Gary Lineker 'signs huge deal with ITV to host new show' after BBC exit

Ex Match of the Day host Gary Lineker is reportedly returning to our screens with a new ITV gameshow after signing a huge deal with the broadcaster. It comes just months after the TV presenter left the BBC early after posting a pro-Palestinian video that featured an symbol deemed to be anti-Semitic and apologising for the mistake.

According to reports, Gary will host ITV's version of The Box - a gameshow set to be a cross between I'm A Celebrity and SAS: Who Dares Wins. A source told The Sun: "ITV are really excited about it - and believe they have finally found a worthy successor to Saturday Night Takeaway.

"They have long been sniffing around Gary and just needed to find the right format for him. They’re confident they’ve found that now, and the BBC’s loss is their gain." It comes after Gary Lineker fights back tears as he says BBC should 'hold its head in shame'.

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The TV insider added that while scheduling is yet to be confirmed, filming will take place in the autumn with the aim of airing "early spring" in a Saturday night slot. ITV declined to comment when approached by The Mirror.

The Norwegian gameshow takes 12 contestants, places them in separate boxes and gives each of them a tough challenge to complete. Earlier this year, the new format was confirmed for a second series on Norway broadcaster TV2.

Gary Lineker quit the BBC in May this year after hosting Match of the Day for 26 years. It came after he posted a pro-Palestine video on his Instagram account which featured an 'anti-Semitic' rat emoji from the campaign group, Palestine Lobby.

The presenter quickly deleted the post and issued an apology afterwards. Lineker said he took "full responsibility for this mistake" and the "image does not reflect my views". Announcing his BBC exit at the time, Gary said: "Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember – both on the pitch and in the studio. I care deeply about the game, and about the work I’ve done with the BBC over many years. As I’ve said, I would never consciously repost anything anti-Semitic – it goes against everything I stand for.

"However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action."

Gary was originally set to stay on the BBC as the main presenter of next season's FA Cup and World Cup 2026, however he left his BBC position early over the social media post.

Last week, Gary opened up about his exit - revealing that it was the BBC's decision for him to leave the company early. When he was asked in an interview with The New World whether leaving was his choice or a case of 'quit or be quitted', he replied: "The latter."

He added: "I missed it [the rat emoji]. To be honest, I wouldn’t have understood the connotations anyway until it was pointed out to me. I genuinely didn’t see it. I’m not an idiot. I may not have known it was an anti-Semitic trope, but I would have wondered why someone had put a rat there. Why would you ever conflate a rodent with a human?"

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