World number one Luke Humphries moved into the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix in Leicester with a comfortable 3-1 win over Krzysztof Ratajski.
Humphries, 30, was champion in 2023 and runner-up last year, and reached the last eight after a half-time adjustment – hitting six 180s and averaging 95.58 at the ‘double in, double out’ tournament.
He said: “I went off at the break and said to myself ‘you must be doing something different because you don’t play like this usually’.
“So I slowed my throw down and I started hitting the trebles. On the practice board I am hitting everything and then I am going out there and not, so I needed to change something.”
Fourth seed Stephen Bunting was dumped out by 2021 semi-finalist Danny Noppert, while two-time world champion Gary Anderson breezed past Joe Cullen.
Cullen only averaged 68.05 and won just one leg.
Anderson told Sky Sports: “Joe was miles off tonight, his starting off is what cost him.
“My scoring came on at the end. It’s been a while since I went far in this tournament, it’s getting harder and harder for me.
“Darts is a joy but I still want to win.”
Reigning champion Mike de Decker is in action on Thursday against Luke Littler.
Gary Lineker made a candid confession about his presenting future after his surprising win in the Best Presenter category at this year’s National Television Awards
23:32, 10 Sep 2025Updated 23:41, 10 Sep 2025
Gary Lineker at the NTAs 2025(Image: Getty Images for the NTA’s)
Gary Lineker opened up on his BBC exit as he took home the award for Best Presenter at the National Television Awards. The shock victory at London’s O2 saw the former Match of the Day presenter finally knock Ant and Dec from the top spot for the award.
For the first time in 23 years, the Geordie duo were left empty handed in the category, with 64-year-old Gary even joking he had won the “Ant and Dec trophy” in his winner’s speech.
However, despite his award coming from his time on the BBC’s main football show, he has admitted he won’t work with the organisation again following his early exit.
Speaking after his win, he said: “I really don’t know. At the moment, I’m really looking forward to working with ITV and I’ve got a podcast business that I have to run so I’m not so sure. I’ve got so many great memories from such a long period at the BBC.”
He added: “I don’t think anyone thought I was cancelled. It was obviously just a mistake, an oversight. I was never in the slightest bit concerned for that but this is lovely and there’s no doubt that there’s perhaps a message here that it’s ok to share your views and speak up for those who don’t perhaps have a voice.”
Gary departed his role as the main presenter of BBC’s huge football show earlier than first expected. His exit came after he had shared a series of controversial comments during his social media activity.
One comment specifically saw him post in May 2025 concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that included a rat emoji.
The rat image has been historically used in anti-Semitic propaganda and while Lineker said sorry for sharing the post, explaining he was unaware of the image, he said he “would never knowingly share anything anti-Semitic”.
Gary Lineker enjoyed his win(Image: Getty Images for the NTA’s)
Despite Gary’s apology, the controversy led to the BBC confirming his early exit from the show. He later confirmed he would not be part of their coverage for the 2026 World Cup or the 2025/26 FA Cup.
Prior to his win on Wednesday night, Gary had received the backing of his The Rest is Football podcast pal Alan Shearer. Whilst many might have expected former Magpie Shearer to support his Geordie pals, the ex-Premier League legend is thought to have bucked the trend and voted for his sports mate.
After laughing off the suggestion that he was only going to attend the ceremony if he won, Gay told the podcast it was the “Ant and Dec award anyway”. He hinted he thought he had little hope of winning.
However, Shearer acted shocked before adding: “I have voted for you, though.”
Gary Lineker has received his first National Television Award nomination since 2017 in the wake of his exit from Match of the Day.
Lineker left the football show after 26 years at the end of the Premier League season in May. It was also his last appearance for the BBC after the latest in a string of controversies about his social media use led him to announce he would be leaving the corporation.
Lineker has been voted onto the shortlist for best TV presenter – and could pull off a major upset if he breaks Ant and Dec’s 23-year winning streak in that category at the ceremony in September.
Elsewhere, Netflix’s Adolescence is up for three awards – with on-screen father and son Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper going up against each other for the best drama performance award.
The show, which became a runaway hit and national talking point earlier this year, will also be the hot favourite to win best new drama.
Gavin and Stacey’s finale, which attracted more than 20 million viewers at Christmas, is likewise the frontrunner in the comedy category.
Michael McIntyre and Stacey Solomon are nominated for three prizes each – with Solomon’s Sort Your Life Out and Stacey & Joe occupying two spots on the shortlist for best factual entertainment show.
The public will bote for the winners, which will be revealed on 10 September.
By Gary Shteyngart Random House: 256 pages, $28 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores.
Vera, the heroine of Gary Shteyngart’s sixth novel, “Vera, or Faith,” is a whip-smart 10-year-old Manhattanite, but she’s not quite smart enough to figure out her parents’ intentions. Why is dad so concerned about “status”? Why does her stepmom call some meals “WASP lunches”? How come every time they visit somebody’s house she’s assigned to see if they have a copy of “The Power Broker” on their shelves? She’s all but doomed to be bourgeois and neurotic, as if a juvenile court has sentenced her to live in a New Yorker cartoon.
Since his 2002 debut, “The Russian Debutante’s Handbook,” Shteyngart has proved adept at finding humor in the intersection of immigrant life, wealth and relationships, and “Vera” largely sticks to that mix. But the cynicism that has always thrummed underneath his high-concept comedies — the dehumanizing algorithms, the rapacious finance system — is more prominent in this slim, potent novel. Vera is witnessing both the slow erosion of her parents’ marriage along with the rapid decline of democracy in near-future America. Her precocity gives the novel its wit, but Shteyngart is also alert to the fact that a child, however bright, is fundamentally helpless.
Not to mention desperate for her parents’ affection, which is in short supply for Vera. Her father, the editor of a liberal intellectual magazine, seems constantly distracted by his efforts to court a billionaire to purchase it, while her stepmom is more focused on her son’s ADHD and the family’s rapidly dwindling bank account. Things are no better outside in the world, where a constitutional convention seems ready to pass an amendment awarding five-thirds voting rights for “exceptional Americans.” (Read: white people.) Vera, the daughter of a Russian father and Korean mother, may be banished to second-class citizenry.
Even worse, her school has assigned her to take the side of the “five-thirders” in an upcoming classroom debate. So it’s become urgent for her to understand the world just as it’s become inexplicable. Shteyngart is stellar at showing just how alienated she’s become: “She knew kids were supposed to have more posters on their walls to show off their inner life, but she liked her inner life to stay inside her.” And she seems to be handling the crisis with more maturity than her father, who’s drunk and clumsy in their home: “If anyone needed to see Mrs. S., the school counselor with the master’s in social work degree, it was Daddy.”
