Lineker, Shearer and Richards’ podcast has been a resounding success since its launch in 2023 and it was named Podcast of the Year at the Broadcast Sports Awards. In September, Lineker was also named best TV presenter at the National Television Awards.
All of this winning since his BBC farewell forced Lineker into a lighthearted jibe aimed at his former workplace. He described his podcast with a smirk as “award-winning” to Shearer and Richards on the show before his mocking.
“Since I quit the BBC, or since I finished with the BBC is probably a better way of describing it, I’ve won more awards than in my life!” said Lineker. “I should have left 10 years ago!” Co-star Shearer burst into laughter after the comment and said: “They should have kicked you off 10 years ago, you would have won so many awards!” Lineker added: “Exactly, it’s nuts!”
Shearer has continued on Match of the Day in Lineker’s absence and speaking to the Independent he opened up about the difficulty of losing his close friend on the show and how it has changed since.
“I guess it’s like a footballer leaving a football club,” 55-year-old Shearer admitted. “But the programme is always going to be bigger than any individual. But is it different? Well the programme’s not different. Obviously the personnel have changed but the feedback has been really positive. Hopefully that will continue.
“I think the best thing to come out of it is that it’s Match of the Day. It hasn’t changed. The theme tune is still the same. It still works exactly the same. There’s nothing major that’s happened and I guess that’s what everyone needed and wanted. I see Gary, whether that’s on Zoom or whether it’s in person two or three times a week.
“Because of the podcast. I was with him last week so the relationship won’t change with him. It’s just that the Saturdays will change on Match of the Day.
“The three [new] presenters. It’s not as if they’re new to presenting. They’re as experienced as they come and they’re great presenters in their own right. Very different, but great presenters.”