New Match of the Day hosts officially CONFIRMED including Liverpool icon’s daughter after Gary Lineker’s exit
THE new hosts of the BBC’s Match of the Day have been confirmed for when Gary Lineker leaves.
Kelly Cates, 49, will be part of a three-person presenting team alongside Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan from next season.
Cates, Chapman and Logan will share presenting duties for the flagship Match of the Day on a Saturday night, plus Match of the Day 2 on Sunday evenings.
A statement posted on the show’s X page read: “New squad for next season!
“We’re delighted to announce that Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will share Match of the Day presenting duties from 2025-26.”
Former England striker Lineker has hosted the highlights programme since 1999.
He will continue to front the BBC’s live FA Cup coverage next season and its coverage of the 2026 World Cup finals.
Lineker said last month it had been a “joy and a privilege” to present Match of the Day.
But he added on The Rest Is Football podcast: “I feel this is now the right time (to leave).
“I think the next contract they’re looking to do Match of the Day slightly differently, so I think it makes sense for someone else to take the helm.”
On becoming one of the presenters Cates, who will also continue her role with Sky Sports, said: “Once I sit in that chair and the theme music starts, I just know that’s going to be a really incredible moment.
“I’ve worked with a lot of the pundits before and they’re all fantastic, so I’m just looking forward to getting started.
“I’ve known Gabby and Mark really well for years so to bring it all together, embracing the digital side of things, it feels like a really comprehensive football package for fans and that’s what makes it so exciting too.”
Logan, who is also at the heart of the BBC’s rugby and athletics coverage, said: “It’s always a real moment [sitting in the chair] because it has such history.
“It’s still so relevant to so many people now and talked about in a landscape where TVs changed so much.
“There’s an enormous responsibility to make sure we continue to evolve while at the same time respecting the traditions of Match of the Day.
Who are the new Match of the Day hosts?
MARK CHAPMAN
Chapman, 51, already has the gig as MOTD2 host on a Sunday night.
He also landed the hosting job for the new BBC Champions League highlights show.
Though not a former player, Chappers has shown his quality as a presenter and will be an able replacement.
GABBY LOGAN
Logan – who at 51 is the same age as Chapman – is one of the understudies to step in when Lineker is not available.
A vastly-experienced broadcaster, presenter and host, Logan seems to have done it all to cover sport for BBC TV – doing everything from Sports Personality of the Year to the Olympics, including Paris 2024.
She joined Lineker, Scott and Chapman as Euros presenters and is now on the BBC and Amazon Prime teams for the 2024-25 Champions League.
Logan joined the BBC in 2007 and was the main face of Final Score from 2009 to 2013.
KELLY CATES
Cates has worked for the BBC on and off since 2013, for Radio 5 Live.
She presented iconic fan phone-in show 606 alongside Ian Wright on Sunday’s between 2013 and 2018.
After joining Sky Sports her role was reduced, but Cates returned to host a midweek sports show, 5 Live Sport, mostly on Tuesdays, while she also provided coverage of the 2022 World Cup.
The daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish became a TV presenter at Sky Sports, working on several Premier League shows including Friday Night Live and Super Sunday, which she appeared on for the Manchester Derby today.
“People want to see the goals, they want to see the incidents, they want to see the moments everyone’s talking about, so while we can tinker at the edges, the core is the football.”
Chapman will continue his usual programmes on BBC Radio 5 Live, including Saturdays with the iconic Sports Report.
He added: “I know the history of a lot of radio programmes and TV programmes and I do feel honoured to be following in the footsteps of the people that we are following in and respectful of what they have done.”
On sharing the role, Cates said: “This isn’t about the three of us, it’s about the three of us plus our pundits, plus our editors, plus our analysts and stats people and production people, radio and online.
“Genuinely this is about all of us as a department working together.”
Cates has worked for the BBC on and off since 2013, for Radio 5 Live.
She presented iconic fan phone-in show 606 alongside Ian Wright on Sunday’s between 2013 and 2018.
After joining Sky Sports her role was reduced, but Cates returned to host midweek sports show, 5 Live Sport, mostly on Tuesday’s, while she also provided coverage of the 2022 World Cup.
The daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish became a TV presenter at Sky Sports, working on several Premier League shows including Friday Night Live.
Sky Sports bosses are reportedly sad to see her leave – but she was understood to be the BBC’s leading external candidate to take over from icon Lineker.
Logan and Chapman have worked for the BBC for several years including on Match of the Day.