It’s a challenge to write from the perspective of a child without being arch or cutesy — stories about kids learning about the real world can degrade to plainspoken YA or cheap melodrama. Shteyngart is striving for something more supple, using Vera’s point of view to clarify how adults become victims of their own emotional shutoffs, the way they use language to at once appear smart while covering up their feelings. “Our country’s a supermarket where some people just get to carry out whatever they want. You and I sadly are not those people,” Dad tells her, forcing her to unpack a metaphor stuffed full of ideology, economics, self-loathing and more.
Every chapter in the book starts with the phrase “She had to,” explaining Vera’s various missions amid this dysfunction: “hold the family together,” “fall asleep,” “be cool,” “win the debate.” Kids like her have to be action-oriented; they don’t have the privilege of adults’ deflections. Small wonder, then, that her most reliable companion is an AI-powered chessboard, which offers direct answers to her most pressing questions. (One of Shteyngart’s most potent running jokes is that adults aren’t more clever than computers they command.) Once she falls into a mission to discover the truth about her birth mother, she becomes more alert to the world’s brutal simplicity: “The world was a razor cut … It would cut and cut and cut.”
Shteyngart’s grown-up kids’ story has two obvious inspirations: One, as the title suggests, is Vladimir Nabokov’s 1969 novel “Ada, or Ardor,” the other Henry James’ 1897 novel “What Maisie Knew.” Both are concerned with childhood traumas, and if Shteyngart isn’t explicitly borrowing their plots he borrows some of their gravitas, the sense that preteendom is a crucible for experiencing life’s various crises.
In its final chapters, the novel takes a turn that is designed to speak to our current moment, spotlighting the way that Trump-era nativist policies have brought needless harm to Americans. A country can abandon its principles, he means to say, just as a parent can abandon a child. But if “Vera” suggests a particular vision of our particular dystopian moment, it also suggests a more enduring predicament for children, who live with the consequences of others’ decisions but don’t get a vote in them.
“There were a lot of ‘statuses’ in the world and each year she was becoming aware of more of them,” Vera observes. Children will have to learn them faster now.
Athitakis is a writer in Phoenix and author of “The New Midwest.”
Coronation Street’s latest episode confirmed Gary Windass was in a coma amid a brutal mystery attack, but amid Nina Lucas fearing she’d done something, is someone else to blame?
Coronation Street may have ruled out Nina and Summer as Gary’s attacker(Image: ITV)
Gary Windass’ attack on Coronation Street will be hot topic as fans try to figure out what happened to him and who did the crime.
But perhaps two people have been ruled out despite it being heavily hinted they are involved. Gary was revealed to be in a coma in hospital during Friday’s episode of the ITV soap.
Prior to now it was thought he’d been staying with his mother Anna Windass away from Weatherfield, but when he didn’t return home his wife Maria Connor was concerned. Then on Friday Maria got a text message from ‘Gary’ stating he was fine and at a mate’s house, and would be home soon.
Of course new information has come to light though that could well suggest Gary has been in a coma for days, and therefore did not send that message. Well of course he didn’t send the text, as by the end of the episode we saw him in hospital and unconscious.
So whoever attacked Gary must have his phone, and is covering their tracks. New spoilers had teased a cover-up was underway, ahead of Maria reporting Gary as a missing person with the police in upcoming episodes.
Something will make Maria’s blood run cold, sending her to the police station in a bid to find her missing husband. Amid her concern, someone, or more than one person perhaps, knows where he is, and knows what has happened.
Coronation Street’s latest episode confirmed Gary Windass was in a coma(Image: ITV)
As well as keeping the truth from Maria and Gary’s loved ones, the mystery attacker, it’s soon revealed, has told the hospital a fake name for Gary while also claiming to be his next of kin. The attacker is clearly trying to stop the truth from coming up, going to desperate lengths to cover their tracks.
These scenes will be delved into in the coming weeks as the plot continues. But Friday’s episode appeared to confirm that it was Gary who Nina Lucas and Summer Spellman had seen the night they were on drugs.
The girls were high on LSD when something sent them racing to the café, screaming and crying. They soon revealed they’d witnessed something bad, torn over whether to tell the police.
During Friday’s episode Nina broke down to her uncle Roy Cropper, and eventually she explained everything to him and detective Kit Green. We learned that what Summer and Nina had seen was a man “lunging” at them, before Nina pushed him and ran in terror.
She claimed that before they fled the man fell and hit his head. She told Roy there was blood and the man was not moving, but fearing for her safety she and Summer ran away and did not say anything.
Friday’s episode appeared to confirm that it was Gary who Nina Lucas and Summer Spellman had seen the night they were on drugs(Image: ITV)
Now Nina is convinced someone is hurt and it’s her fault, asking Kit if a body had been found or if someone was missing. As no one believed the incident happened Nina struggled, sure that something was going on.
She told Roy she’d hurt someone and that she was determined to find out who. In that moment we saw Gary in hospital, with it alluding that Gary was the man Nina and Summer saw, and that perhaps Nina was the one who attacked him.
But a couple of things clearly rule Nina and Summer out. The fact someone has been posing as Gary and messaging Maria, this cannot be Nina as she has no idea who the man is and if it even happened.
She’s also confessed to everything, struggling with that’s happened too, so for her to send messages or cover up the crime doesn’t make any sense, let alone posing as Gary’s next of kin. The same goes for Summer, and neither of them seem to be aware of the link to Gary.
Gary Windass’ attack on Coronation Street will be hot topic as Maria Connor decides to report her husband as a missing person(Image: ITV)
She also doesn’t seem to be aware the man she saw, Gary, is in hospital, yet the person who attacked him does know he’s there and will likely visit him given the spoilers about what the attacker does to cover up their crime. It just wouldn’t make sense for Nina to be desperate to work out who they are and tell the police, and then secretly know the truth – so who did attack Gary?
Whoever it is must have his phone, and must know he was away from Weatherfield amid their cover story. So far fans have wondered if Gary was robbed or attacked on his way home, or if, given it likely happened around Monday’s episode, someone at the party was involved.
A theory suggests teenager Brody might be to blame after he fled the party, after Gary’s run-in with his dad Mick. Viewers suggested Kit may be covering for Brody, as other fans wondered if Lauren Bolton attacked Gary thinking it was Joel Deering. A further theory suggested Debbie Webster may be to blame after her recent arrest.
Coronation Street’s Gary Windass has been missing for a while, and now spoilers have confirmed he’s secretly been attacked and is fighting for his life in a coma
21:00, 26 Jun 2025Updated 21:00, 26 Jun 2025
Gary Windass’ fate in Coronation Street and what happened to him will finally be explained(Image: ITV)
Gary Windass’ fate in Coronation Street and what happened to him will finally be explained on the ITV soap, as a shocking new image confirms his fight for survival.
