Gary Lineker quits BBC – Piers Morgan’s shock to Alan Shearer’s three-word message

Gary Lineker will leave his presenting role following the conclusion of Match of the Day for the 2024/25 season following his now-deleted pro-Palestine post

Gary Lineker will present his final show for the BBC on Match of the Day at the weekend (Image: Getty Images)

Gary Lineker will present his final show for the BBC on Match of the Day at the weekend following his now-deleted Instagram post, which was slammed as antisemitic. In a statement regarding the pro-Palestine post, which featured an picture of a rat – historically used as an antisemitic insult – the former footballer, 65, said in an emotional Instagram video: “I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am.”

The dad-of-three was supposed to host the BBC’s World Cup and FA Cup coverage next season, but that’s been scrapped after his position was declared “untenable” by BBC bosses. Following the news of Gary’s departure, a number of celebrities have responded to his end of an era announcement, including the star’s long-time nemesis, Piers Morgan…

READ MORE: Gary Lineker’s most controversial BBC moments as he quits 25-year career before World Cup

Piers Morgan in a black suit.
Piers Morgan responded with one word to Gary Lineker’s news(Image: Getty Images)

Piers Morgan

Former Good Morning Britain presenter, Piers Morgan, has been feuding with Gary for years. However, sharing an article about the former footballer’s departure from the BBC, the outspoken host wrote seemed shocked as he simply responded: “Wow…”

The article shared by Piers reported Gary’s departure and suggested the star was leaving by “mutual agreement,” with his final Match of the Day expected to air Sunday.

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It came after Gary was asked to name the “absolute worst person” he has ever worked with on ITV’s The Assembly. Responding, the Walkers star teased: “I’m struggling … I’m trying to find someone. It’s a shame I never worked with Piers Morgan, isn’t it?”

Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker
Alan Shearer thanked his pal ‘for everything’ following the news of his BBC departure(Image: Getty Images for Spotify)

Alan Shearer

Alan Shearer, who hosts The Rest Is Football podcast alongside Gary and Micah Richards, was among those leaving messages for the Tottenham Hotspur star, responding: “Thank you for everything.”

Alan supported Gary when he was temporarily suspended from MOTD in 2023 following his social media post comparing the former government’s asylum policy to Nazi Germany. Backing his friend, the Newcastle Utd star boycotted the show, which Gary’s son George said moved his dad to tears.

Gary and George Lineker
The star’s son, George, has supported his dad

George Lineker

Gary’s oldest son, George, previously said he was “proud of the old man” when the England star previously criticised the former government’ asylum seeker policy.

George said his father shouldn’t apologise for being ‘a good person and standing by his word’ as he thanked the public for their ‘overwhelming’ support amid the BBC impartiality row.

In response to the news that Gary will now leave the BBC for good, he responded with two closed fist emojis, backing his dad again.

John Bishop
John Bishop wished the England star good luck(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Just Eat)

John Bishop

Scouse comedian John Bishop was also among the celebrities commending Gary for his 30-year tenure with the corporation.

Responding to his Instagram post, he said: “Gary you leave a great legacy as a player , as a presenter and as a man. Good luck with everything else you do next.”

Richard Bacon
Richard Bacon, who was sacked from BBC’s Blue Peter, told Gary how ‘principled’ he was(Image: ITV)

Richard Bacon

Former Blue Peter presenter, Richard Bacon, who recently debated Donald Trump on Question Time, praised Gary for being so “principled”.

Taking to the comments section, Richard, who in 1998 was sacked by the BBC after admitting to taking cocaine a week after Blue Peter’s 40th anniversary celebrations replied: “You are a magnificent human. And a magnificent broadcaster. I’m so proud of the principled stands you have taken.”

Iwan Thomas
Iwan Thomas praised the presenter for being ‘one of the best broadcasters’(Image: Getty Images)

Iwan Thomas

Iwan Thomas, who ran for team GB at two Olympic Games and has worked on the BBC’s sports coverage, has shared a message of his own.

“Always been a proper gentleman since met and occasionally worked with since the mid 90s,” he wrote under Gary’s Instagram post.

He added: “Without doubt one of, if not the BEST broadcasters of my generation, oh and not bad at sticking a ball in the net too… good luck in the future.”

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READ MORE: Nutritionist says special coffee ‘elevates energy’ and ‘manages stress’ without crash

Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones’ friendship ‘blossoms into a deeper connection’

After being spotted leaving the BAFTAs together last weekend, Sparks are said to be flying between TV favorites Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones, who are “growing closer and closer.”

Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton were pictured leaving the BAFTAs together(Image: MM/WA/GoffPhotos.com)

Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones’ close friendship is developing into a deeper connection, it has been claimed.

