In a recent development, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has decided to discontinue support for Gary Lineker’s football podcast, "The Rest is Football". This decision follows closely on the heels of Lineker's exit from the broadcaster earlier this week.
"The Rest is Football", produced by Lineker’s Goalhanger Productions, will no longer be available on BBC Sounds. However, fans can still access new episodes on other podcast platforms such as Spotify. The last episode on BBC Sounds will coincide with his final appearance on Match of the Day this Sunday.
Lineker has been a long-time presenter for the BBC and his departure marks the end of an era. It was previously announced that he would step down from presenting Match of the Day at season's end - a series he had presented since 1999. He was also expected to front coverage for major events like 2026 World Cup and FA Cup.
Controversy leads to complete exit
However, following controversy surrounding Lineker’s sharing of a video with an Antisemitic trope in it on social media last week, plans have changed dramatically. The incident led to confirmation from BBC that he would be stepping back entirely and will no longer be part of their World Cup or FA Cup coverage.
Lineker has since apologised “unreservedly” for his post and stated that he would “never consciously repost anything antisemitic”.
Licensing deal cut short
BBC Sounds had secured a licensing deal last November with Goalhanger Productions for "The Rest is Football" along with another production titled "The Rest Is History". This one-year deal came with an opportunity to extend further while ensuring episodes remained available on BBC Sounds for three years.
Despite these changes, listeners can take solace in knowing that "The Rest Is History", hosted by Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, will continue to be available on the platform.
While this marks a significant shift for Lineker and his fans, it also opens up new opportunities. The podcast's availability on other platforms ensures that listeners can continue to enjoy Lineker’s insights into football. As the dust settles on this chapter of his career, sports fans worldwide will be eagerly waiting to see what comes next for Gary Lineker.