The character has been missing after failing to return home, leaving his loved ones worried. It escalates next week as Gary misses his stepson Liam Connor’s birthday, and Maria Connor decides to report her husband as a missing person.
Detective Kit Green soon gets involved and reassures Maria that an unidentified coma patient discovered is not Gary. But we learn someone has attacked him and is covering their tracks, with their identity revealed very soon.
New spoilers and a horrifying image reveal Gary is facing death, and is fighting for his life in a coma. While spoilers had revealed Gary was in hospital, there’s new details surrounding the mystery.
Gary has been viciously attacked by a yet to be named person or people. He’s now unconscious in hospital, with it yet to be revealed whether he survives or not.
Maria Connor decides to report her husband as a missing person(Image: ITV)
As his family wonders where he is, someone knows and has chosen to stay silent. After brutally attacking Gary they’ve gone to huge lengths to cover up their grim crime, and we will see the full extent of this in upcoming episodes.
Not only that, but it’s been revealed that the attacker is hiding Gary’s real identity to stop his family from being informed about what has happened. The attacker is still very much involved in the plot, and we will soon find out who they are and why they did their crime.
Gary is very close to the Street, in a coma in Weatherfield General – so will Maria and the police find him? Friday’s episode will reveal the moment Gary is revealed to be a coma patient at the hospital in a dramatic development to the mystery surrounding his vanishing act.
As Maria’s concern continues she’s stunned to get a message from him claiming to be staying with a mate. But something happens next week that leaves her seriously worried, and she heads to the police station to report him as missing.
Coronation Street’s Gary Windass has been missing for a while(Image: ITV)
The attacker meanwhile has claimed Gary is someone else, faking his name and identity. To make matters worse, the attacker is also fraudulently claiming to be his next of kin.
Knowing the state he is in, they continue to keep it from his family to cover their tracks. Obviously pretending to be family to keep an eye on his condition, what will they do if Gary wakes up?
Gary remains in a critical condition as the storyline continues, and the episodes ahead will delve into the events that left him in a coma. With secrets to be uncovered and the identity of those involved coming to light, there’s so much to come out about what has happened.
Gabby Logan maintained a stern demeanour when asked if she was to receive the same salary as her predecessor Gary Lineker after she was confirmed as his replacement
Gabby Logan gives blunt response to questions about her salary on MOTD(Image: Getty Images)
Gabby Logan’s role as presenter of Match of the Day appears to have reignited the discussion over the gender pay gap within the BBC. Gabby, 52, who has been a recognised sports presenter for many years, is set to replace Gary Lineker after he stepped down from his coveted role on the BBC show in May.
At the time, Gary was considered to be the highest paid star after securing an estimated salary of £1.35million a year. When speaking to The Times, Gabby was asked if she had also asked for the same salary. But her response was unexpected. She bluntly responded saying: “That’s all sorted.”
And when asked if she could elaborate on her answer, her reply was even shorter. She said: “It’s sorted.”
Gabby will be splitting her duties on Match of the Day and Match of the Day 2 with co-stars Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates.
It has been reported that the presenters set up a secret WhatsApp group to discuss their takeover of the show and create more of a bond.
Gabby responds to MOTD salary question after Gary Lineker quits BBC show(Image: Instagram/gabbylogan)
But according to the Daily Mail, certain messages were deleted in a bid to avoid leaks. Despite presenting changes to the show, Gabby was keen to reiterate that the changes will not be huge.
Speaking on the ainslie + ainslie Performance People podcast, she explained: “Nobody wants to throw the baby out with the bath water.”
She added: “It’s a football highlights show, we’ve got the same kind of pundits… and it’s all about the football. There are now so many great male and female broadcasters.”
She went on to explain: “But also, so many more females working in sports, not just in front of the camera or the microphone, but also behind the scenes. It’s like any business, if you say we have a 50/50 male and female split but all the women are doing the low paid jobs, that’s not 50/50, that’s a hierarchy that’s male-dominated.”
Gary Lineker quit MOTD back in May(Image: PA)
On concluding her point, she said: “It’s been really good development to hear women’s voices in your ears and hearing them say they’re the director which is great. Hopefully it’s a better environment than when we were starting out. It’s definitely a much more positive place generally.”
In addition to her brief discussion of her new role with The Times , Gabby also opened up on her time on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2007.
Her husband Kenny Logan also competed on the show and made it to the top five contestants. However, Gabby was unable to share the same glory as she was eliminated far sooner.
She claimed that at the time she remembered crying into her sofa believing the public did not like her.
She told The Times: “It was a harsh lesson, learning that sometimes not everyone likes you. You realise the parts of your personality that you thought were attributes as a sportswoman are not valued.”
She added: “I was told I was being too competitive, whereas I was thinking, ‘I thought that was good. That’s what I did in sport — and it worked — and that’s what my husband is doing.'”
Gabby firmly believes that there was a definitive cultural shift on the show as competitive women are now more “appreciated.”
Coronation Street’s Maria Connor wonders what’s happened to Gary Windass in a new spoiler preview for the ITV soap, as she demands his whereabouts in an angry voicemail
Gary Windass sparks concern on Coronation Street next week according to a new spoiler clip.
In the preview, his wife Maria Connor is annoyed at him after his recent abrupt exit away from the Street. He’s been staying with his mum Anna Windass amid a rocky time with Maria over her feud with Lou Michaelis.
Of course viewers know that Gary learned the hard way that it was Lou causing trouble, as a recent episode showed him being blackmailed. After she allowed Maria to worry there was something going on between them, getting closer to him, her real intentions were exposed.
She sent a message from Garry’s phone to her own device to set him up, before trying to kiss him. When he knocked her back she threatened him, trying sell her silence by telling him to do as she said or Maria would find out.
Gary feared Maria would believe they were having an affair, and was left torn. While Lou’s plans were not fully made clear, it’s clear Gary was rattled.
Coronation Street’s Maria Connor wonders what’s happened to Gary Windass in a new spoiler preview(Image: ITV)
New spoilers have revealed Gary has been staying with his mother Anna in the fallout, while Maria doesn’t know about the kiss and the threats. So when Gary doesn’t come home when he’s meant to, Maria is frustrated.
With them still not on the best terms, she ends up trying to contact him about his decision to delay his return. His stepson Liam Connor can’t hide his worry after failing to get in contact with him, and he asks his mum if she knows anything.
This annoys Maria further as it’s messing Liam around, but where is Gary and why is he not heading straight home? In the preview clip, Maria is shown and heard leaving Gary a message.
