The BBC has sparked a fresh ageism row after it was confirmed that Gary Lineker is to step down from hosting Match of the Day.
Lineker, who has fronted the show for 25 years, will leave the role at the end of the current football season – however, he will remain with the BBC for its World Cup coverage in 2026.
On Tuesday, the BBC confirmed that Lineker had signed an 18-month extension – after his previous deal was due to expire at the end of this year.
Breaking his silence following the announcement, Lineker claimed he was “delighted” to continue his “long association with BBC Sport”, thanking “all those who made this happen”.
Gary Lineker is to leave Match of the Day in 2025, and leaving the BBC in 2026
Getty
Speaking to GB News, commentator Rebecca Reid claimed that one of broadcaster’s top contenders to replace him, Gabby Logan, will most likely not be chosen due to the BBC’s “ageism” issue.
Reid argued: “I would argue that Gabby Logan’s less likely to get it, because the BBC famously has an issue with ageism, particularly with women.
“So I think that the BBC will be gagging for somebody young and beautiful like Alex Scott.”
However, Reid admitted that she would “love to see an older woman be given the job” as “they are given the least opportunities in television”.
Gabby Logan is one of the top contenders to replace Gary Lineker as host
BBC
Highlighting the potential impact of having a female presenter at the helm, Reid told GB News: “I would actually love to see an older woman, given the opportunity, because all the women are given the least opportunities on television, particularly in this country.
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“But as football is changing, it would be really nice to see little girls feeling more represented.”
Weighing in on who should replace Lineker, host Bev Turner argued that Gaby Logan is a more popular contender than Alex Scott due to her “broadcasting experience”.
Bev claimed: “I would actually say in Alex Scott’s case, I think that accusation might be accurate that she’s only in the short list because she is a woman. She doesn’t have the experience of Gabby Logan.
“Gabby’s been hosting sport on TV for over 25 years. Alex Scott is very, very new to it, but she does have the footballing experience. But with that in mind, surely the experience of being a broadcaster will trump any idea of tokenism if a woman gets it otherwise?”
Rebecca Reid says the BBC are ‘gagging for someone young and beautiful’ to present the show
GB News
Defending Scott, Reid hit back at Bev and argued that she is “not inexperienced”, as she has been presenting for “around seven years now”.
Reid told GB News: “Alex has been doing it on and off since 2017, which in my head is two years ago, but it’s actually seven years, so she’s not inexperienced.
“But how lovely would it be if more young women wanted to watch it with their parents because they see somebody who represents them on screen?
“We see it with Taylor Swift now in America – lots of men get to watch American football with their daughters now because she brings in the teenage girls, and the dads already wanted to watch it.”
GB News has approached the BBC for comment.
