BBC,Garry Lineker talks ‘moving in right direction’ sources say
Talks are currently on-going between the BBC and Gary Lineker and sources say it is “moving in the right direction” after a second day of scheduling disruption.
BBC News understands there are hopes of a resolution soon but not all issues have “fully been resolved” at this stage.
Weekend football coverage was disrupted due to walkouts triggered by the Match of the Day host’s suspension.
BBC Director General Tim Davie has apologised to licence fee payers for the changes.
Presenters, pundits and commentators pulled out of BBC football coverage in support of Lineker, who was taken off air for criticising government asylum plans.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the issue between the BBC and Lineker should be resolved by the BBC itself.
He said this to reporters while en-route to hold talks with US president in San Diego, but did not directly answer a question about whether he had confidence in Mr Davie and when asked if he would meet Lineker to talk about the issue, he replied that “it’s not about any one person”.
The BBC has not commented further on behind-the-scenes efforts to resolve the situation.
Meanwhile, uncertainty continues to swirl as to whether Lineker will return to the BBC.
Lineker was questioned by reporters on Sunday morning outside his home, and he replied only “I can’t say anything at the moment” when asked if he would return to the BBC or if he had been approached by rival broadcasters.
But his son, George, told the Sunday Mirror that he thought his father would return to presenting Match of the Day.
The row ensued after Lineker criticized the so-called Stop The Boats Bill an “immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s”.
Writing by Tersoo Nicholas