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Mark Chapman is poised to be the first of BBC's fresh presenting trio to host Match of the Day as it makes its return alongside the Premier League this weekend. It comes after Gary Lineker recently revealed the truth behind his exit.
The English top-tier league kicks off a new season on Friday night with Liverpool welcoming Bournemouth at Anfield. Lineker, who has been a fixture on the iconic Premier League highlights show Match of the Day since 1999, will not be making a comeback this season.
Last year, the former England star announced his exit but assured he would continue to lead the BBC's live FA Cup coverage and next summer's coverage of the men's 2026 FIFA World Cup. Lineker later confirmed before the conclusion of last season that he would in fact be parting ways with the BBC entirely after the final round of fixtures in 2024/25. He opened his last show with a seven-word one liner.
The broadcaster swiftly devised a plan to compensate for the departure of their long-standing host.
In January, the BBC unveiled that Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates would all take turns in hosting duties from the start of the forthcoming season. Now, according to the Press Association News Agency, Chapman will be the first of the trio to present the flagship show on Saturday, 16 Aug.
Chapman brings a wealth of experience to the role having hosted Match of the Day 2 on Sunday nights since 2013 and also fronts a number of sports programmes across BBC Radio 5 Live. Radio Times reports that he will be joined by pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney.
Everton, Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney has joined the punditry team for the upcoming season. The team will provide analysis of matches including Liverpool vs Bournemouth, Aston Villa vs Newcastle United, Brighton vs Fulham, Sunderland vs West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur vs Burnley and Wolves vs Manchester City.
Sky Sports' Premier League presenter Cates is set to host a programme on Wednesday, 13 Aug. The show will feature highlights from Spurs' UEFA Super Cup match against Paris Saint-Germain and a preview of the upcoming Premier League season.
BBC's sports coverage veteran Logan will lead the first weekend's Match of the Day 2 show on Sunday, 17 August. This programme will showcase highlights from Chelsea vs Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest vs Brentford and Manchester United vs Arsenal.
The hosting duties will rotate among the group throughout the season, with Champions League highlights shows being added to the roster from next month onwards. Everton fans will have to wait for their first appearance on Match of the Day this season.
Their opener is on Monday, 18 Aug., at newly promoted Leeds United. This will be followed by an appearance on Match of the Day 2 when they host Brighton and Hove Albion at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, 24 Aug.
English (US) ·