Alan Shearer and Micah Richards didn’t take long to fire jokes at Mark Chapman after he was confirmed as one of Gary Lineker’s replacement on Match of the Day.
Lineker will leave his role after more than two decades at the end of the season, with Chapman among three faces who will share the iconic job. From next season, he will share the role with Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates – but Chapman was in the hotseat on Wednesday night as he fronted the coverage of the highlights show.
A midweek Premier League programme meant Match of the Day returned in an unfamiliar Wednesday night slot and, with Lineker absent, Chapman and the two pundits made light of the situation.
Chapman began the night by saying: “Evening, thought I’d get the practice in”. Richards and Shearer were both smiled, before the Newcastle icon hit back: “You haven’t wasted any time have you?” Richards, by this point laughing, chimed in and added: “The ink’s not even dry Alan!”
Shearer then made another dig as he said: “You’ve gone six too months early” with Chapman realising what he was in for as he replied: “It’s going to be a long night isn’t it!?”
On Wednesday the BBC announced that Chapman, Logan and Cates would all share the job of replacing Lineker from next season. Chapman and Logan have long been working with the corporation while Cates comes across from Sky Sports, who she will continue to work for.
Shearer and Richards will continue as regular pundits on the show with Lineker still working for the BBC, just in a reduced capacity. He will continue to lead the BBC’s TV coverage of the FA Cup next season and present the men’s World Cup in 2026.
BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski said: “I know viewers will love these three incredible broadcasters and journalists at the heart of our football coverage next season. They’re brilliant at what they do and MOTD viewers can be sure they will be well looked after as the big football talking points are expertly analysed.
“Gary has done a phenomenal job at Match of the Day for the last 25 years, he’ll be missed greatly and we all still get to enjoy him on our screens across some of football’s greatest tournaments.”
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