THE race for Gary Lineker’s job presenting Match Of The Day is gathering pace.
But his hotly tipped replacement, Dan Walker, who has returned to football programming for Prime Video, insists there’s only one of Gary’s jobs he fancies – being the face of Walkers crisps.
Asked about the rumours he’s in line for the BBC One’s flagship show at the TRIC Christmas lunch, former Football Focus host Dan said: “Match Of The Day is a brilliant programme and I love it and I’m going to cover football now.
“But If there’s something Gary’s got that I would like, it’d be his crisp contract.
“Because, you know, my surname, it couldn’t be any better, could it?”
Gary, 63, revealed in November he will leave the programme at the end of the season after 25 years as host.
READ MORE ON GARY LINEKER
A number of names have been linked with the vacancy including Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates, Alex Scott, Gabby Logan and Kelly Somers.
Regular Match of the Day pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards are also in the frame.
Recent data showed Shearer to be the viewers’ preference to succeed Lineker.
But it appears ex-Manchester City right-back Richards, 36, has been dismissed by Lineker.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Richards attempted to rule himself out of the running.
He said: “You know what, can I just get this out there, right.
“When people are saying Micah Richards is potentially going to take over a presenter, I think it’s a massive disrespect to all the presenters out there. There’s so many talented people.
“Just because I’m a pundit, I can give insight to a player, I feel I know the game, I watch tactics.”
“But to take over presenting one of the most iconic shows, not just in sport, but that BBC’s ever had?”
He then went on to add: “There’s so many others they can pick over me, I just can’t believe they would even put my name in the hat.”
Lineker then playfully put Richards in his place by insisting there was no chance of him being chosen anyway.
He said: “Micah, you can totally relax. I can assure you they won’t be asking you.”
Chapman remains the favourite to replace Lineker.
JILLY: I’M HOT FOR RIVALS 2
IF THE raunchy action in Rutshire left you gagging for more Rivals, then Disney+ has an early Christmas present for you.
Confirming my TV Biz exclusive, the streamer has said that a second series is on the way after the cliffhanger ending of the first.
While it isn’t yet certain that David Tennant, Victoria Smurfit and Aidan Turner will return to their roles, writer Jilly Cooper, whose novel the series is based on, is thrilled at the news.
Yesterday, she said: “Nearly 40 years after my novel Rivals was published, I’ve adored seeing the world fall in love with my beloved characters – Rutshire’s finest.
“I’m orgasmic with excitement and cannot wait for the return of my superhero Rupert Campbell-Black and the rest of the characters in season two.”
Well, that’s all just jolly super, isn’t it.
IT’S WHO DARES WINGS
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WHO would have thought you’d see such daring outfits just after World War One?
The nightclubs of London’s Soho in 1918 are brought alive to eye-popping effect in these shots from upcoming BBC One drama Dope Girls.
The series lifts the lid on a moment of sexual liberation, decadence and often intoxicating glamour as women took matters into their own hands to earn themselves a living.
Single mother Kate Galloway, played by Julianne Nicholson, is at the centre of the capital’s exploding club scene as she sets up a nightspot to provide for her daughter Evie, and enters into a life of criminal activities under the nose of the police.
Eliza Scanlen plays Violet Davies, one of the country’s first wave of female police officers, who is assigned to go undercover at the club and investigate the illicit goings-on.
The women she runs into include ballsy Billie Cassidy (Umi Myers), a dazzlingly bohemian dancer.
Take your seats, ladies and gents, and tune in next year.
MURDER IN ROYAL CIRCLES
THE makers of The Crown have landed their next royal project, The Lady.
The four-part drama for ITV will tell the story of Jane Andrews, the Duchess of York’s former aide who was convicted of murder.
With filming to begin next year in Grimsby and London, it will chart the rise and fall of Jane, who landed the plum role as the royal’s dresser after answering an advert in magazine The Lady.
Her fall from grace began when she lost her job and fell in love with businessman Thomas Cressman, who she was later convicted of killing.
Sian McWilliams, of production company Left Bank Pictures, said: “The Lady deftly explore the tragic series of events and poses the question – who is the real Jane Andrews?”