The single stars – close pals thanks to their time together on Morning Live – have both had their hearts broken after Gethin’s engagement to Katherine Jenkins was called off, and after Helen split from ex-husband Richie Myler back in 2022.

Last weekend, they were spotted leaving the BAFTAs together, and their laughter at the bash prompted a wagging tongue. According to reports, they are both getting closer right now, and it seems like there are beginning to fly sparks between them.

“Helen and Gethin have an extremely close working relationship and there’s a feeling in recent months their friendship has blossomed into a deeper connection. They’re both keen to keep a lid on it to avoid public scrutiny but there’s no denying their closeness both on and off screen,” a source told MailOnline.

The stars’ reps have been approached by MirrorOnline. After dating First Dates star Cici Coleman two years ago, Welshman Gethin has been single since 2023 and has not given up hope of finding the one.

Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton
According to reports, the pair have gotten closer and closer.
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Helen, 40, of Strictly Come Dancing, has revealed that her marriage ended abruptly after she admitted she had been “blinded” when Richie revealed that they had just begun a new relationship.

Helen and Leeds Rhinos rugby player Myler had welcomed their third child, Elsie, four months before ending the marriage. Helen shocked her followers at the time when she broke the upsetting news on Instagram. “Very sad to say that Richie and I are no longer a couple. He has left the family home. We will be doing our best to co parent our small children,” she wrote.

Rugby league player Richie, 34, started dating Stephanie Thirkill, whose millionaire father Andrew Thirkill is the club president of Richie’s Leeds Rhinos, after their shock split. Richie and Stephanie have since welcomed a son of their own since breaking up last year.

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Gethin and another Welsh celebrity, Katherine, met on Strictly’s set, where he was a contestant and she gave an appearance. They parted ways on Twitter after announcing their separation in February 2011 and sharing their heartbreak after their romance led to an engagement.

Katherine described herself as a “total mess” and “in pieces” after their split and admitted to being emotionally devastated during her tour. Gethin revealed that he had depression following the breakup in a direct conversation with Tom Bryant on The Mirror’s podcast Outdoors in Mind. He shared a particularly heartfelt expression, “I recalled using the restroom at 5:30 am to go to, All right. Continue reading. You can stop being sad for the next three hours by simply focusing on it. I definitely experienced a bad depressive episode at the time.

Stacey Solomon has an innovative solution to creating vintage-inspired plant pots this spring

Another clever garden trick is being used by Stacey Solomon to make an old sink into the most beautiful upcycled planter, perfect for spring.

Stacey Solomon shares garden hack with fans(Image: Instagram @staceysolomon)

Now spring is into full swing, and summer is only a month away, now is the perfect time to revamp your garden and get it ready for the warm weather. And if there’s one person who knows how to make something old feel stylish again, it’s Stacey Solomon.

The DIY queen has shared her latest garden solution on Instagram, revealing an unexpected but genius twist on spring plant pots, and it’s not what you’d think.

What is the solution, then, exactly? Old sinks . Stacey shows that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to design a standout garden feature by repurposing worn-out basins into vintage-inspired planters. All you need is a little imagination and some time to give used ones some life.

Not everyone has an old sink lying around, so if you still want to jump on this trend, Amazon has a wide selection of white ceramic undermounted basins to choose from. Including this Comite undermount, which was reduced from £179.99 to £149.99, or a more affordable £15 offer.

Customers rave about the best-selling hot tub because it’s “everything they hoped for” for less than £150.

READ MORE: 50% off Marc Jacobs’ “perfect for summer” Daisy fragrance that consistently receives compliments

Stacey upcycled an old sink into a pretty garden planter
Stacey upcycled an old sink into a pretty garden planter(Image: Instagram @staceysolomon)

And if you do have one or two leftovers, you can do it because it’s affordable, sustainable, and genuinely stylish. Any outdoor space should have a rustic, cottage-like vibe in it.

Stacey even made fun of her by painting a rose and a belle in honor of her young daughters, which is a sweet tribute to her children.

Stacey enjoys sharing her home organization and travel tips with her fans, but not just the garden hacks that she upcycles.

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Stacey’s clever suitcase hack, which involves hanging clothes in a wardrobe organizer, cost £7.99 last year, was featured on Stacey’s blog. The trick allows you to organize your children’s outfits neatly in each separate compartment to save packing space and a messy case. This is done so that you can organize them for every day and night of the holiday.

Katie Price returns to ‘hateful’ Mucky Mansion on a horse after bankruptcy hell

Katie Price, a glamour icon, was forced to leave her sprawling Mucky Mansion in Sussex after being declared bankrupt for the second time last year.

