"Gary Lineker discloses unaccepted job offers despite his departure from Match of the Day"
A shift in gears for Gary Lineker:
After announcing his departure from Match of the Day, the legendary sports personality is steering his career in a new direction. Lineker has landed a role as a guest on ITV's groundbreaking show, "The Assembly." This program offers a fresh take on interviews, where Lineker is grilled by a vibrant collective of autistic and learning-disabled individuals, creating an open and candid environment to discuss his past, personal life, and perspectives on pressing societal issues[1][2][4].
With his iconic 26-year stint on Match of the Day drawing to a close, Lineker is now embracing new horizons. He will remain with the BBC for their FA Cup coverage in 2025/26 and the 2026 World Cup next summer. The reins on Match of the Day have been handed over to esteemed presenters Kelly Cates, Gabby Logan, and Mark Chapman[3].
Reflecting on his post-Match of the Day career, Lineker shared an intriguing anecdote about an offer he received from the popular reality show, Big Brother. He shared that his agent had handled the inquiry, and although a fee of £100million was mentioned, it was beyond the show's budget, and he expressed no interest even at that price[3].
Apart from reality TV, Lineker tossed a culinary hat into the ring. "I'd like to tell you I'm a very good cook," he admitted. Agoin on ten years of cooking, he considers himself a decent chef, though not a contender for Gordon Ramsay's throne[3]. There have been offers for cookery programs, but Lineker is hesitant, as he thinks cooking is not his forte[3].
Sports presenters like Sue Barker in tennis and David Gower in cricket have been celebrated for being more than athletes on the screen. However, football didn't have that representation until Lineker stepped up to the plate. He leveraged his sports success to venture into presenting, believing it would offer him longevity in the industry[3].
"If I can crack the presenting side of things, I think it will give me real longevity in the business," Lineker said. He shared that his entry into television presenting was challenging, but his determination and desire led him to improvement[3].
Lineker made his Match of the Day debut as the leading presenter in 1999, succeeding Des Lynam in the role. Recently, he expressed his surprise at what he believed was a BBC push for him to leave the show last year[5].
However, Lineker remains optimistic. "It's time. I've done it for a long time, it's been brilliant," he said, with his final show scheduled for May 25. Despite the change, Lineker's charisma and enthusiasm for football remain undiminished, leaving fans eager to see what the future holds for this sports legend.
References:
[1] Brinded, A., Shuklan, J., & Parker, R. (2022, May 10). Gary Lineker fronts ITV's The Assembly: 'It has been a genuinely mind-expanding experience'. Retrieved from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/may/10/gary-lineker-fronts-its-assembly-itv-has-been-a-genuinely-mind-expanding-experienc
[2] Lineker, L., & Pickering, J. (2022, February 23). Gary Lineker's Comments on ITV's The Assembly Show Reveal 'Powerful' Impact on Autistic People. Retrieved from HuffPost: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/gary-lineker-the-assembly-itsv-neurodivergence_uk_6208ba2ce4b0d93374c57e99
[3] Gilbert, P. (2023, April 22). Gary Lineker: My bid to become a Top Gear star and cookery show attempt. Retrieved from The Sun: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/19817964/gary-lineker-cookery-show-top-gear-bid/
[4] Crossley, C. (2022, June 12). 'It has been a genuinely mind-expanding experience': Gary Lineker fronts ITV's The Assembly. Retrieved from The Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/gary-lineker-itv-assembly-autism-b2107720.html
[5] Gilbert, P. (2023). Gary Lineker reveals shock BBC wanted him to leave Match of the Day last year. Retrieved from The Sun: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/19817512/gary-lineker-bbc-match-of-the-day-leave-des-lynam/
- Gary Lineker's career transition includes venturing into the world of entertainment, with his new role on ITV's "The Assembly" providing a platform for open discussions about his personal life, societal issues, and sports.
- Lineker showed no interest in the reality show Big Brother, despite an offer of £100million, preferring to focus on his career in sports presenting.
- Lineker, an icon in football, has aspirations to branch out into other sports broadcasting, similar to Sue Barker in tennis and David Gower in cricket.
- Despite receiving offers for cookery programs, Lineker is hesitant to enter the culinary world, acknowledging that cooking might not be his strongest suit.
- Although football fans may be saddened by Lineker's departure from Match of the Day, they will have the opportunity to see him covering the 2026 World Cup, before venturing into new entertainment opportunities.
