Legendary broadcaster Barry Davies has expressed surprise at the BBC's decision to replace Gary Lineker as the host of Match of the Day with three presenters. This comes after reports revealed that Kelly Cates, Gabby Logan, and Mark Chapman would share hosting responsibilities for both the flagship weekend Premier League highlights show and its midweek Champions League package from next season.
Gary Lineker, who has been a mainstay on Saturday night programming for 26 years, will step down from his role as host at the end of this season. His departure marks a significant change in direction for Match of The Day.
Barry Davies, who worked on the programme from 1969 until 2004 before being called back for a special one-off gig in 2014, admitted his shock at this decision. The commentary great questioned replacing Lineker with three presenters.
Barry Davies, Legendary broadcaster, said:
'I'm surprised at the decision that's been made, but then I'm quite surprised at the jobs that are given to various people these days, and the need apparently to use people.
'They're very good broadcasters, but I'm surprised that they think it's better to have three people doing it. Gary himself would feel that he's done long enough. They're all very good broadcasters, and they know about the games, no doubt about that.'
New faces take over
Kelly Cates is set to be one among those taking over hosting duties next term. She will be joined by Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman in what promises to be an exciting new chapter for Match Of The Day. Logan assured fans that despite these changes, they can expect continuity in terms of content quality and delivery style. "The program won't be totally different," she said during her announcement as part of the new presenting team.
In preparation for their unveiling as hosts, Logan revealed that she along with her fellow co-hosts created a secret WhatsApp group to discuss all things related to their upcoming roles on Match Of The Day. They even went so far as deleting messages within this group chat to ensure news about their appointments remained confidential until officially announced.
This move not only helped them keep their appointment under wraps but also allowed them time to build a closer bond ahead of their big reveal. While the decision to replace Gary Lineker with three presenters has been met with surprise, it is clear that the new hosts are committed to maintaining the high standards set by their predecessor. As they prepare for their new roles, fans can look forward to an exciting new era of Match Of The Day.
