Gabby Logan was forced to leave Match of the Day just 20 minutes into the BBC‘s broadcast on Wednesday night after a family emergency. Mark Chapman replaced his fellow presenter after a night of thrilling midweek Premier League action, having been working for the Beeb at the same time over on Radio 5 Live.
Logan joined Danny Murphy and Stephen Warnock for the opening of the programme as they watched and then dissected Tottenham‘s 3-2 loss at Bournemouth. The 52-year-old referenced the sad passing of Martin Chivers as she set up the first video package. After analysing Spurs’ defeat, Logan then previewed highlights of Man City‘s 1-1 draw with Brighton by saying: “Let’s move on. Back-to-back draws had left Manchester City six points behind Arsenal, who play Liverpool tomorrow. Opponents Brighton have never won at the Etihad. Your commentator is Mark Scott…”
But once the highlights concluded, it was Chapman, not Logan, in the main seat. The 52-year-old then confirmed to viewers why Logan had to rush off. He explained: “Sadly Gabby has got a family emergency that she’s had to rush off and deal with.
“She’s gone to do that and I’ve come from the radio to finish the show. We will look at what happened in that Manchester City-Brighton game right now…”
Logan and Chapman are two of the three Match of the Day hosts with this the first season since 1998-99 that long-serving presenter Gary Lineker has not been the host of the BBC‘s flagship show. Lineker left last year and was replaced by the trio of Logan, Chapman and Sky Sports’ Kelly Cates.
They have rotated throughout the season so far after Lineker was the sole host for 26 years. Logan also hosted Match of the Day last Sunday with Chapman leading the show the day before after Saturday’s four games.
Logan admitted after her first experience of hosting MOTD alongside Robert Green and Troy Deeney in August that she was surprised how nervous she was. The long-time BBC employee said: “So last week I have to admit I was a little bit too nervous to take any pictures of my first MoTD of the season.
“I didn’t realise I was nervous until I literally felt my heart beating out of my shirt before my opening link. Week 2 and the nerves settled into a regular pre-show (optimal) level. Heart rate normal.
“It’s a programme I grew up with so it’s always going to feel a bit surreal when that music plays. @robgreenwonkyfinger [and] @t_deeney as fun and interesting a dynamic duo to spend a Sunday with as you’d wish for.”
After her new role alongside Chapman and Cates was confirmed last year, she said: “I think what’s interesting is although we’re sharing the role, we won’t actually be working together on Match of the Day.
“It’s really great to share it because we bring different experiences and different interests within the game. We bring different ways of broadcasting and that will mean our pundits are kept on their toes and share different kinds of analysis.”
And in an interview with the Daily Mail last September, Logan joked: “Who’d have thought they’d have a menopausal woman hosting Match Of The Day? Not only has football come a long way but so has being able to use that M-word, because it used to have the connotations of being past it.”
The former Final Score host insists it is important for women to be represented in football broadcasting, adding: “A lot of women have been going to watch football for a long time and football has to reflect its fans as well. I think that’s the great thing about it – it is for everybody.
“That’s why it’s important that you have people from different ethnicities and backgrounds. TV should reflect society.”