She pleads with him, telling him that it’s fine if he’s decided to extend his visit or has other plans but to make sure he lets her know so they don’t wonder what’s happened. Calling him out, she says: “It’s not on. Call me back when you get this.”
Liam then asks if she’s heard from him but reassures him: “I’m sure he’ll be back soon.” Liam panics saying: “I thought you said he’d be home last night?”
Maria Connor is annoyed at him after his recent abrupt exit away from the Street(Image: ITV/Danielle Baguley/Shutterstock)
Maria reassures him again saying: “Yeah I know, maybe he’s just like got his days mixed up or he’s missed his train. You know what he’s like.” As she looks away from Liam she can’t hider her own confusion and concern.
Meanwhile spoilers for later in the week reveal that Gary does eventually make contact, telling Maria his whereabouts. According to the message he sends her he’s decided to stay with a mate but will be home soon.
Whether there’s more to Gary being AWOL remains to be seen, while it’s also not been revealed if Maria will find out about Lou.
Coronation Street fans can expect dramatic scenes on the ITV soap next week, with a character sparking concern, a possible arrest, romance, DNA news and a drugs storyline
00:01, 17 Jun 2025Updated 00:09, 17 Jun 2025
Coronation Street fans can expect dramatic scenes on the ITV soap next week(Image: ITV)
Viewers tuning into Coronation Street next week will see plenty of drama on the ITV soap, according to spoilers.
The latest teasers reveal huge moments ahead, from some DNA news to a possible mystery arrest and a new romance rumbled by residents. There’s also Gary Windass going AWOL only to leave wife Maria Connor a weird message after leaving her panicked.
The big story of the week though is a drug plot that has horrifying and disastrous consequences. Aadi Alahan decides to throw a house party, only for troublemaker Brody Michaelis to bring a bottle of LSD.
As Aadi faces romantic tension with pal Amy Barlow, a misunderstanding leaves him hurt. Soon after he spots the drugs and kicks Brody out of the party, leading to chaos as he refuses to go before finally fleeing.
But Aadi makes a decision he could live to regret when he, Nina and Summer decide to drink the LSD. Aadi leaves his unattended only for someone else to accidentally drink it.
What follows is a dramatic turn of events with Nina and Summer high only to be left terrified when they hear sirens, with it hinted something bad has happened. As the week goes on, Nina and Summer retrace their steps looking for answers.
Viewers tuning into Coronation Street next week will see plenty of drama on the ITV soap(Image: ITV)
As for another resident, the person who took the third cup of LSD is left in a bad way and their condition deteriorates. When the police come knocking to ask Aadi about reports of drugs at the party, will he reveal all?
At the end of the week Nina is left making a confession to Roy, who urges her to speak to the police. But what has happened and wil she face trouble?
Another mystery next week sees Gary going AWOL amid him being blackmailed by Lou Michaelis. On Monday night fans saw Lou set up Gary to make it seem something was going on between them in exchange for Gary doing as she said.
Spoilers for next week reveal Gary goes AWOL, leaving stepson Liam Connor and Gary’s wife Maria worried. He won’t answer his calls after a visit to see his mother Anna, with them unsure where he is.
Gary does eventually make contact though, messaging Maria to say he’s staying with a mate and he’ll be home soon. But what’s going on with Gary, and is he hiding from Lou?
The latest teasers reveal huge moments ahead(Image: ITV)
There’s the truth about a big DNA bombshell next week too with a secret son twist revisited. Kit Green finds out that teen Brody is in fact his biological son after a DNA test, but will he tell Brody the truth?
Romance is in the air next week for secret couple Steve McDonald and Cassie Plummer, amid his divorce from Tracy Barlow. Tracy continues to refuse to sign the papers though or at least talk it through, but soon Tracy is in for a shock when she rumbles his romance with Cassie.
There could be an arrest for Debbie Webster next week, as she continues to deteriorate following her dementia diagnosis. Debbie calls sister-in-law Abi, and soon we realise she’s at a police station and needing to be picked up – but has she been arrested and why?
Ronnie Bailey continues to try and win back Debbie, but she’s reluctant knowing what’s ahead. Finally next week, Theo Silverton’s teen daughter continues to cause him and partner Todd Grimshaw trouble amid her pregnancy news – with her trying to set the latter up once more to tear the couple apart.
Actor Gary Oldman has been knighted alongside David Beckham on a King’s Birthday Honours list that also recognises Strictly Come Dancing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
The Oscar winner and the former football England captain are among 19 new sirs, while 21 damehoods have been announced, including singer and actress Elaine Paige and Regeneration novelist Pat Barker.
There are MBEs for teenage world darts champion Luke Littler and Love Island star Georgia Harrison for her work on online privacy and cyber crime.
Overall, 1,200 people are on the main honours listed issued by the Cabinet Office, of which 48% are women. The youngest person being honoured is 11 while the oldest is 106.
The list features a range of well-known names, including from the arts, politics and sports, but it is primarily made up of people being recognised for their work in the community, including campaigners and fundraisers.
Actor Sir Gary has enjoyed an illustrious career on screen and stage since the early 1980s and in 2018, won best actor at the Academy Awards for playing wartime prime minister Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour. More recently, he won acclaim for his portrayal of an MI5 agent in Apple TV’s Slow Horses.
Daly and Winkleman are made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to broadcasting.
Both have had a long association with Strictly, which has aired 22 series. Daly started as a co-presenter with Sir Bruce Forsyth in the first season in 2004, while Winkleman originally hosted a spin-off programme. They have hosted the main show as a duo since 2014.
“I am ridiculously lucky and will celebrate with Tess by doing a paso doble,” Winkleman said.
Daly said she almost missed out on accepting the honour after the letter was sent to the wrong address – and added that she cried when she opened the envelope.
Sir David’s knighthood for services to sport and charity has been confirmed, having been widely reported earlier this month. The 50-year-old ex-footballer said he was “immensely proud”.
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003, and became an ambassador for Unicef in 2005 and for The King’s Foundation last year, supporting King Charles’ education programme and efforts to promote nature.
“I’m so lucky to be able to do the work that I do and I’m grateful to be recognised for work that gives me so much fulfilment,” Beckham said.
Evita star Dame Elaine also received her honour for services to music and charity. “I’ve been very lucky in my life and my career, I’m in a very privileged position,” she told the BBC. “When you are in a position to help others, that is something I wanted to do.”
Getty Images
Dame Elaine says she has been “very lucky” in her life and career
Sir Roger Daltrey, frontman of 1960s-formed rock group The Who and a patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust – known for its annual fundraising concerts at the Royal Albert Hall – has been knighted for services to charity and music.
Sir Roger said he was accepting the knighthood “on behalf of all those unsung people who had worked to make the charity the success it had become”.
