BBC identify Gary Lineker's Match of the Day replacement as Gogglebox star

Gary Lineker's BBC Match of the Day replacement could turn out to be a Gogglebox star. Channel 4 Gogglebox star Roman Kemp is being reportedly lined up to join Match of the Day in a new-look show after Gary announced he was leaving the BBC football highlights programme.

Alex Kay-Jelski, the BBC's director of sport, is thought to be eyeing Kemp for a 'digital role' as part of an updated version of the popular programme. The Sun newspaper reports an insider as saying: "Match of the Day is moving with the times and next season there will be more of a focus on digital highlights.

"Alex has been speaking with Roman about possibly coming on board and how it could work." A second source said: "Roman has a massive following online and is hugely popular with a younger audience thanks to his years hosting the Breakfast Show on Capital FM.

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"He is also a huge Arsenal fan and knows what he is talking about when it comes to football. It is very much in the early stages but Match of the Day is coming into a new digital age and Alex would love to have Roman front and centre."

In March 2021, Kemp presented a documentary on BBC Three, Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency, exploring the mental health and suicide crisis affecting young men. His friend, producer Joe Lyons, took his own life in August 2020. He presented the 2023 BBC documentary Boot Dreams: Now or Never, about young footballers trying to gain a professional contract.

Since July 2023, Kemp has co-presented the quiz show The Finish Line on BBC One with Sarah Greene. In November 2023, Kemp presented a documentary on BBC Three, Roman Kemp: The Fight for Young Lives, exploring potential solutions for improving the mental health of young people in the UK.

As well as Gogglebox, he also stars in The One Show.