Kelly Cates won’t be leaving her function with Sky Sports activities, regardless of being confirmed as a part of the BBC's new Match of the Day presenter line-up.
The BBC have introduced that Cates, 49, shall be one in every of three hosts, sharing lead presenting duties with Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan from subsequent season. The choice comes after Gary Lineker revealed in November that he'd be stepping down from internet hosting the BBC's flagship Premier League highlights present after 26 years within the sizzling seat.
Reviews of the BBC's resolution to go along with a three-person workforce emerged final month and it was assumed that Cates could be leaving Sky in consequence. However the Glasgow-born presenter, who's the daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish, will proceed to work for the rival broadcaster, the place she hosts their Friday and Saturday Night time Soccer programmes.
Chapman and Logan are BBC tv stalwarts, though Cates does already current BBC Radio 5 Stay's protection of Tuesday evening sports activities programme. Together with Logan, Cates will turn into the primary lady to carry the MOTD presenting job completely. Chapman, on different hand, hosts Match of the Day 2 and has typically stuffed in for Lineker throughout absences.
"As soon as I sit in that chair and the theme music begins, I simply know that's going to be a very unimaginable second," Cates mentioned following Wednesday's announcement. "I've labored with plenty of the pundits earlier than and so they're all unbelievable, so I'm simply trying ahead to getting began.
"I've recognized Gabby and Mark rather well for years so to carry all of it collectively, embracing the digital facet of issues, it appears like a very complete soccer bundle for followers and that's what makes it so thrilling too."
Alex Kay-Jelski, the director of BBC Sport, added: "I do know viewers will love these three unimaginable broadcasters and journalists on the coronary heart of our soccer protection subsequent season. They're good at what they do, and Match of the Day viewers could be certain they are going to be effectively sorted as the massive soccer speaking factors are expertly analysed.
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"Gary has executed an exceptional job at Match of the Day for the final 26 years. He'll be missed enormously and all of us nonetheless get to get pleasure from him on our screens throughout a few of soccer's biggest tournaments.
"Outdoors of Match of the Day we've bought some nice new reveals, voices and surprises lined up for the 2025/26 season throughout audio, video and digital. And we stay up for sharing them with you all later within the yr. It's a really thrilling time for BBC Sport's soccer protection."
Lineker stays below contract with the BBC for an additional 18 months. The previous England striker will proceed to current their FA Cup protection subsequent season earlier than leaving after the 2026 World Cup.
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