Match of the Day host and England legend Gary Lineker is reportedly tipped for the ITV jungle following reports that he’s quit the BBC and its coverage of the World Cup
Gary Lineker is being tipped for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! after reports that he’s quitting the BBC.
The 64-year-old broadcaster and England legend was set to host his final Match of the Day next week. It was believed that he would stay on with the BBC to host the 2026 World Cup. However, it’s now reported that the pundit is leaving the broadcaster after sharing a social media post about Zionism that included an illustration of a rat, historically used as an antisemitic insult.
Lineker has deleted the post and apologised for it, insisting he would never share anything antisemitic. He said he removed the post after learning about what the rat symbolised.
The England legend is now backed to head down under and become a campmate on ITV’s hit I’m A Celebrity. The bookies over at Coral has slashed his odds to 2/1 from 6/1 on the footy icon stepping into the jungle.
“We think ITV bosses will be desperate to snap up Gary Lineker for I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here later this year. The football presenter is just 6-4 to head Down Under this autumn for the show,” said Coral’s John Hill.”
He added: “Lineker’s odds have also been cut to join ITV’s stable to present the 2026 World Cup, following his exit from the BBC”
As well as being tipped to join ITV’s World Cup coverage, the Match of the Day star has also emerged as a potential Strictly Come Dancing star. Gary has odds of 3/1 to set foot in the BBC ballroom, following the likes of other footy legends like Tony Adams.
Lineker certainly wouldn’t be the first football titan in camp either, as his pal Ian Wright did the show in 2019. Jill Scott won the show in 2022, Harry Redknapp won in 2018, and the likes of Jimmy Bullard and Wayne Bridge have also appeared on the programme over the years.
Lineker opened up about leaving the BBC back in November. He said in an interview that he believed the BBC wanted him to leave Match of the Day: “Well, perhaps they want me to leave. There was the sense of that…”
It’s said the former England striker is leaving under mutual agreement. A source told The Sun: “It is a heartbreaking end to an extraordinary broadcasting career… Gary acknowledged his position at the BBC, anchoring the most prestigious tournament in world football, was untenable, and he will not be hosting the World Cup.
“He offered to step down at the end of the season, and did not want the BBC – an organisation he still holds in the highest of esteem – dragged into any further controversy. He remains absolutely devastated by the recent turn of events and is deeply regretful about how his post was interpreted. His last Match of the Day will air on Sunday now and he won’t be back.”
Gary is understood to have agreed to leave the BBC for good after meeting bosses last week, when he reportedly realised his position was untenable. Lineker will be replaced on Match of the Day by Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan for the 2025/26 season.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
