Gary Lineker has acknowledged that he enjoys not “having to tread on eggshells” at the BBC and that he doesn’t miss working there “at all.”
Lineker quit the BBC, where he had been a presenter for 26 years, more than a year ago when he made an Instagram post on Zionism that included a rat and sparked an antisemitic controversy.
The 65-year-old, whose primary responsibility was to oversee Match of the Day and major tournament coverage, expressed regret at the time and acknowledged that quitting was “the responsible course of action.” As a result, the company did not get any compensation from his £1.3 million annual income.
After leaving the BBC more than a year ago, Lineker has talked candidly about his new life and job. “I love the BBC, I always will,” he said. “I think we did in sport, and it turns out some incredible television,” Lineker remarked. “I have a huge amount of respect for it.”
However, things are going great and I’m enjoying life without having to be careful. I don’t miss it at all, then.
After 25 years, Gary Lineker quit his work at the BBC in May of last year, saying, “I think I’d had my time.” He claims he does not miss it. It was similar to a fantastic marriage that eventually kind of fizzled away.
For the most of his nearly thirty years at the BBC, Lineker served as the face of the organization’s coverage of numerous World Cups and European Championships.
But as the company changed over time—in 2023, social media usage policies for staff members were altered—Lineker started to feel that his “freedom of speech” was restricted. “It had become quite difficult,” he told the Radio Times. “It was always acceptable for anyone outside of news and current affairs to have an opinion on other things in the world, but suddenly it wasn’t.” “They moved the goalposts, changed the guidelines, and it became tricky because I’ve always cared about humanitarian issues, and I don’t think they’re ever really political ones.” “Suddenly, they didn’t want you doing this or that, and [my departure] became inevitable because I have to live with myself.”
Additionally, Lineker recently made fun of the BBC’s plan to broadcast the World Cup this summer from Greater Manchester instead of the United States.
In an effort to save money, they do not intend to send television commentators to North America for the World Cup until the quarterfinals.
Prior to his abrupt departure, Lineker was supposed to lead their coverage of the competition; however, he will instead host The Rest is Football podcast, which Netflix purchased for £14 million.
He will spend the entire summer tournament in New York with Micah Richards and Alan Shearer.
Alongside Micah Richards (left) and Alan Shearer (right), Lineker will present the Netflix-purchased podcast The Rest is Football throughout the World Cup.
“I was originally going to do it for the BBC this summer, but that didn’t transpire and I would have been in Salford in a green box and now I’m going to be in New York City overlooking Times Square with lots of great guests,” he remarked during the April launch of Netflix’s Sports Club.
“With Alan, Micah, and myself, we are also fans and we will all be cheering England,” he continued. “But sometimes when you care that much, you are probably more critical of your own team than anybody else.”When I stated, “England played s***” during the Euros, there was a little commotion, and they did. I wouldn’t have made news if I had claimed that England had performed extremely poorly. “You have to tell it as it is and we continue to do that, and hopefully I won’t have to say anything like that,” I remarked, solely because I was concerned about how painful it was and how fortunate England was with their goal.