Katie Price has returned to the Mucky Manion on a horse a year after moving out following her bankruptcy hell(Image: YOUTUBE)

Katie Price has returned to the Mucky Manion on a horse a year after being evicted following her bankruptcy hell. The glamour icon, 46, left the sprawling pile in Sussex after being declared bankrupt for a second time last year.

Katie, who has downgraded to a smaller property, and has now cleared her debts, told her followers she ‘hates’ her old house as she filmed herself outside with her riding gear. Telling her fans she goes riding past the property, while sporting a black hat white ‘Don’t Doubt Yourself’ t.shirt, and high-waisted jodhpurs, she said: “So funnily enough, I am outside the old Mucky Mansion, next door. I absolutely hate the old house.” Pointing at large field, she continued: “That was my old field. When I had to give the keys back, they gave me an ultimatum [to repair it]. They gave me two years and I didn’t want to spend all that time doing it. £500 to £800 grand I got quoted!”

READ MORE: Katie Price reveals devastating suicide attempt – ‘I had black eye and phone was down toilet’

Katie Price
Katie Price was forced to leave her sprawling Mucky Mansion in Sussex after being declared bankrupt (Image: YOUTUBE)

After endless back and forth about her future at the property, the former glamour model confirmed she was leaving the Mucky Mansion, which featured in Katie’s Channel 4 makeover series, not long after being served eviction papers last year.

In October 2014, Katie paid £1.35 million to buy the Horsham, West Sussex, home.

The Mirror reported the OnlyFans star was sent a letter, dated April 24, 2024, stating that ‘the eviction will take place on May 29, 2024, at 10am’.

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The court “has issued a warrant or writ for the possession of the property,” according to the letter.

After admitting that the last six years of her life were “hell,” Katie is now free of her financial burdens.

The mother-of-five filed for bankruptcy again last year, owing a staggering $750,000, which forced her to sell her home and move out of the Mucky Mansion.

However, the Pricey recently revealed that she has cleared her debts as she opened up about ‘learning her lesson’ on a recent episode of The Katie Price Show.

Katie and JJ Slater
The star’s boyfriend, JJ Slater, was also at the property(Image: YOUTUBE)

Sophie, Sophie’s sister, congratulated her on the fact that she is no longer bankrupt. I’m out of both of them, just like I’m out of it.

Everything has been hell over the past six years, both mentally and personally. I’ve worked so hard to talk to people and get rid of the issues that caused them, but I’m done.

“It’s wonderful to no longer be bankrupt. I now have complete control over everything.

JJ Slater, Katie’s Married At First Sight star boyfriend, and Katie are now moving forward and enjoying each other.

The 32-year-old reality star tells Katie to enjoy her horseback ride in Katie’s video outside the Mucky Mansion.

Katie responds by telling her boyfriend to enjoy his run before poking fun at JJ’s sheepish request to show him “these f*g sexy legs.”

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What was Gary Lineker’s controversial Instagram post that was ‘final straw’ for BBC bosses?

Following the growing outcry over a contentious social media post that sparked accusations of anti-Semitism, Gary Lineker is reportedly set to resign from the BBC on Monday.

Gary Lineker’s controversial Instagram post that was final straw for BBC bosses(Image: BBC)

Former England footballer and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker is expected to leave the BBC by mutual agreement, amid escalating criticism surrounding his recent social media activity.

The fallout began last Monday after Lineker, 64, shared a pro-Palestinian video on Instagram that included a rat emoji which is a symbol historically used in Nazi propaganda to dehumanize Jewish people. The post drew widespread condemnation and was quickly deleted. Lineker issued an apology, but the controversy continued to intensify throughout the week.

Pressure on the broadcaster increased on Thursday after The Telegraph published a revealing interview in which Lineker expanded on his criticism of Israel’s actions and appeared to take aim at senior figures within the BBC.

According to sources, plans for Lineker to lead BBC coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup have now been scrapped. His early departure from the broadcaster is expected to be confirmed today.

Gary Lineker holding a BBC mic
Gary Lineker is leaving the BBC sooner than planned after a social media post sparked major controversy.(Image: Getty Images)

The BBC presenter with the highest-paid position on the air apologized for releasing an anti-Zionism video. A rat, which has historically been used as an antisemitic insult in Nazi Germany, was featured in the post, which made reference to the language used to describe Jews.

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According to his agent, Gary immediately revoked the post after realizing the symbol’s significance. He also issued a statement last Tuesday afternoon, in which he “apologises unwaveringly” for his “mistake.”

He stated in a statement that he “repeated material on Instagram that I have since learned contained offensive references.” “I regret these references a lot.” Never, without knowing, do I share any antisemitism. It contradicts everything I firmly believe.

