Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Mike Bedigan

Fatboy Slim shows support for Gary Lineker during Manchester show

PA Wire

Fatboy Slim has showed his support for Match of the Day host Gary Lineker during a live performance.

The presenter has become embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new government asylum policy to 1930s Germany on Twitter.

On Friday (10 March), the BBC announced that Lineker would take a break from presenting the highlights programme until an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media had been reached.

You can follow The Independent’s live blog here.

DJ Fatboy Slim – real name Norman Cook – was performing at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse later on Friday when he made his support for Lineker known.

During his set, the face of the BBC football pundit appeared on screen, with Cook turning to applaud Lineker, prompting cheers from the crowd.

Other faces including Prince and Greta Thunberg were included as part of the show.

Sharing the clip on Instagram, Cook wrote: “Enough respect #imwithgary.”

“Enough respect #ImWithGary,” the DJ, real name Norman Quentin Cook, said, sharing the video on Twitter.

Lineker’s son George Lineker reshared the video on Twitter, writing: “That’s so elite.”

Lineker’s original tweet came in response to a Home Office video in which home secretary Suella Braverman unveiled plans to stop people crossing the Channel on small boats.

After he was asked to “step back” from his position presenting Match of the Day on Saturday (11 March), his co-hosts and former England footballers Alan Shearer and Ian Wright pulled out of the show in “solidarity”.

Micah Richards, Jermaine Jenas and Alex Scott also ruled themselves out of appearing on the show, meaning this Saturday’s episode will have no presenters or pundits.

Additional reporting by Press Association

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.