Kelly Cates Vows Not to Mimic Gary Lineker as She Prepares for Match of the Day Role

Key facts

• Kelly Cates, Gabby Logan, and Mark Chapman will replace Gary Lineker as Match of the Day presenters.
• Lineker was axed by the BBC in May after a social media post sparked an anti-Semitism row.
• Cates has not spoken to Lineker about the role and says they do not know each other well.
• Mark Chapman will host the first show of the new Premier League season on Saturday evening.
• Cates stated she has no interest in using her platform for politics or social causes, unlike Lineker.
• Lineker had been due to leave after the 2026 World Cup but was removed early.

A New Era Without Lineker

Kelly Cates, the Sky Sports veteran who will co-host Match of the Day next season, has made clear she has no intention of copying Gary Lineker's approach. 'I don't want to be Gary,' she said, acknowledging the temptation to imitate a predecessor who was 'brilliant at the job and adored.' Cates is one of three presenters—alongside Gabby Logan and BBC mainstay Mark Chapman—who will share the role held by Lineker for 26 years. The rotation begins with Chapman hosting the first show of the new Premier League season on Saturday evening. Lineker's departure was abrupt. He had been scheduled to step down after the 2026 World Cup, but the BBC axed him in May following a social media post that ignited a roiling anti-Semitism row.

No Contact with the Predecessor

Cates revealed that she has not spoken to Lineker about the job, despite the obvious parallels. 'No he hasn't got in touch and I haven't got in touch with him, but not because we're not avoiding each other,' she said during Sky Sports' launch of the new Premier League season. 'We just don't know each other.' She added that Chapman had relayed Lineker's comment: 'Why would I tell three broadcasters how to do their job?' Cates described this as 'very lovely of him,' given his success in the role. For Cates, the key is authenticity. 'I think that you get a job because of yourself. And if then you try to be someone else, it can all just get a bit confused. I don't need another thing to think about. I don't need to be sitting there thinking: "What would Gary do?"'

A Deliberate Distance from Politics

Cates also stressed that she will not use her platform to discuss politics or social causes—a sharp contrast to Lineker, who frequently waded into contentious issues. The former Barcelona striker had taken aim at the Conservative party, migrant policy, the Qatar World Cup, and other social topics on social media, often testing the boundaries of the BBC's strict impartiality rules. Cates's stance suggests a deliberate effort to avoid the controversies that marked Lineker's tenure. She did not elaborate on her own views, but her comments signal a return to a more traditional, sports-only focus for the flagship highlights programme. The BBC has not commented on the political dimension of the presenter change, but the decision to split the role among three hosts may also be seen as a risk-management strategy.

The Three-Host Format

Rather than appointing a single successor to Lineker, the BBC opted for a rotating team of three established broadcasters. Chapman, a long-time BBC Radio 5 Live presenter, will take the first show. Logan, a familiar face from BBC Sport and BT Sport, and Cates, a Sky Sports mainstay since 2013, will follow on subsequent weekends. The arrangement is unusual for Match of the Day, which has had only two permanent hosts in its 60-year history: Des Lynam (1968–1999) and Lineker (1999–2024). The BBC has not said whether the rotation will continue beyond the current season. Cates's appointment marks a milestone: she is the first woman to host the programme on a regular basis, though Logan has previously stood in as a guest presenter.

Lineker's Legacy and Abrupt Exit

Gary Lineker's 26-year tenure as Match of the Day host made him one of the most recognisable faces in British broadcasting. He was due to leave after the 2026 World Cup, but the BBC accelerated his departure in May after a social media post sparked accusations of anti-Semitism. The post, which Lineker later deleted, ignited a firestorm that led to his removal. Despite the controversy, Cates acknowledged Lineker's popularity. 'Any focus group that was researching will tell you how much he was adored in that role,' she said. 'And as much as he was a controversial character at times... he was brilliant at the job.' Lineker has not publicly commented on the new presenting team or on Cates's remarks.

What Comes Next

The new Match of the Day lineup will debut when the Premier League season kicks off in mid-August. Viewers will see Chapman first, followed by Logan and Cates in subsequent weeks. The BBC has not announced the exact rotation schedule. Cates, who has covered football for Sky Sports for over a decade, said she is focused on doing the job her own way. 'I don't need to be someone else,' she reiterated. 'It's not a decision not to [contact Lineker]. It's just we don't have that relationship.' The coming season will test whether the three-host format can maintain the programme's audience, which has remained strong despite declining linear TV viewership. The BBC will also be watching closely for any further impartiality breaches, given the heightened scrutiny after Lineker's exit.

The bottom line

• Kelly Cates will co-host Match of the Day next season alongside Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman, replacing Gary Lineker.
• Cates has not spoken to Lineker about the role and says she will not try to imitate his style or use the platform for political commentary.
• Lineker was axed in May after a social media post sparked an anti-Semitism row; he had been due to leave after the 2026 World Cup.
• Mark Chapman will host the first show of the new Premier League season; the rotation schedule has not been fully disclosed.
• Cates's appointment makes her the first woman to regularly host the programme, though Logan has previously guest-hosted.
• The three-host format is a departure from the single-presenter tradition that lasted for decades under Lynam and Lineker.