Love Island star Georgia Harrison has been made an MBE for her work campaigning on online privacy and cyber crime
“Speaking out after what happened wasn’t easy, but I knew it was important,” Harrison said. “I didn’t want anyone else to feel as alone or powerless as I did. I’ve tried to turn something painful into something positive, and this honour is a reminder that we can make change when we use our voices.”
Darts player Luke Littler, 18 – the youngest winner of the PDC World Darts Championship – appears on the list with one of his main rivals – Premier League Darts champion Luke Humphries, 30, who also became an MBE. There is an OBE for veteran star of the sport Deta Hedman, 65, who is recognised for her contribution to sport and charity.
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Darts rivals Luke Littler and Luke Humphries both became MBEs
The honours system
Commonly-awarded ranks
Companion of Honour – Limited to 65 people. Recipients wear the initials CH after their name
Knight or Dame
CBE – Commander of the Order of the British Empire
OBE – Officer of the Order of the British Empire
MBE – Member of the Order of the British Empire
BEM – British Empire Medal
The Birthday Honours are awarded by the King following recommendations by the prime minister, senior government ministers and members of the public.
From the political world, there are damehoods for former Conservative cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt, who had a memorable role holding a ceremonial sword at the King’s coronation in 2023, and Labour’s Chi Onwurah, the MP for Newcastle Upon Tyne Central and West. There is also a knighthood for Labour’s Mark Tami, the Alyn and Deeside MP.
Labour Glasgow MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy, the first permanent wheelchair user to be elected to Holyrood, has become an MBE for her public and political service.
Yui Mok/PA Wire; Ken Jack/Getty Images
Penny Mordaunt, who held a ceremonial sword at the King’s coronation in 2023, is being made a dame, while Labour Glasgow MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy has been made an MBE
Sir Philip Barton, the former top civil servant at the Foreign Office, who has previously received multiple royal honours, has become a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George for services to British foreign policy, while former Conservative health minister and MP for Lewes Maria Caulfield has been made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for political and public service.
The Foreign Office has announced an additional honours recognising the work of overseas residents or service abroad, and there are separate lists covering gallantry awards and for service personnel in the military.
Business leaders on the list include Nationwide chief executive Debbie Crosbie, who has been made a dame. Greggs chief executive Roisin Currie and Specsavers co-founder and chairman Douglas Perkins have both become CBEs.
Three trade union leaders are being recognised, with Dave Ward, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), and Dr Patrick Roach, the general secretary of the NASUWT teachers’ union, being made CBEs, while Sue Ferns, deputy general secretary of the civil service union Prospect, is made an OBE.
Musicians Steve Winwood and 10cc’s Graham Gouldman are both made MBEs, while there are OBEs for Stuart Worden, head of the BRIT School since 2021, and BBC Proms director David Pickard.
BBC radio presenter Martha Kearney, who hosted her final episode of the Today Programme in summer 2024, has been made a CBE for services to journalism and broadcasting.
Jeff Overs/BBC
Martha Kearney hosted her final episode of the Today Programme in summer 2024
Others from the world of stage and screen on the list include veteran theatrical star Jane Lapotaire, who is made a CBE. Bridgerton actor Adjoa Andoh and Bafta winner Samantha Morton are among the new MBEs, while former EastEnders star Anita Dobson‘s OBE recognises her work in charitable fundraising and philanthropy.
Another former EastEnders actress, Tracy-Ann Oberman, is made an MBE for services to Holocaust education and combating antisemitism.
The sport stars recognised include former Wimbledon champion Virginia Wade – a CBE for services to tennis and charity – and double Olympic triathlon gold medallist Alistair Brownlee and former cricketer Devon Malcolm, who both become OBEs.
Rugby League legend Billy Boston is also named on the list, making him the first person from the sport to receive a knighthood in its 130-year history. The 90-year-old trailblazer for black sports stars, who played for Wigan and Great Britain in the 1950s and 1960s, received his knighthood earlier this week because of concerns over his health.
Aaron Chown/PA Wire
Rugby League legend Billy Boston received his knighthood from the King earlier this week
Meanwhile, Angel of the North sculptor Sir Antony Gormley and physicist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell have joined the elite Companions of Honour, an exclusive group limited to only 65 recipients at any one time.
But most people on the Birthday Honours list are being recognised for their work in the community.
After Samantha Madgin was murdered in Tyne and Wear in 2007, her sister Carly Barrett and mother Alison Magdin set up Samantha’s Legacy to educate young people about the dangers of carrying knives. The pair are now MBEs.
Zahrah Mahmood, the president of Ramblers Scotland who is known on social media as the Hillwalking Hijabi, has been made an MBE for her contribution to voluntary service in Scotland. She is using her position as president to focus on diversity and inclusion within the outdoor community.
“If this recognition helps a little to show that the outdoors is for everyone, that would mean the world to me,” Mrs Mahmood says. “But I’m also aware that visibility is often the first step. I would love to play a small part in continuing to move things in the right direction.
Zahrah Mahmood/PA Wire
Zahrah Mahmood is known on social media as the Hillwalking Hijabi
John and Lorna Norgrove have been made OBEs for services to women and children abroad and in Scotland after they set up a charity in memory of their daughter Linda, an aid worker who was kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan in September 2010 and died in an attempted rescue the following month.
“We dedicate this honour to all those brave women who remain in Afghanistan, or who have made the decision to leave their homes and families behind to move abroad and continue their studies and careers,” the couple said. “Their struggle continues and they are the real heroes of this story.”
And Duncan and Caroline Speirs and their daughter Jenna Speirs from the Isle of Bute all receive British Empire Medals for their work through Calum’s Cabin, which provides holiday homes for children facing cancer, after their son Calum died in 2007.
The oldest person to be honoured on the list is 106-year-old World War Two veteran Norman Irwin, who served in North Africa and is being given a British Empire Medal (BEM). After returning to Northern Ireland, he formed the Coleraine Winemakers Club in the early 1960s, and also went on to become one of the founders of the town’s Rotary Club and the Agivey Anglers Association.
Family handout/PA; Lucy Chillery-Watson/PA
Norman Irwin, a106-year-old World War Two veteran, is the oldest person to be featured on the birthday honours list, while muscular dystrophy fundraiser Carmela Chillery-Watson is the youngest, at 11
Meanwhile, 11-year-old Carmela Chillery-Watson, from Dorset, is the youngest person on the list. Miss Chillery-Watson, who has LMNA congenital muscular dystrophy, has become the youngest-ever person to be made an MBE, in recognition of her fundraising and awareness campaigns for Muscular Dystrophy UK.
