Jill Scott gives verdict on new Match of the Day hosts after Gary Lineker exit

Jill Scott has embraced the new Match of the Day hosts following Gary Lineker's departure, saying that she "can't wait to see them in action". Gary announced last year that he was stepping down from the programme after 25 years as host and declared that it was the "right time" to leave, as he said the BBC was planning to do the show "slightly differently" in the future. He has officially been replaced by Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan, who will take over at the start of the 2025-26 season. It is the first time the position will be shared between three hosts, who will split presenting duties.

Speaking exclusively to Express Online, former Lioness Jill commented: "I'm a huge fan of all three and can't wait to see them in action. I've no doubt they'll do a fantastic job. They bring a wealth of experience and are incredibly well-respected and loved within the industry."

Gary officially left the BBC on May 25 and will not be presenting coverage of the 2026 World Cup after becoming embroiled in a row over a social media post.

He previously "apologised unreservedly" for sharing a pro-Palestine post illustrated with a rat, which has been used in antisemitic propaganda to represent Jewish people, and insisted he didn't intend to cause offense. Gary deleted the post when he learned about the symbolism of the rat and insisted he would "never knowingly share anything antisemitic".

He said in a statement: "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 antisemitic - 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."

Jill has recently teamed up with Amazon Prime to mark their biggest-ever Prime Day, offering Prime members double the time to shop epic deals across top brands, including Bose, Dyson, GHD, Lego, and Shark.

Amazon opened an immersive pop-up experience in the middle of London that offered visitors a chance to experience the very best of Prime. Lioness legend Jill was also in attendance to give visitors a chance to test their football skills.

Speaking about the event, she said: "Who doesn't love to save money?! I use Amazon Prime a lot, and this year, people get a whole 96 hours of savings across Amazon products, including Amazon Music, Prime Gaming, Prime Video, and more. It's going to be a great day, and I didn't want to miss it."

Recent independent research commissioned by Amazon shows that over three-quarters (78%) of UK shoppers feel a sense of satisfaction when getting something they want for less, while seven in ten (67%) say they experience excitement when grabbing deals before a product sells out, and three-fifths (61%) prefer extended sales, giving them more time to decide.

For more information about Prime, visit amazon.co.uk/prime.