BBC confirms three new Match of the Day presenters following Gary Lineker exit

On January 15, 2025By Littum

The BBC has confirmed that Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan will share presenting duties on Match of the Day from next season.

It was confirmed in late 2024 that Gary Lineker would be leaving the show, having hosted the program ever since Des Lynham’s departure to rivals ITV in 1999.

In the wake of that announcement, speculation went into overdrive as to who would fill his boots.

And the BBC has now confirmed that Chapman, Cates and Logan will share presenting duties on the popular football highlights show.

Gary Lineker is leaving Match of the Day at the end of the current season

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A statement on the BBC website said: “The BBC’s flagship football show, Match of the Day, will be presented by Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan from next season.

“For the first time, the role of main presenter across the BBC’s iconic Premier League highlights programmes, Match of the Day and Match of the Day 2, and the latest addition to the BBC’s football highlights portfolio, Match of the Day Champions League, will be shared by three presenters.

“The highly respected trio, who also work across other parts of BBC Sport, will be at the heart of BBC Sport’s star-studded football team, which includes Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Alex Scott, Jason Mohammad, Kelly Somers, John Murray and Steve Crossman . “

Logan, reacting to his new gig, said: “It’s always a real moment (sitting in the chair) because it has such a history.

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“It’s still so relevant to so many people now and talked about in a landscape where TVs changed so much.”

“There is a huge responsibility to ensure that we continue to develop while respecting the traditions of the Match of the Day.

“People want to see the goals, they want to see the incidents, they want to see the moments that everyone is talking about, so even if we can tinker around the edges, the heart is the football.”

Cates, who is the daughter of Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish, is leaving Sky Sports for the post.

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She said: “When I sit in that chair and the theme music starts, I just know it’s going to be a really incredible moment.

“I’ve worked with a lot of experts before and they’re all great, so I’m just looking forward to getting started.

“I’ve known Gabby and Mark really well for years, so to bring it all together and embrace the digital side of things, it feels like a really comprehensive football package for fans and that’s also what makes it so exciting.”

And Chapman, who previously headed the BBC’s coverage of Dagens Kamp 2, said: “This is not about the three of us, it’s about the three of us plus our pundits, plus our editors, plus our analysts and statistics people and production people, radio and online It’s really about all of us as a department working together.

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Kelly Cates will be one of three presenters on Match of the Day from next season

“I know the history of a lot of radio shows and TV shows, and I feel honored to follow in the footsteps of the people that we follow in and respect what they’ve done.”

BBC chief Alex Kay-Jelski has overseen the changes.

He was keen to refresh Match of the Day after so many years with Lineker presenting the show.

And he can’t wait to see how viewers react to the changes, with Kay-Jelski saying: “I know viewers will love these three incredible broadcasters and journalists at the heart of our football coverage next season.

Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman will also present BBC Match of the Day from next seasonThe sports agents

“They are good at what they do, and viewers of Dagens Kamp can be sure that they will be well looked after, as the big talking points in football are expertly analysed.

“Gary has done a phenomenal job at Dagens Kamp for the last 26 years, he will be sorely missed and we can all still enjoy him on our screens across some of football’s biggest tournaments.

“Aside from Match of the Day, we have some fantastic new shows, voices and surprises lined up for the 2025/26 season across audio, video and digital and we look forward to sharing them with you all later this year.

“It’s a really exciting time for BBC Sport’s football coverage.”