“I never thought anything like this would happen,” she said. “I just want to make a difference to the disability community, to be able to show them: you’re strong, you can do whatever you want.”
Gary Lineker’s son paid a touching tribute to his famous dad as he wrapped his final ever Match of the Day appearance just days after he dramatically quit his BBC roles
Daniel Bird Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor
09:14, 26 May 2025Updated 09:17, 26 May 2025
Gary Lineker’s son George shared a moving tribute to the broadcaster(Image: georgelineker/Instagram)
Gary Lineker’s son has insisted nobody will present Match of the Day like his dad as the broadcaster signed off the BBC show for the final time last night. The footballing legend fought back tears as he closed the show, saying it had been an “absolute privilege.”
The player-turned-pundit’s early departure from the BBC follows a social media row after the 64-year-old shared a post about Zionism, which featured a depiction of a rat, historically an antisemitic insult.
Lineker was forced to apologise for the post, which saw him lose his job presenting the 2026 World Cup for the BBC. As his final ever Match of the Day came to an end, it appeared to be an emotional moment for Lineker.
George Lineker posted a touching message to his dad(Image: georgelineker/Instagram)
Alan Shearer and Micah Richards presented him with a Match of the Day cap and Golden Boot, before a video message from Andrea Bocelli was played. After the episode aired, Gary’s son George took to social media, sharing a string of snaps of the former footballer over the years.
“The [goat emoji],” he said while sharing a clip of Gary’s final sign-off. Prior to the episode starting, George shared a snap of his dad in a commentary studio. “Enjoy your last MOTD Gaz [goat emoji,” he said. George added: “Best there is. Best there will be.” The term goat is short for “greatest of all time”
Gary appeared emotional as he signed off for the final time
When it emerged that Gary had dramatically quit his roles at the corporation, George shared a string of images supporting his dad. He said: “Proud of you Gaz – 25 years at the top of your game. Match of the Day won’t be the same without you. The best there is. The best there will be.”
In the days before his departure was announced, Lineker is reported to have left his colleagues in little doubt over his feelings towards BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski. Lineker is said to have snubbed Kay-Jelski while working at the FA Cup final – which took place days before his exit announcement – before making remarks about the BBC boss. The Sun claim a source said: “By the end of Gary’s tenure at BBC Sport he didn’t have much time for Alex.
“When he was working on the FA Cup final, just two days before he quit, Alex came over to where Gary was and he just walked off without a word. He made a couple of remarks about Alex in earshot of people working around them. It’s clear there’s no love lost. Gary is really well liked and there are plenty of people who joked that they agreed with what he said.”
Last night viewers saw Gary become choked with emotion as he made his final ever sign-off. “I don’t know whether I can speak,” Gary said, visibly emotional. “I’ll try, I’ll try… For one last time, here’s the Premier League table. And I can’t find a copy, so you can just read it for yourselves, because it doesn’t matter.”
After noting that “one of the teams that is going down is Leicester, which isn’t how I wanted to end it”, he moved onto his closing statement. “Alan and Micah, I suspect our paths will cross again very shortly,” he said before addressing the camera.
He went on to add: “Let me take this opportunity to thank all of the other pundits that I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the last 25 years, you’ve made my job so much easier. Also, a huge thank you to those you don’t see at home: the work that goes into making this iconic show is a huge team effort.
“From the editors, to the analysis team, from the commentators to the floor managers, from the producers to the camera operators, from the PAs to the subs, thank you all, you’re the very best. Rather like my football career, everyone else did all the hard work and I got the plaudits.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to host Match of the Day for a quarter of a century. It’s been utterly joyous. I’d like to wish Gabby, Mark and Kelly for when they sit in this chair – the programme is in the best of hands.
“And my final thank you goes to all of you. Thank you for watching. Thank you for all of your love and support over the years. It’s been so special – and I’m sorry that your team was always on last. Time to say goodbye. Goodbye.”
On his swansong on Sunday, Lineker apparently made a nod to the controversy, opening the show by telling viewers “it wasn’t meant to end this way” – before going on to turn the line into a reference to the final day of the season.
At the end of the programme, Lineker was presented with a commemorative cap and golden boot by pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, who were alongside him.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to have hosted Match of the Day for a quarter of a century. It’s been utterly joyous,” he said.
Speaking directly into the camera to viewers at home, he added: “And my final thank you goes to all of you.
“Thank you for watching, thank you for all your love and support over the years.
“It’s been so special, and I’m sorry that your team was always on last. Time to say goodbye.”
‘Responsible course of action’
Watch: How Gary Lineker’s long BBC career came to an abrupt end
The former England forward replaced Des Lynam as the main presenter of the BBC’s flagship football programme in 1999, and went on to become its highest-paid presenter.
He hit the headlines for airing his opinions beyond football on social media, however.
He was suspended in 2023 for a post about the then-government’s asylum policy, with numerous fellow BBC Sport presenters and pundits walking out in support.
After Lineker was reinstated, the BBC issued new rules for presenters posting on social media.
Earlier this month, Lineker was criticised for sharing a social media post about Zionism that included an illustration of a rat, historically used as an antisemitic insult.
Lineker apologised, saying he had not seen the image and “would never consciously repost anything antisemitic”.
However, it was then announced he would leave the BBC earlier than expected, and that Sunday’s show would be his last.
In a statement at the time, Lineker said football had been “at the heart of my life” and that he cared deeply about the game and his BBC work, but he recognised “the error and upset that I caused”.
“Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action,” he said.
BBC director general Tim Davie thanked Lineker for being “a defining voice in football coverage for the BBC for over two decades”, and said they had “agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season”.
PA Media
‘In the best of hands’
Lineker’s final episode in the presenter’s chair on Sunday saw him interview Liverpool manager Arne Slot as they collected the Premier League trophy.
Slot paid tribute, saying: “Thank you for being such a great presenter of a BBC show that I watched many times when I lived in Holland, and now still.”
The show began with a montage of former Everton and Spurs striker Lineker’s goals and later looked back on highlights of his time at the helm of Match of the Day.
This included him famously presenting a segment while wearing only his Leicester City boxer shorts, as he had promised, after his boyhood team won the Premier League in 2016.
His longstanding sidekicks Shearer and Richards also paid tribute, introducing a montage that included testimonies from the likes of Alan Hansen, Ian Wright and Paul Gascgoine as well as the late Johan Cruyff, singer Andrea Bocelli and Lineker’s sons.
“You won’t believe it but you will be missed,” offered Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
“You’ve been great to me and you’ve been unbelievable to Match of the Day,” added Shearer.
In January, it was revealed that Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan would jointly take over Match of the Day presenting responsibilities from the start of the 2025-26 season.
