FOOTBALL legend David Beckham has his sights set on becoming the next Gary Lineker after landing his first TV chat show.
The ex-England captain will host Beckham & Friends Live on Paramount+ and guests may include his pals Gordon Ramsay, Tom Cruise and Ryan Reynolds.
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Viewers in the UK and US can watch as Golden Balls sips wine with the A-list stars and chats about the action during Champions League matches.
The first two episodes will be live from London covering the semi-final second legs between Inter Milan and Barcelona, and PSG and Arsenal on May 6 and 7.
Becks, 49, will then fly out to Germany, for the final at Munich’s Allianz Arena on May 31, but he is tight-lipped about who might join him.
Speaking from his Miami home in Florida, he told America’s CBS Golazo sports network: “I’m really looking forward to turning up with a few mates, a few glasses of wine, watching the game and great conversation.”
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He previewed rehearsals for the show, anchored by UCL Today’s Kate Scott, in a cosy studio featuring house plants, armchairs, books on coffee tables and a homely rug.
Another Instagram clip had him being embraced by Arsenal and Barcelona legend Thierry Henry, who teased him about his old club Real Madrid losing to Arsenal.
A lucrative move into punditry could see Golden Balls replace Lineker, who is stepping down from Match of the Day, as Britain’s favourite football broadcaster.
It comes off the back of his hugely successful Netflix documentary series Beckham, which offered a never-before-seen insight into his life and playing career.
An insider said: “It is a huge deal for the channel and shows just how big David is in America.
“He has become a global icon.
“Both sides are winners.
“It is a big money deal but will raise his profile even higher in America.
“It will also bring a lot of viewers in.
“David has shown with his Netflix docs that he is comfortable in front of the camera but this will see him live and unedited.
“It will make for great television.”
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