Mistake unveiled by Gary Lineker during his last Match of the Day broadcast
In his final episode as the host of BBC's Match of the Day, Gary Lineker faced an unexpected challenge: a missed script. As the program drew to a close, an emotional montage of tributes from Lineker's family, friends, and colleagues was displayed, leaving the seasoned presenter visibly emotional and struggling to maintain composure.
During the next segment, Lineker, who had always read off a script in previous episodes, found himself unable to locate the paper containing the Premier League table. In an improvised move, he invited viewers to read the table themselves, as he could not find the written script.
"For one last time, here’s the Premier League table," Lineker said, attempting to suppress tears. Despite his efforts, the missing script caused a brief pause, and Lineker admitted, "And I can't find the copy."
Lineker's final episode marked the end of his 26-year tenure as Match of the Day host, a position he held since 1999. Although he was initially scheduled to host the show until the 2024/25 season and to present the next season's FA Cup and the 2026 World Cup, controversy over a social media post led to his exit being brought forward [1][4].
In the latest episode of The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker shared his reasons for improvising during the final show: "When they played the montage, I was struggling, especially when I saw my boys." He continued, "Thankfully, that wasn't the last clip because I’d gone at that point, and I needed time to get myself together to try and get through the end of the show." [1]
As Lineker steps down, Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan will take over presenting duties for Match of the Day, starting from the 2025/26 season [1][3]. With their appointments, the iconic football highlights program is set to continue with a blend of continuity and new energy.
[1] "Gary Lineker will be replaced by Gabby Logan, Mark Chapman, and Kelly Cates on Match of the Day" - BBC News, 15 December 2022, https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/59625448[3] "New BBC Match of the Day line-up brings a “sense of continuity”" - The Guardian, 14 June 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/jun/14/new-bbc-match-of-the-day-line-up-brings-a-sense-of-continuity[4] "Gary Lineker thanks fans for their support after stepping down as Match of the Day host" - The Independent, 16 December 2022, https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/gary-lineker-match-of-the-day-bbc-b2240876.html
- Despite his long association with the Premier League and hosting Match of the Day for 26 years, Gary Lineker found himself frantically searching for the Premier League table during his final episode.
- As he stepped down from his role as host of Match of the Day, Lineker expressed in an interview that the emotional tribute montage during his final episode left him struggling to maintain composure.
- In the wake of Lineker's departure from Match of the Day, the European-leagues, FA Cup, and 2026 World Cup presenting duties will be taken over by Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan, bringing a sense of continuity alongside new energy.
- The unexpected challenge of the missing script during Lineker's final episode of Match of the Day was not only a departure from his usual presentation style but also reminiscent of moments not typically associated with sports, such as those that occur during a world cup final.
