Dermot O'Leary and Alex Scott, the presenters of Soccer Aid, had their request to skip rehearsals to attend the Champions League final in Budapest denied. The pair had hoped to watch Arsenal face PSG in the showpiece event, but ITV producers refused to let them miss the run-through for the charity match.
O'Leary revealed on BBC Radio 5 Live that he had been in negotiations to attend the final, which took place on Saturday, but admitted it was 'not looking good'. He said: 'We are in negotiations at the moment. It’s not looking good. The ticket is ok. The problem is my contractual obligation to Soccer Aid.'
Despite his experience in live television, O'Leary argued that he did not need to rehearse, suggesting it was 'everyone else involved' who required a run-through. He added: 'Also I’m doing it with Alex Scott, one of the Arsenal greats. Right now, we’re in a perilous state of negotiation, which I don’t think we’re going to win.'
Scott, a former Arsenal star, ended up watching the final from the Emirates Stadium, where the club erected giant screens for fans unable to travel to Hungary. She shared her point of view on Instagram, showing herself with a beer in hand.
Soccer Aid takes place on Sunday at West Ham's London Stadium, with coverage on ITV1 from 5pm and kick-off at 6:30pm. O'Leary and Scott will host the broadcast, which features former England internationals and celebrities playing for charity.