“I’d like to wish Gabby, Mark and Kelly all the very best when they sit in this chair,” Lineker said.
Taking to Instagram on Friday night, Neville said: “I was contacted by Sky Sports earlier on in the week and told that I would be commentating at the City Ground on Sunday for the Nottingham Forest v Chelsea match.
“I was informed yesterday by Sky Sports that Nottingham Forest would not give me an accreditation or access to the stadium as a co-commentator. I’ve had no choice but to withdraw from the coverage.
“I’ve dished out my fair share of criticism and praise in the last 14 years of doing this job and have never come close to this unprecedented action.”
He continued: “Personally, I think it’s disappointing that a great club like Nottingham Forest have been reduced to making such a decision.
“Whilst they have every right to choose who they let into their own stadium, it’s symptomatic of things that have happened over the last 12 months with the club.
“I wish the coaching staff, players and fans of the club all the best in their quest to achieve Champions League football.”
Sky chiefs are furious and are standing with Neville following Forest’s decision, and have totally revised their coverage plans for the final game of the season.
Awoniyi collided with a post late in the draw with Leicester and was later placed in an induced coma.
Forest later addressed the incident in a statement, writing on X: “Today is a day for celebration, because after 30 years Nottingham Forest is now guaranteed to be competing on the European stage once again – a promise I made to our supporters when we achieved promotion.
“With two more games to go in the Premier League, we must keep believing and keep dreaming, right to the final kick in the final game.
“We are extremely proud and close to Nuno and the team, and we must all celebrate the historic achievements of this season.
“Everybody – coaching staff, players, supporters and including myself – we were frustrated around the injury of Taiwo and the medical staff’s misjudgement on Taiwo’s ability to continue the game.
“This is natural, this is a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club. Let’s all be grateful, passionate and keep on dreaming.”
Coronation Street fans have been mistaking Mikey North, who plays Gary Windass, for his former co-star for 15 years – and he’s yet to correct any of them
16:29, 23 May 2025Updated 17:34, 23 May 2025
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Mikey North has been mistaken for his co-star for years(Image: ITV)
Gary Windass (Mikey North) has been on the cobbles since 2008, but fans still get him mixed up with another Coronation Street star. Mikey was the latest soap star in Kevin and Liz Fletcher’s Off Script podcast, where he spilled all the tea.
Since he’s been in the show so long, Liz was curious to know what Corrie fans call Gary when they see him on the street. “Is it Gary or Windass?” she asked. However, to Liz’s shock, it was neither.
“It’s Chesney,” he laughed – explaining that he gets mistaken for Chesney actor Sam Aston. “It’s followed me around all these years. It’s funny.
“It’s an in-joke at work that my name is Chesney. I guess people who dip in and out who watched it when Chesney was really young, and then tune in years later and see me, they think that Chesney grew up to be me, if that makes sense?”
Mikey revealed he gets called Chesney by fans(Image: Chloe Rivers )
Mickey then went on to reveal how himself and Chesney shared a dressing room at the studio for 15 years. “It’s sort of like they were congregating the gingers,” he laughed.
However, Mickey doesn’t bother to correct fans, as he told the hosts he “just goes along with it” when people ask him how Chesney’s late dog Schmeichel is.
Sam Aston first joined the soap in 2003, five years before Mickey. At the time of joining, he was just 10 years old.
There had been no mention of where he’d gone, and not a single storyline to explain his absence, leaving fans confused. During his return, Gary told Maria he was planning to sell his shop and buy the builder’s yard in an attempt at a fresh start. However, Maria wasn’t convinced that was a good idea.
Things then became worse for the couple when Maria found out Gary had offered Mick a job at the yard. However, .the position didn’t last long, after Gary discovered that Mick had locked his step-son Liam in a cabinet for hours. Mick was then sacked and the pair ended up having a brawl in broad daylight.
Asked which Emmerdale characters he wants to be mixing with, the actor replied: “It’s got to be Cain, hasn’t it?” “A Windass and a Dingle, that would be brilliant,” said Kelvin, to which Mikey laughed: “Windass V Dingle.”
Britain’s top football host will not front 2026 World Cup coverage and is ‘bowing out by mutual agreement’ after backlash to a social media post about Zionism.
Gary Lineker, a former England captain and the face of football on British television for more than two decades, will leave the BBC, the public broadcaster said in a statement on Monday.
Lineker, 64, had been due to cover the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the BBC, but his early departure comes after he apologised last week for sharing a social media post about Zionism which featured a picture of a rat, historically used as an anti-Semitic insult.
Lineker said that he deleted the posts after learning of the offensive references.
According to multiple British media reports, the high-profile host is “bowing out by mutual agreement”.
He rose to become the BBC’s highest-paid star after presenting its Match of the Day (MOTD) highlights show for 25 years. The BBC announced last November that he would step down from MOTD this year, but carry on working for it until 2026.
“Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season,” BBC director general Tim Davie said in a statement.
Lineker repeated his apology on Monday, saying he would never consciously repost anything anti-Semitic.
“I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am,” he said. “Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”
Gary Lineker is leaving the BBC after 26 years of service, the public broadcaster confirmed on Monday [File: Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA via Getty Images]
Voicing Palestinian support
In recent years, Lineker’s desire to put forward his political views on social media has caused headaches for the BBC, which has strict rules on impartiality.
He was temporarily taken off air in 2023 after he criticised the previous government’s immigration policy on social media. In 2018, he opposed Brexit and called for a second referendum.
But it was Lineker’s support for the Palestinians affected by the war on Gaza that most recently brought him into conflict with the BBC.
Lineker had already caused friction at the public broadcaster when he recently said Israel was to blame for the origins of the Gaza conflict, because it turned the occupied territory into an “outdoor prison”.
Speaking on May 9 in an interview with The Telegraph at the Football Business Awards, just days before he was accused of the anti-Semitic social post on X, Lineker expressed that his issues are with the Israeli government rather than Jewish people.
“Obviously, October 7 was awful, but it’s very important to know your history and to study the massacres that happened prior to this, many of them against the Palestinian people,” he said in the interview with The Telegraph, which was published last Thursday, on May 15.
“Yes, Israelis have a right to defend themselves. But it appears that Palestinians don’t – and that is where it’s wrong. Palestinians are caged in this outdoor prison in Gaza, and now it’s an outdoor prison that they’re bombing,” Lineker added.
In the same interview, the TV host also disputed whether Israel could justifiably argue that it was still acting in self-defence. “I understand that they needed to avenge, but I don’t think they’ve helped their own hostage situation at all,” Lineker said.
“People say it’s a complex issue, but I don’t think it is. It’s inevitable that the Israeli occupation was going to cause massive problems, and I just feel for the Palestinians.”
