Gary Lineker got the boot from the BBC earlier this year due to some drama on social media, but he’s been keeping himself busy with a bunch of new projects. As football fans settled in for this week’s international matches, they noticed a familiar face missing from the screen: Gary Lineker. England crushed Wales 3-0 on Thursday in a friendly at Wembley, with goals from Bukayo Saka, Morgan Rogers, and Ollie Watkins.
Lineker was a fixture in the UK’s coverage of England matches for over two decades, but his time at the BBC came to an end after a controversial post earlier this year. In May, he posted on social media about the Middle East conflict, which stirred up some trouble. The post contained an antisemitic reference – a rat emoji – which caused a lot of backlash online. Lineker apologized, claiming he didn’t notice the emoji and insisting he never meant to share anything antisemitic. However, the BBC decided to cut ties with him and end his contract.
Initially, Lineker was supposed to stick around until 2026, even after leaving Match of the Day at the end of the 2024/25 season. But the BBC had enough after the social media incident, which was just the cherry on top of a series of earlier controversies. Throughout his time at the BBC, Lineker often clashed with management due to his outspoken political views. The most memorable clash was in 2023 when he got suspended for comparing the UK government’s immigration stance to “1930s Germany.” His refusal to stay politically neutral, despite his contractual obligations, ultimately led to his downfall.
Podcasting is one of Lineker’s big projects now, with his involvement in Goalhanger Podcasts, which he helped create. The media company produces popular shows like The Rest Is Football, The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics, and The Rest Is Entertainment. Goalhanger Podcasts raked in a hefty £1.4 million profit last year and has been dominating podcast charts, drawing in huge global audiences. In 2024, the company’s 13 main titles scored over 400 million audio downloads and 85 million YouTube views.
Lineker made a splash in June when The Rest Is Football struck a deal with streaming service DAZN, allowing them to use official match highlights in episodes. This move transformed the podcast from just audio to a multimedia format, positioning it as a modern TV highlight show successor. Lineker’s shift into digital broadcasting has freed him from the editorial constraints of public-service television.
Despite leaving the BBC, Lineker hasn’t abandoned TV completely. He recently signed on with ITV to host The Box, a celebrity competition series mixing elements of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and SAS: Who Dares Wins. This gig marks his return to TV since leaving Match of the Day, with filming set to start later this year and the show expected to air in 2026. The format will feature celebs taking on intense challenges, with a football-inspired twist in one episode, tying back to Lineker’s roots.
As always, Lineker is active online, sharing his opinions on politics and global issues. His departure from the BBC hasn’t mellowed him out – if anything, it’s made him more outspoken. Despite the controversies, Lineker recently snagged the Best TV Presenter award at the National Television Awards, breaking Ant and Dec’s 23-year winning streak. In his acceptance speech, he talked about enjoying his weekends off for the first time in ages and teased his upcoming show on ITV, The Box.
On a personal note, Lineker has been open about his views on relationships, embracing the single life. He’s been married twice, first to Michelle Cockayne for three decades and then to Danielle Bux for seven years. He’s shared his disinterest in dating and his satisfaction with his current lifestyle, focusing on his friends, kids, and hobbies. It seems like Lineker is content with where he’s at right now, enjoying his independence and freedom.
