Gary Lineker has claimed he ‘never really enjoyed’ hosting Sports Personality of the Year as he broke his silence on his exit after 23 years.
The departing Match of the Host revealed he didn’t even watch Tuesday night’s ceremony despite hosting the show for more than two decades.
He was spotted out for dinner with his ex-wife Danielle Bux on the same evening as the show, admitting he didn’t know who picked up the top prize.
Lineker, the BBC‘s highest paid star, stepped down as co-presenter of SPOTY last month following the news he will also leave Match of the Day.
The former England striker said that his decision to step back from the show was unrelated to his pending MotD exit.
He claimed the reasoning behind his choice was due to the ceremony being moved to an independent production company.
Speaking in front of a live audience for podcast The Rest is Football, Lineker said: ‘Just to make it clear, what happened with Sports Personality of the Year is that it went to an independent production company.
‘It was granted at the start of the year. Now, I saw that as an opportunity to get out of presenting Sports Personality.
Gary Lineker has admitted he ‘never really enjoyed’ hosting Sports Personality of the Year as he breaks his silence on his exit after 23 years
Lineker made the shock snub while speaking in front of a live audience for podcast The Rest is Football
The former England striker said that his decision to step back from the show was unrelated to his pending MotD exit
‘It’s a great show, but it’s the one TV gig that I never really enjoyed.’
He went on to add that his former colleague Des Lynam, who also co-presented the show for many years, ‘shared’ his feelings.
‘It’s a very strange show to do,’ he added.
‘Also, it’s the one thing where every single word that you say on it has to be agreed by all parties at the BBC.
‘Every single interview you do, you have to say what questions you’re going to ask. I mean, I like to ad lib, I like to go off piste. You can’t do it [on] Sports Personality, not in recent times’
The ceremony, which honoured sports stars for their outstanding achievements throughout the year, was hosted by Clare Balding, Alex Scott, and Gabby Logan
The trio were the first all-female presenting lineup in the ceremony’s history.
Keely Hodgkinson was voted this year’s SPOTY by the public following a phenomenal year on the track including, with the 22-year-old striking gold at the Paris Olympics as well as defending her European title.
After being informed of the winner, Lineker said that Hodgkinson ‘deservedly’ was handed the award.
Lineker, who took over presenting duties on MotD from Lynam in 1999, will bring the curtain down after 26 years
Lineker, who took over presenting duties on MotD from Lynam in 1999, will bring the curtain down after 26 years.
The 63-year-old is also set to leave the BBC entirely after the 2026 World Cup in America, Mexico, and Canada.
It is understood BBC executives, headed by new director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski, want to move the show in a fresh direction and, as Mail Sport revealed, are considering bringing a news element to the show.