BBC confirms Gary Lineker podcast details after Match of the Day departure

The BBC has unveiled the specifics of a one-year podcast licensing agreement with Gary Lineker’s production company. The broadcaster and former England footballer, who is set to leave the BBC's Match Of The Day at the end of the season after over 25 years in charge, will host two podcasts from his co-founded company, Goalhanger, on BBC Sounds.

This follows the announcement earlier this month that the 63-year-old would be departing. The Rest Is Football, led by Lineker and fellow ex-players Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, will release one episode each week starting from November 27, arriving on the online radio and podcast platform two days after general release.

Another Goalhanger podcast, The Rest Is History, hosted by Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, will also be available on BBC Sounds following a successful trial run from September, 2022, to January, 2023. It will air twice weekly, eight weeks after general release, with the first episode for BBC Sounds debuting on November 29.

Jonathan Wall, director of BBC Sounds, expressed his delight: "We’re delighted to announce an exciting new partnership with Goalhanger, adding not one but two outstanding The Rest Is podcasts to our existing world-class history and sports content on BBC Sounds."

He added: "And these popular titles don’t just broaden our audio offering for listeners – they underscore our continued dedication to driving growth in the UK podcast industry and collaborating within the sector."

The BBC has confirmed a one-year agreement, with the option to extend, allowing episodes to remain accessible on BBC Sounds for a period of three years. Tony Pastor, co-founder of Goalhanger, expressed enthusiasm, stating: "We’re excited to announce that episodes of The Rest Is Football and The Rest Is History are now available on BBC Sounds, giving listeners even more ways to enjoy the shows."

He added: "While, of course, remaining available on all other podcast platforms and YouTube."

The BBC noted that Lineker's final appearance as presenter of Sports Personality Of The Year in 2023 marked the end of his tenure in that role. It is understood that this decision was unrelated to contract negotiations, and Lineker is set to continue presenting live football on the BBC until after the 2026 World Cup.