Football Focus will be axed by the BBC at the end of the season after more than 52 years, due to “changing audience behaviours”.
The football magazine show, first broadcast in 1974, previewed the weekend’s action on a Saturday lunchtime throughout the season. Former England international Alex Scott has presented Football Focus since replacing Dan Walker in 2021.
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson served as host for 20 years after it first launched as an off-shoot of Grandstand, with former Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, Steve Rider, Ray Stubbs and Manish Bhasin also presenting the show through the years.
A statement from the BBC said “difficult decisions around how the licence fee is spent” were needed with fans “increasingly consuming football content in different ways”.
“Football Focus has been a hugely important programme in the history of BBC Sport and has played a key role in telling the stories of the game for generations of viewers,” said the director of BBC Sport, Alex Kay-Jelski.
“This decision was made before last week’s wider BBC savings announcement, reflecting the continued shift in how audiences engage with football and our commitment to evolving how we deliver content to reach fans wherever they are.”
The BBC said Scott would remain “at its heart” of future football coverage and she is set for presenting roles at the men’s World Cup this summer and Women’s World Cup in 2027, as well as regularly covering the Women’s Super League.
Scott admitted feeling "so much anxiety and dread" over the expected "toxic" social media backlash, despite feeling the time was right for the programme to end. “Shows come and go, but what Football Focus has meant to people, that will stay forever,” Scott said.
The BBC said a new show, The Football Interview, will take the slot vacated by Football Focus at 12:45pm on Saturday lunchtime, while the live scores show, Final Score, will continue.
Posting on X/Twitter, former presenter Dan Walker said: “Really sad to hear about the end of Football Focus. I loved that show growing up. I used to watch it every week with my dad and I remember how proud he was when I got the job.
“It was such a privilege to sit in the chair for 12 years, work with an amazing team on and off air and form so many lasting friendships. Saturdays were always special. The football landscape is constantly changing and it’s disappointing that there isn’t space for a show that has meant so much to so many people for so many years.”