As soon as I learned about the problem, the Match of the Day presenter said he had deleted the post. I have a strong belief in speaking out on humanitarian issues, including the tragedy affecting Gaza, but Lineker continued, “I also know that how we do that matters.

Gary Lineker on The Assembly
Gary resigned from his post in response to any offense he might have caused.

I accept full responsibility for this omission. My opinions are not expressed in that image. I sincerely apologize for what I did, “he said.

Gary, a veteran Match of the Day host, appeared ready to end his time with the broadcaster after the 2026 World Cup. Due to the negative reaction to a social media post about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the seasoned presenter has resigned.

He reshared information from the Palestine Lobby, which prompted Campaign Against Antisemitism to claim they would file a complaint.

The BBC’s director general, Tim Davie, previously responded to the criticism. Everyone has a bad reputation for the BBC, and it costs us, he said.

Lineker was suspended from the air for an episode of Match of the Day in 2023 for his remarks about Conservative government language.

He wrote, “We take much fewer refugees than other major European nations.” I’m out of order, and this is just an incredibly cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in a language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 1930s.

Gary Lineker in a black suit holding a yellow BBC sport microphone.
Gary will be stepping away from his BBC duties(Image: The FA via Getty Images)

Lineker questioned the Beeb’s social media guidelines in a recent interview with Amol Rajan of the BBC. People in the news and current affairs were subject to the impartiality rules. He claimed that they have since changed.

But that left people like me, who have always expressed open minds about things. Then they abruptly changed them, and you must now say, “Oh, I have to be impartial now.” It is illogical.

“Don’t worry about the people who dislike you,” you ask. The BBC makes this error. The BBC tries to appease those who despise it. The people who constantly criticize the license fee. Instead of caring about the BBC fans, they worry far too much about that.

Why shouldn’t I be expressing my opinion? Lineker and Rajan were in the same interview. I’ve always been strong on humanitarian issues, and I’m still doing so. Because it had never been an issue up until this point, the goalposts were incredibly moved.

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According to the BBC guidelines, “it was always intended for those who worked in news and current affairs” in terms of impartiality. What I say has a lot of thought. I was taken off the air, which was a silly overreaction.

Katie Price’s boyfriend JJ Slater rushed to hospital after worrying A&E dash

JJ Slater, 32, is Married At First Sight’s star, who has left worried about her boyfriend after a worrying night of health issues.

JJ Slater, a Married At First Sight star, has diabetes.

JJ Slater was taken to a hospital once more overnight and kept his fans informed of his condition.

Katie Price’s boyfriend shared a worrying photo from hospital which revealed a syringe in his arm. He explained the reasons behind why he went this morning after uploading the painful snap to Instagram.

The image’s caption reads “Hate to see it. Living with type 1 diabetes is actually possible. Late nights at A&amp and E. The former Married at First Sight star, known as John Joe, had previously revealed his condition last year, which prompted Katie to contact him via social media.

JJ lost 1.5 stone in three weeks and had blood sugar levels that were alarmingly high. He was taken to the hospital days before Christmas 2023. He will now need to inject himself with insulin four times per day and regulate his food intake, according to doctors’ diagnoses of type 1 diabetes.

Married At First Sight star JJ Slater
He had to dash to hospital overnight (Image: johnjoeslater/Instagram)
JJ Slater and Katie Price
It’s not the first time his health has sparked concern(Image: PA)
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The reality ace has been candid about how his illness will affect him forever. His condition was discovered after blood tests revealed that he was at risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, which can be fatal.

The first indications, according to JJ, were that I needed to use the restroom frequently in the middle of the night. I needed to use the restroom four to five times each morning. Then, I quickly began to lose weight. In three weeks, I lost about a stone and a half, but I was still consuming the same amount of calories and working out every day.

JJ claimed that he noticed frequent lightheadedness and that his body was “deteriorating.” He had a series of missed calls from doctors and a message telling him to go to the hospital right away when he went for a blood test the following morning.

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According to JJ, “the average person’s blood sugar is 4-7, and mine was 34, which means that there are a lot of complications that come with that,” he explained. They were concerned that my blood’s pH might be too high for the process, which is known as DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis). Thankfully, it hasn’t, so it was crucial to have it diagnosed before it occurred.

He is now accepting his diagnosis of diabetes, and he acknowledges that he didn’t realize it was a condition that young people can be diagnosed with. He claimed that type 1 is an autoimmune disease, while type 2 is brought on by lifestyle changes, and that type 1 is still the same. This will remain a part of my life, and I need to figure out how to handle it. Up until the age of 31, I lived my entire life, but this has now happened.