Match of the Day: BBC announces three hosts to replace departing Gary Lineker

The replacement host line-up for Match of the Day once Gary Lineker departs has been announced

Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman will host Match Of The Day after Gary Lineker leaves at the end of the season.

The confirmation follows speculation about the presenting line-up of the BBC’s flagship football show following news last year that Lineker would step back from the role.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan, who have been announced as new Match of the Day presenters. Picture: BBC/PA WireKelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan, who have been announced as new Match of the Day presenters. Picture: BBC/PA Wire
Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan, who have been announced as new Match of the Day presenters. Picture: BBC/PA Wire | PA

The former England striker has presented the show since 1999.

Logan said: “It’s always a real moment [sitting in the chair] because it has such history. It’s still so relevant to so many people now and talked about in a landscape where TV’s changed so much.

“There’s an enormous responsibility to make sure we continue to evolve while at the same time respecting the traditions of Match of the Day. People want to see the goals, they want to see the incidents, they want to see the moments everyone’s talking about, so while we can tinker at the edges, the core is the football.”

Cates, who will also continue her role with Sky Sports, said: “Once I sit in that chair and the theme music starts, I just know that’s going to be a really incredible moment. I’ve worked with a lot of the pundits before and they’re all fantastic, so I’m just looking forward to getting started.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Sky Sports presenter Kelly Cates. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA WireSky Sports presenter Kelly Cates. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire
Sky Sports presenter Kelly Cates. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire | PA

“I’ve known Gabby and Mark really well for years so to bring it all together, embracing the digital side of things, it feels like a really comprehensive football package for fans and that’s what makes it so exciting too.”

She has been a presenter with Sky Sports since rejoining them in 2016, fronting their coverage of the Premier League.

The 49-year-old daughter of former Scotland and Liverpool footballer Sir Kenny Dalglish also hosts BBC Radio 5 Live’s Tuesday night sports coverage.

Former gymnast Logan, 51, became one of the first female sports anchors to break into terrestrial television and has covered several Olympic Games, the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games during her tenure at the BBC.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She has presented Match Of The Day in Lineker’s absence on many occasions, while she also fronted the BBC’s coverage as the Lionesses stormed to glory in the Women’s Euros in 2023.

Logan also shares a Scottish link through her marriage to retired Scottish rugby union player Kenny Logan.

Meanwhile, Chapman, 51, has been broadcasting for more than 25 years and presents BBC’s Match Of The Day 2 covering the action and reaction from the Premier League.

On sharing the role with Cates and Logan, Chapman said: “This isn’t about the three of us, it’s about the three of us plus our pundits, plus our editors, plus our analysts and stats people and production people, radio and online. Genuinely this is about all of us as a department working together.”

Logan and Chapman also host a Global Player podcast together, titled The Sports Agents.

Comments

 0 comments

Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.

Dare to be Honest
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice