Gary Lineker has admitted why he refused to be silenced as he reflected on the BBC controversies that led to his exit from the broadcaster. The former Match Of The Day presenter stepped down from his role at the BBC in May last year following criticism for airing his political opinions on social media.
Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, in conversation with Netflix’s director of documentary series Adam Hawkins, who is also the festival’s advisory chair, Lineker said he used his platform to “address things that upset me”.
Lineker on using his platform
The 65-year-old said: “I don’t really speak much about politics, but politics is involved in everything that I speak about. Ultimately, you need to live with yourself, and if I see things that upset me in humanitarian terms and I find it quite upsetting, it triggers me to use a platform I would have never had before. People can disagree and they do and that’s absolutely fine.”
The former footballer continued: “With the BBC it’s important to tell the whole story. At the start with the BBC, for 20 years, there was never a question of impartiality applying to those who were outside news and current affairs.
BBC impartiality row
“I would post refugees and humanitarian issues, but then in 2019 the BBC moved the goalpost and said it applied to everyone and I said it wasn’t in my contract. I remember speaking with the director-general and said I would change and I would speak up if I wanted.”
“I said I would be cautious and it would be about humanitarian issues and I carried on. If I wanted a quiet and easy life I could have just shut up… but I’m an idiot.”
Upcoming docuseries
It comes after it was revealed that Lineker's life and career will be explored in an upcoming four-part docuseries on Prime Video set to air in 2027. Currently titled Lineker, the series will tell the story of the former footballer’s life and 50-year career in sport and broadcasting.
The show will feature archive footage from Lineker’s early years, including his childhood in Leicester. There will also be insights from the star himself along with interviews with his family members, fellow footballers and critics.
