Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan set to take over as Match of the Day hosts

KELLY CATES, MARK Chapman and Gabby Logan have been announced as the three primary hosts for the BBC’s Match of the Day programme for next season.

Gary Lineker, who has worked as a presenter on the highlights programme since 1999, is stepping down as host of the Saturday night show at the end of the season.

The former England striker will continue to front the BBC’s live FA Cup coverage and will bow out from the broadcaster at the conclusion of its coverage of the 2026 men’s World Cup finals.

Cates has been a main presenter with Sky since 2017 and already works for the BBC as a radio presenter, fronting Radio 5 Live’s Tuesday night sports coverage. She has worked on its tournament coverage since 2016.

She will continue her role with Sky Sports, the BBC confirmed.

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Logan, a former gymnast, has presented Match of the Day in Lineker’s absence and has become one of the main presenters of the BBC’s Olympic Games coverage.

Chapman is the current regular host of the Sunday night highlights programme Match of the Day 2 and also presents a number of sports programmes on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Logan said: “It’s always a real moment (to sit in the presenter’s chair) because it has such history. It’s still so relevant to so many people now and talked about in a landscape where TV has 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.”

Cates said: “Once I sit in that chair and the theme music starts, I just know that’s going to be a really incredible moment.”

Chapman said: “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.”

Written by Press Association and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.