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I’m A Celebrity hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly hint ITV bosses are ALREADY trying to sign Gary Lineker after his shock exit from Match Of The Day was revealed

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I'm A Celebrity hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly hint ITV bosses are ALREADY trying to sign Gary Lineker after his shock exit from Match Of The Day was revealed

As a devoted fan who has grown up with Gary Lineker gracing our screens every Saturday night, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nostalgia at the thought of him potentially joining ITV. With over two decades of hosting Match of the Day under his belt, it’s hard to imagine him anywhere else, but if anyone can pull off the jungle challenge, it’s our Gary!

Following the sensational news that Gary Lineker was stepping down from BBC’s Match of the Day after 25 years, it’s likely that competing networks were already preparing enticing deals for this well-known presenter.

It seems that ITV might be planning to recruit the 63-year-old, following the suggestion by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, the I’m A Celebrity hosts, for him to participate in the reality show next year.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m sharing a tidbit from a recent Instagram live session. On Tuesday, Ant, 49, casually mentioned to his viewers: “It seems we need to wrap up, but hold on! One more suggestion popped up: ‘Let’s aim to have Gary Lineker join the Jungle next year.’

Responding to the proposal, Ant commented: “That’s an excellent thought! Superb suggestion, since he’s no longer hosting Match of the Day, let’s bring him on board.

Normally, the Geordie pair often brush off suggestions from fans to include well-known figures like Lineker on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, arguing that these individuals are either too occupied or high-profile to participate in the reality series.

In an unexpected turn of events, I found myself pleasantly surprised when I discovered that my proposal for Lineker to join the ITV flagship program was not only accepted but enthusiastically endorsed by the hosts themselves.

I'm A Celebrity hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly hint ITV bosses are ALREADY trying to sign Gary Lineker after his shock exit from Match Of The Day was revealed

Together with his business associate from Goal Hanger, the organization that produces the highly popular podcast series “The Rest Is,” and given Tony Pastor’s past role as Head of Sport at ITV, it seems likely that discussions regarding Lineker potentially joining ITV have been ongoing for a while.

Later on, John Holmes, the representative of the previous England forward, asserted that ITV had expressed interest in hiring Lineker years earlier, but their overtures were rejected by the broadcaster himself.

Holmes’s reprimand occurred during the period when there were rumors that Lineker might be planning to move to ITV, intending to assume a significant role in their sports broadcasting.

However, the topic of Gary Lineker potentially leaving has come up again as fans have urged him to join I’m A Celebrity, a suggestion that has gained more traction due to the show’s established hosts.

The impact of Ant and Dec on the cast should not be overlooked, considering that this season’s competitor, the TikTok sensation known as GK Barry, acknowledges their role in securing her place within the program.

Grace Keeling, more commonly known as GK Barry, is currently residing in the jungle and rumored to have an upcoming ITV program awaiting her upon departure.

It’s common knowledge that appearing on “I’m A Celebrity” can lead to further collaborations with ITV, and having Lineker join the team could assist him in moving towards a permanent position within their network.

After several weeks of rumors suggesting Lineker might depart from MOTD, it became official last week that he plans to retire at the conclusion of this season, having been a former striker.

I'm A Celebrity hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly hint ITV bosses are ALREADY trying to sign Gary Lineker after his shock exit from Match Of The Day was revealed

Lineker, earning approximately $1.74 million annually from the BBC, has been tapped to lead their broadcasting of the 2026 World Cup across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, in addition to the FA Cup coverage during the upcoming season.

Additionally, it’s been announced that he won’t be part of the BBC Sports Personality of The Year award show’s presenters in December.

Based on a survey conducted by market research firm Ipsos this week, it appears that many fans are in favor of Alan Shearer becoming the host of Match of the Day.

Among fans, Mark Chapman, known for hosting the companion program of Match of the Day called Match of the Day 2, was nearly as popular as the favorite choice to replace Lineker, receiving support from about 20% of fans.

It’s thought that Alex Kay-Jelski, the head of sports at the BBC, is eager to change the program’s course and aims to secure a fresh host who might appeal to a more youthful demographic.

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2024-11-21 19:05

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