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Gary Lineker will return to presenting on the BBC this weekend, the corporation has announced, bringing to an end a stand-off that plunged its sports coverage into chaos for 48 hours.
Lineker, who presents Match of the Day, was suspended on Friday over alleged breaches of the BBC’s impartiality guidelines after criticising the UK government’s asylum policy. Commentators and pundits walked out in solidarity, causing hours of disruption to television and radio programming on Saturday and Sunday.
To resolve the impasse, the BBC said on Monday it would launch a review of its impartiality guidelines, to be led by an as-yet unchosen independent figure.
In the meantime, Lineker has undertaken to abide by the corporation’s interpretation of the rules and said on Twitter that he was “delighted that we have navigated a way through this”.
The broadcaster’s retreat brings an end to a weekend of drama, enabling Lineker and his supporters to return in time to front the live broadcast of FA Cup matches this weekend. The BBC has faced accusations of political bias for treating a government critic so harshly.
The saga had also increased the focus on Richard Sharp, the corporation’s chair, who is under pressure to resign over his proximity to the Conservative party. Labour has claimed Sharp’s ties mean he is unable to be an effective arbiter on questions such as impartiality.
The Whitehall appointments watchdog is investigating Sharp’s appointment after it emerged he had been involved in discussions around an £800,000 loan guarantee for Boris Johnson, shortly before the then prime minister recommended him for the role. Sharp has denied wrongdoing.
In a statement on Monday, BBC director-general Tim Davie apologised to audiences for the “difficult period”, adding: “The potential confusion caused by the grey areas of the BBC’s social media guidance that was introduced in 2020 is recognised.”
Davie — who introduced the guidance shortly after being appointed in September 2020 — said it would be reconsidered with “a particular focus on how it applies to freelancers outside news and current affairs”. “The BBC and myself are aware that Gary is in favour of such a review,” he added.
The outcome was widely expected inside the BBC, which already has a rule book that applies different rules to its staff depending on their role. Lineker had previously expressed the view that, as a sports presenter, he was not covered by much of the guidance.
While most of the BBC’s presenters outside its news divisions are not bound by the tight restrictions that apply to its journalists, Lineker was deemed to be an exception. According to its rule book, some contributors, including Lineker, have “an additional responsibility to the BBC because of their profile on the BBC”.
Insiders say that Lineker, who was paid £1.35mn in 2021-22, is one of just a handful of presenters caught by this rule; one cited Claudia Winkleman and Graham Norton, who present BBC radio and TV light entertainment shows, as among the few others.
Senior corporation figures have previously expressed disquiet about any plans to loosen the guidance, with one saying: “If we give free rein [to people outside news] . . . we’ll just have more rows.”
The BBC Board said it welcomed Monday’s agreement between the corporation and Lineker, adding that now was “the right time to look at the clarity of the BBC’s social media guidance and how it is applied”.
Lineker on Twitter thanked “Tim Davie for his understanding during this difficult period. He has an almost impossible job keeping everybody happy, particularly in the area of impartiality. I am delighted that we’ll continue to fight the good fight, together.”
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