Eamonn Holmes has shared his desire to replace Gary Lineker as the new host of BBC’s Match of the Day.
The former This Morning presenter, 64, was suggested as a good successor for Lineker during his appearance on GB News on Wednesday.
Lineker, 63, shocked fans on Tuesday when he announced that he won’t return to the flagship football programme next season after serving as host for 25 years.
His contract will not be renewed after the current Premier League season and he will leave the BBC for good in 2026 after fronting their international football coverage of the World Cup.
There has been speculation that Lineker could be replaced by a younger host, with names like Alex Scott, Gabby Logan, Mark Chapman, and Dan Walker thrown into the mix.
On GB News, Holmes questioned why the job should go to someone from a younger generation, arguing that “young people do not watch television”.
Holmes, who presented GB News alongside Isabel Webster, spoke to a guest presenter about the news of Gary’s departure.
“I still think Eamonn should have got the gig myself,” the guest presenter said.
“Oh, you would have been brilliant, yeah, nobody knows more about football,” Isabel agreed.
Holmes replied: “See, they also do this ridiculous thing in the BBC, it's always been the case, try and get a younger audience.
“So what does that mean? Get a younger host? And younger people do not watch television. So why are they wasting their time?
“No. They watch it on their phones and on their devices.”
Holmes added that the “best thing about Match of the Day is the music”.
Isabel responded: “They do with Match of the Day, don't they? They watch it in bed on a Sunday with a hangover.”
Lineker took over from Des Lynam as the host of Match of the Day in 1999.
The BBC is reportedly looking to replace the football legend - who is paid around £1.35million a year - with a fresh face at a lower cost.
Lineker’s contract with the BBC finishes at the end of this season but he has been given an 18-month extension.
