The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Judith Benjamin
The Monday Night Club is set to air on BBC Radio 5Live this evening as normality returned to the Beeb after a wild weekend of disruption following the corporation’s decision to suspend Gary Lineker.
Host Mark Chapman will be joined by pundits including Chris Sutton on the radio debate show, on the same day that the BBC said they had come to an agreement with Lineker so he can return to Match of the Day.
It comes after Match of the Day and Match of the Day 2 on Saturday and Sunday respectively were broadcast with no presenter, no pundits and no commentary.
As the Beeb’s talent refused to work in solidarity with Lineker, Football Focus was replaced by Bargain Hunt, and Final Score by The Repair Shop, while podcasts were played instead of usual programming on 5Live.
Chapman decided not to host 5Live’s football coverage on Saturday in support of Lineker.
Mark Chapman will host Monday Night Club after pulling out of 5Live’s Saturday show
It comes as Gary Lineker is set to return to Match of the Day for this weekend’s FA Cup coverage
The 62-year old MOTD icon has been made to ‘step back’ from the broadcasting corporations football show after breaching the BBC’s ‘social media guidelines’ having previously compared the language used to launch a new Government asylum policy with 1930s Germany.
However, Lineker will be back on BBC TV this weekend with no further punishment after BBC bosses backed down over his tweets – with the star even receiving an apology from Tim Davie.
The BBC’s Director General rushed back from the United States to secure a deal with the broadcaster, so he can present their FA Cup coverage this weekend.
Mr Davie, who is facing calls to resign over the debacle, has apologised to BBC staff and presenters, which includes Mr Lineker, and BBC viewers and listeners, whose sporting coverage was decimated this weekend.
He said: ‘Everyone recognises this has been a difficult period for staff, contributors, presenters and, most importantly, our audiences. I apologise for this. The potential confusion caused by the grey areas of the BBC’s social media guidance that was introduced in 2020 is recognised. I want to get matters resolved and our sport content back on air’.
