, and sharing so many big moments with you, the audience. Thank you for being part of it.
“I always knew this would be my last season on the show, which the BBC were aware of too. My intention was to move quietly into the next chapter, but sometimes things change.”
Explaining how the show started to struggle, the former Lioness said: “When this show began all those years ago, social media wasn’t a driving force, podcasts didn’t exist, and there was no instant access to information in the way there is today.
The show fronted by Scott saw its viewership start to struggle
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PA“Now, by the time we go on air, the reality is you’ve already seen it, debated it, and lived it across so many platforms.
“That shift has changed the whole industry. TV audiences have been declining for years, while digital and on-demand viewing continues to grow.”
BBC Sport chief Alex Kay-Jelski has backed the presenter following the axing of the show.
He said Scott is “one of our finest presenters, is hugely popular across the men’s and women’s game and is a big part of our present and future”.
The BBC announced on April 23 that it was cutting Football Focus after 52 years on air | PA
Kay-Jelski added: “She will remain at the heart of our sports output across both the Men’s World Cup this year and the Women’s World Cup in 2027, as well as continuing her lead role on the Women’s Super League and BBC Sport Personality of the Year.
“We are also working on a very exciting new project with her – more to come on that soon.”
Mark Lawrenson, who departed the BBC in 2022 after a quarter-century appearing on the show, said the following year that Football Focus had “served its time”.
The programme will broadcast its last episode at the end of this season.