Gary Lineker made headlines at the National Television Awards by dethroning Ant and Dec after their 23-year dominance. The ex-Match of the Day host surprised everyone by clinching the Television Presenter award, breaking the Geordie duo’s long-standing winning streak.
Traditionally, competitors facing Ant and Dec would concede defeat in advance. Nonetheless, last night’s event marked the end of their era as Gary triumphed, even after leaving Match of the Day. He outshone Stacey Solomon, Alison Hammond, and Claudia Winkleman to secure the accolade amidst controversies surrounding his social media activity.
Reflecting on his win and future plans, Gary expressed uncertainty about his next steps. He mentioned his excitement about collaborating with ITV and managing his podcast business, reminiscing about his memorable tenure at the BBC.
Addressing the past social media uproar that led to his premature exit from Match of the Day, Gary admitted fault for inadvertently sharing a post containing an anti-Semitic symbol. Despite issuing an apology, the incident prompted the BBC to confirm his departure from the show.
Looking ahead, Gary revealed he won’t be part of the BBC’s upcoming sports coverage, as indicated by the network’s Director General, Tim Davie. Despite the controversy, Gary’s impact on football broadcasting earned him respect and appreciation from sports enthusiasts globally.
While Gary’s exit from Match of the Day marked the end of an era, he remains an integral part of BBC’s live football presentation, reaffirming his commitment to the network amid past controversies.