The former striker played for England for eight years until 1992 and had been a top scorer for Leicester City, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur in the 1980s and early 1990s.
He is also the co-founder of a podcasting production business, Goalhanger, which makes series such as the podcasts The Rest Is History and The Rest Is Football.
Lineker will leave his role at the BBC on Sunday after his final episode of Match of the Day.
Gary Lineker, left, and Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer look at a football shirt during a reception ahead of St George’s Day at 10 Downing Street, London, Britain on April 22, 2025 [Stefan Rousseau/Pool via Reuters]
Gary Lineker is reportedly set to step down from the BBC on Monday following growing backlash over a controversial social media post that sparked accusations of anti-Semitism
Gary Lineker’s controversial Instagram post that was final straw for BBC bosses(Image: BBC)
Former England footballer and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker is expected to leave the BBC by mutual agreement, amid escalating criticism surrounding his recent social media activity.
The fallout began last Monday after Lineker, 64, shared a pro-Palestinian video on Instagram that included a rat emoji which is a symbol historically used in Nazi propaganda to dehumanize Jewish people. The post drew widespread condemnation and was quickly deleted. Lineker issued an apology, but the controversy continued to intensify throughout the week.
Pressure on the broadcaster increased on Thursday after The Telegraph published a revealing interview in which Lineker expanded on his criticism of Israel’s actions and appeared to take aim at senior figures within the BBC.
According to sources, plans for Lineker to lead BBC coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup have now been scrapped. His early departure from the broadcaster is expected to be confirmed today.
Gary Lineker is leaving the BBC sooner than planned after a social media post sparked major controversy.(Image: Getty Images)
The Match of the Day star, who is the highest-paid presenter at the BBC apologised for sharing a video an anti-Zionism video. The post featured a picture of a rat, which has historically been used as an antisemitic insult, referring to language used in Nazi Germany to characterise Jews.
Gary immediately deleted the post after realising the significance of the symbol, according to his agent. Last Tuesday afternoon, he also issued a statement in which he “apologised unreservedly” for his “mistake”.
“On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learned contained offensive references,” he said in a statement. “I very much regret these references. “I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic. It goes against everything I believe in.”
The Match of the Day presenter said he deleted the post “as soon as I became aware of the issue. Whilst I strongly believe in the importance of speaking out on humanitarian issues, including the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, I also know that how we do so matters,” Lineker continued.
Gary apologised for any offense caused
“I take full responsibility for this mistake. That image does not reflect my views. It was an error on my part for which I apologise unreservedly,” he concluded.
Gary had been due to leave the BBC after the 2026 World Cup but the long-standing Match of the Day host appears ready to bring an early end to his time with the broadcaster. The seasoned presenter has quit amid the backlash to a social media post on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
He reshared content from the group Palestine Lobby, prompting claims from Campaign Against Antisemitism that they would be lodging a complaint.
Tim Davie, director general of the BBC, previously issued a response to the backlash. “The BBC’s reputation is held by everyone and when someone makes a mistake, it costs us,” he said.
Back in 2023, Lineker was taken off the air for an episode of Match of the Day following comments about Conservative government language.
“We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries,” he wrote. “This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s, and I’m out of order?”
Gary will be stepping away from his BBC duties(Image: The FA via Getty Images)
In a recent interview with the BBC’s Amol Rajan, Lineker questioned the Beeb’s social media guidelines. “The impartiality rules were for people in news and current affairs. They have subsequently changed,” he said.
“But that left people like me, who has always given his honest opinions about things. Then they suddenly changed them and you have to go, ‘Oh, I’ve got to be impartial now’. It doesn’t make any sense.
“Why worry about the people who don’t like you. This is the mistake the BBC makes. The BBC tries to appease the people that hate the BBC. The people who always attack the licence fee. They worry far too much about that, rather than worrying about the people who love the BBC.”
“Why shouldn’t I have an opinion on things?” Lineker asked in the same interview with Rajan. “I’ve always been strong on humanitarian issues and always will be, and that’s me. The goalposts were massively moved because it was never an issue until, suddenly, this point.
“It was always stipulated in the BBC guidelines that in terms of impartiality, it was for people who work in news and current affairs. I am very, very thoughtful about what I say. They took me off air and it was a silly overreaction.”
Gary Lineker is set to leave the BBC with an announcement expected on Monday.
Speculation is mounting the 64-year-old will step down after he presents his final Match of the Day next weekend.
Lineker, listed as the highest-paid BBC presenter, had been due to remain at the forefront of the BBC’s coverage of next season’s FA Cup and the World Cup in 2026, despite previously announcing he will leave Match of the Day at the end of this season.
But last week he had to apologise after sharing a social media post about Zionism that included an illustration of a rat, historically used as an antisemitic insult.
Lineker said he very much regretted the references, adding he would never knowingly share anything antisemitic and that he had deleted the post once he had learned about the symbolism of the image.
Last week, BBC Director General Tim Davie said: “The BBC’s reputation is held by everyone, and when someone makes a mistake, it costs us.”
It is understood that BBC bosses considered Lineker’s position untenable.
The former England striker has attracted criticism before for his posts on social media in the past.
He was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 after an impartiality row over a post in which he said language used to promote a government asylum policy was “not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s”.
The BBC’s social media rules were then rewritten to say presenters of flagship programmes outside news and current affairs – including Match of the Day – have “a particular responsibility to respect the BBC’s impartiality, because of their profile on the BBC”.
In November 2024, Lineker announced his departure from Match of the Day, but said he would remain with the BBC to front FA Cup and World Cup coverage.
In an interview earlier this year about leaving, Lineker said he believed the BBC wanted him to leave Match of the Day as he was negotiating a new contract last year, saying: “Well, perhaps they want me to leave. There was the sense of that.”
The BBC didn’t comment on Lineker’s suggestion at the time but called him a “world-class presenter” and added that Match of the Day “continually evolves for changing viewing habits”.
Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan have been announced as new presenters of the show for the start of the 2025-26 season.
Lineker has not publicly commented on his departure from the BBC.
In his interview last month, Lineker also reflected on his 2023 tweets, saying that he did not regret the comments and adding “would I, in hindsight, do it again? No I wouldn’t, because of all the nonsense that came with it.”
Speaking to the BBC’s Amol Rajan, he indicated his next career move “won’t be more telly”, adding: “I think I’ll step back from that now” and .I think I’ll probably focus more on the podcast world”.
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![Mick Micahelis [JOE LAYTON] corners Gary Windass [MIKEY NORTH] and punches him to the ground. Grabbing an empty bottle](https://www.occasionaldigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/1748018293_593_Coronation-Streets-Gary-Windass-actor-spent-years-being-mistaken-for.jpg)
