Well, well, well. After quitting the Beeb amid an antisemitism storm, it transpires that Gary Lineker has been picked up by none other than rival broadcaster ITV. The left-wing right-back will reportedly present a new Saturday night show called The Box, which will see a group of people, possibly celebrities, undergo a series of challenges while stuck inside – you guessed it – a box. Less room for controversial political commentary in that one, Mr S presumes…
Lineker’s move comes after the sports pundit came under fire for shared a social-media post featuring an ‘anti-Semitic’ rat emoji and declared that Israel’s response to the October 7 terrorist attacks was ‘beyond depraved’. Lineker – the Corporation’s highest-paid ‘star’ – had been due to host the BBC’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup but was forced to end his contract early over the controversy. Actions have consequences…
ITV will have a tough time balancing the books if they attempt to match Lineker’s £1.3 million-a-year salary. The fallout for the ex-football is more than reputational: as one of the Beeb’s highest-paid stars, Lineker is thought to have lost out on an estimated £800,000 in BBC pay as a result of his early departure. Talk about an own goal!
Spectator.co.uk
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