THE BBC have announced the line-up for their brand new Champions League highlights show.
The Beeb will show highlights of Europe’s elite competition this season after sealing a deal worth around £20m to bring fans the action on free-to-air TV.
The weekly show, which will air on Wednesdays, will follow a similar format to Match of the Day but with one glaring difference – no Gary Lineker.
The iconic MOTD host has been snubbed for the Champions League show, which will instead be hosted by Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan.
Chapman and Logan will also be joined by BBC regular Jason Mohammed on the presenting team for the show.
Fans can expect an array of former pros on the pundits’ panel too, bringing expert analysis to Europe’s biggest fixtures.
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Former England stars Joe Hart and Theo Walcott have been announced as part of the team.
While retired Lioness Steph Houghton and ex-Germany star Thomas Hitzlsperger will also be on fans’ TV screens.
More Premier League stars will offer their analysis too with former QPR and Man City defender Nedum Onuoha and ex-Liverpool and Villa star Stephen Warnock signed on for the show.
Fans will be able to watch the highlights on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport app from 10pm on Wednesdays of Champions League matchweeks.
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BBC’s Champions League team
Here’s a look at the BBC’s team for their new Champions League highlights show…
Presenters
- Mark Chapman
- Gabby Logan
- Jason Mohamed
Pundits
- Theo Walcott
- Joe Hart
- Nedum Onuoha
- Steph Houghton
- Stephen Warnock
- Thomas Hitzlsperger
With the show then airing on BBC One from 10:40pm the same night.
There will be a bonus episode of the show this Thursday with the new Champions League format spreading the opening fixtures across three days instead of the customary two.
The BBC’s decision to not use Gary Lineker as the show’s host comes as the 63-year-old enters the final year of his contract with the broadcaster.
Lineker, who has presented Match of the Day for 25 years, has cast doubt over his future with the Beeb in a recent interview with BBC Breakfast.
He said: “I don’t know [how long I’ll stay]! It depends how long they want me, I suppose.
“I love doing it at the moment; I’ve still got another year left, at least.
“So we’ll have to wait and see what happens. Obviously it’s another change in football and television and the rights of the Premier League and stuff like that.
“All of these things will play a part. But I just feel it’s been an absolute privilege to have presented it for 25 years now. I must be getting old!”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
