Gary Lineker has addressed his departure from the BBC, saying he could have simply "shut up" for a "quiet and easy life" but chose to keep speaking out on humanitarian issues. The former Match of the Day host appeared at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Tuesday (August 25) to discuss his career, including his exit from the broadcaster in May 2025.
Exit amid social media controversy
Lineker left the BBC after sharing a video from the group Palestine Lobby concerning Israel's military operations in Gaza. The video included an illustration of a rat, a historically antisemitic symbol used to target Jewish people. Upon announcing his exit, Lineker apologised, saying: "I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action."
The 65-year-old The Rest Is Football star fronted Match of the Day from 1999 until 2025. In conversation with Adam Hawkins, director of documentary series at Netflix and advisory chair for the festival, Lineker was asked why he feels compelled to engage with politics publicly.
Impartiality rules 'shifted'
Lineker said: "I don't think it's politics, really. I'm interested in politics, I'm not interested in being in politics. I don't think I speak much about politics, although politics is involved in everything that I speak about. I think ultimately you need to live with yourself. If I see things that upset me in humanitarian terms, then I find it quite upsetting, and it triggers me to use a platform that I would never have had before. People can disagree and they do and that's absolutely fine."
He explained how the BBC's impartiality rules had "shifted," noting that around 2019 the broadcaster moved the goalposts and said the rules applied to everyone. He pointed to then-director-general Tim Davie's overhaul of the impartiality rules in October 2020. The BBC's updated guidance stated: "The new social media guidance applies to everyone working at the BBC whether they are using social media professionally or personally, with clear steps to follow to maintain standards and integrity." It also noted: "If your work requires you to maintain your impartiality, don't express a personal opinion on matters of public policy, politics, or 'controversial subjects.'"
Lineker on his decision to speak up
Lineker told Hawkins he remembered speaking to the director-general and informing him he had no intention of altering the way he behaved online. He said: "I still want to speak up if I want. I said I'll always be cautious, and it'll be about humanitarian issues. If I wanted a quiet and easy life I could have just shut up, but I'm an idiot."
