Gary Lineker has been documenting his return to work on social media, as he prepares to host the BBC’s first ever live Premier League game.
The popular football pundit, 59, took to Instagram on Saturday afternoon to share a snapshot of himself with Ian Wright, 56, and Alan Shearer, 49, in the studio, days after Premier League games resumed following the COVID-19 lockdown.
Captioning the image, which showed the trio of retired footballers practising social distancing as they relaxed on separate chairs, Lineker wrote: ‘Back in business.’
They’re back! Gary Lineker, right, took to Instagram to share a snap of himself with Ian Wright, left, and Alan Shearer, centre, on Saturday, as they returned to their football pundit jobs
Donning a white T-shirt with blue trousers, Lineker raised his fist in the air in victorious fashion, as Arsenal legend Wright flashed a broad grin and erstwhile Newcastle United striker Shearer peered over his shoulder.
Lineker is set to enjoy a career milestone on Saturday evening, as he steers the BBC’s first ever live Premier League game.
A record TV audience is expected to tune in for Bournemouth’s clash with Crystal Palace, which is the first top-flight match the Beeb have broadcast live since 1988.
Job: BBC Sport’s director says Match of the Day hotseat is Lineker’s for as long as he wants it
And in a rare interview to mark the occasion, Barbara Slater, the director of BBC Sport, has lauded the long-serving Lineker, who is the corporation’s best-paid presenter, earning £1.75million last year.
Asked if she expected him to remain as Match of the Day’s anchor for many years to come, Slater told Sportsmail: ‘From our point of view, yes we do.
‘Quite frankly, he is the best in the business and he is a fantastic asset to this organisation and long may he continue to present Match of the Day.
‘Obviously that is a decision that he will make, but there isn’t any doubt on our part that we really value Gary and his contribution.’
First: The BBC will show their first live top flight game since 1988 when Bournemouth host Crystal Palace
Lineker will present Saturday’s 7.45pm kick-off from the BBC’s Salford studio, alongside pundits Alan Shearer and Ian Wright, with Steve Wilson and Jermaine Jenas the commentary team at the Vitality Stadium.
The ordinarily low-key fixture is tipped to become the most watched Premier League game in UK television history, beating the record set in 2012, when four million viewers saw the Manchester derby on Sky Sports.
As part of the Government’s demand for a third of the remaining top-flight games to be shown free-to-air, the Beeb will also broadcast Norwich against Everton on Wednesday, Manchester City’s visit to Southampton on July 5 and one other, as yet undecided, match.
In her 11 years as BBC Sport’s boss, this is one rights agreement Slater never expected.
‘We wish we weren’t in these circumstances but it’s a wonderful opportunity to bring top-flight football to the widest possible audience,’ said Slater, who revealed there could also be as many as four Match of the Day highlights programmes on a week.
Match: The broadcaster will show Norwich City’s home encounter with Everton on Wednesday
‘It is something that is very special. I am confident that we will be delivering Premier League football to many, many millions.’
With no fans to generate an atmosphere, the contentious decision has been taken to use fake crowd noise on the BBC One broadcast, with viewers having to use the red button to be able to watch with the natural sound.
‘We decided to make a really late call on this,’ said Slater. ‘We have taken lots of feedback from our talent and much more widely, and there is a broad consensus that actually some sound enhancement makes it a better viewing experience.’
If fans are still not allowed into stadiums at the start of next season, there have been calls for the BBC to be offered more live Premier League matches, something Sky Sports and BT Sport will resist.
But Slater said: ‘Our focus at the moment is getting this season concluded, covering it in the very best way that we can and not speculating about the longer term.’
Game: Manchester City’s Premier League trip to Southampton will be shown by BBC on July 5