In a surprising turn of events, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards took no time in poking fun at Mark Chapman, who has been confirmed as one of the replacements for Gary Lineker on BBC Match of the Day.
Gary Lineker, after more than two decades as host, will be stepping down from his role at the end of this season. The iconic job will now be shared by three new faces - Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates. However, it was Chapman who found himself in the hot seat during Wednesday night's coverage.
A midweek Premier League programme saw Match of the Day return in an unfamiliar Wednesday night slot. With Lineker absent for this episode, it was up to Chapman and pundits Richards and Shearer to lighten up proceedings. Chapman kicked off his stint with a light-hearted comment: “Evening, thought I’d get some practice in”. This elicited smiles from both Richards and Shearer before they chimed in with their own quips.
Witted banter ensues
Shearer responded to Chapman’s opening statement saying: “You haven’t wasted any time have you?” To which Richards added while laughing: “The ink’s not even dry Alan!” The banter continued with Shearer making another jibe stating: “You’ve gone six too months early". Realising what he had signed up for; a bemused Chapman replied: "It’s going to be a long night isn’t it!?”
On Wednesday itself, BBC announced that starting next season; Logan, Cates and Chapman would all share hosting duties replacing Lineker. Both Logan and Chapman have been long associated with BBC while Cates is joining from Sky Sports but will continue her association with them.
Future of Match of the Day
Regular pundits Shearer and Richards will continue their roles on the show. Lineker, although stepping down from his hosting duties, will still be associated with BBC in a reduced capacity. He is set to lead BBC's TV coverage of the FA Cup next season and present the men's World Cup in 2026.
BBC Sport director, Alex Kay-Jelski, said:
"I know viewers will love these three incredible broadcasters and journalists at the heart of our football coverage next season. They're brilliant at what they do and MOTD viewers can be sure they will be well looked after as the big football talking points are expertly analysed. Gary has done a phenomenal job at Match of the Day for the last 25 years, he'll be missed greatly and we all still get to enjoy him on our screens across some of football's greatest tournaments."
The transition marks a new era for Match of the Day as it continues to entertain sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike. With Chapman, Logan and Cates at its helm, viewers can look forward to fresh perspectives coupled with engaging banter.
