[Football] Next MOTD Host

[hart's shirt]

For BBC Sport in particular, it does occasionally feel like that some hiring decisions have been made less on ability and more on social engineering.

But I'd be surprised if it was Alex Scott. Her contract is up at the end of the season and there are no doubt other possibilities for her.

Football Focus is an unwatchable shell of the programme it once was. It's become a bland chatty One Show based around football with little focus.
Viewing numbers dropped by a third from 849,000 in 2019 to 564,000 in 2023.
https://deadline.com/2023/09/football-focus-dan-walker-alex-scott-clash-audience-dip-1235554351/

In fairness to Scott, the falling numbers can't be all attributed to her as she only took over from Dan Walker in 2021.
A former defender on the pitch, her reaction to Walker's tweet of last year about the falling numbers reveal a little of her circle the wagons mindset:

Walker: “It’s hard to see Football Focus struggling. I loved it growing up and it was an honour to present it and I still miss it. We poured everything into that show every week and worked hard to keep it relevant. I hope it stays part of the TV landscape.”

Scott: “Interesting.”

Walker: “I’m not saying you haven’t Alex. It’s a saturated market and it’s hard work every week. I hope you have a good show today."

Scott: "We have big interviews with Ange Postecoglou and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard coming up on the ‘Award’ winning Football Focus tomorrow. Make that a headline.”


Though she's been unfairly and snobbily criticized for her accent, Scott's been promoted well above her formulaic wooden presenting ability.

The fact that she's being linked with the BBC flagship football show is a concern for those of us who love the format just as it is.

If Scott takes it on and viewing numbers fall significantly as with FF, you can be sure that it'll somehow be our inflexible, unaccepting fault, not hers.

Move away from the key viewing demographic at your own risk, BBC Sport. You learned that the hard way with A Question of Sport.

60 years is a lot to lose.

 

[Right Brain Ronnie]

Neuro diversity

It's only one word, I'd thought you neurotypicals would have grasped that as it's your thing.

They won't screen to put a neurodiverse person in the hot seat just because they fit that profile, I would guess 99% of businesses run a mile if they know about it prior to hiring.
It's one of the very few hidden diversities, most diversities are visible so easy to spot and company feel they have to accommodate their share.
Ageism is a real thing also.

I heard a shocking thing recently when a football coach called out 3 other coaches for being white and old men, racial, sexist and ageist all in one go.

Can you imagine what would have kicked off if the same things were said in reverse, two tier Britain is alive and kicking and has been for sometime that's why reform is shaking up this country.

Next motd host? I haven't got a scooby.

 

[Right Brain Ronnie]

The Beeb rarely 'risk' a black main presenter in a primetime show slot. It'll be the usual white main presenter with a bone possibly thrown to a non-white pundit offered a seat on the sofa, especially if they're 'acceptably' non-white (i.e. either attractive or not TOO dark)

Ainsley Harriet made it on ready steady cook didn't he? There must be more surely?

 

[wigman]

One of the most coveted roles in British Sport, in fact British TV. Massive boots to fill after 25 years of Lineker, a much loved national treasure. Who would you like to see as the next host?

I wouldn’t class him as a national treasure.
just my opinion.

 

[Guinness Boy]

It's only one word, I'd thought you neurotypicals would have grasped that as it's your thing.

They won't screen to put a neurodiverse person in the hot seat just because they fit that profile, I would guess 99% of businesses run a mile if they know about it prior to hiring.
It's one of the very few hidden diversities, most diversities are visible so easy to spot and company feel they have to accommodate their share.
Ageism is a real thing also.

I heard a shocking thing recently when a football coach called out 3 other coaches for being white and old men, racial, sexist and ageist all in one go.

Can you imagine what would have kicked off if the same things were said in reverse, two tier Britain is alive and kicking and has been for sometime that's why reform is shaking up this country.

Next motd host? I haven't got a scooby.

Cool story bro.

 

[Right Brain Ronnie]

Cool story bro.

No worries dude

 

[BN9 BHA]

I wouldn’t class him as a national treasure.
just my opinion.

I was going to ask if you are new here……

 

[Javeaseagull]

Dion Dublin wouldn’t be a bad shout. Used to working in TV so knows the mechanics. Never managed a club and talks bollox quite a lot. A bit like Lineker in that way but the added advantage of being black. What could go wrong?

 

[allystrat]

With Alex Kay-Jelski at the helm of BBC Sport I can only see it heading one way.

 

[Napper]

Tonight's BBC one

Pointless. Such a WOKE presenting line up...
BBC News. White woman. Mad
One Show. A white male and female.
Later followed by MasterChef. Two white blokes

Yeah, all boxes ticked there

Only Caught end of one show and was lots of boxes on the couch

Carry on though . It’s all good

Let’s see

 

[Right Brain Ronnie]

Tonight's BBC one

Pointless. Such a WOKE presenting line up...
BBC News. White woman. Mad
One Show. A white male and female.
Later followed by MasterChef. Two white blokes

Yeah, all boxes ticked there

82% of the UK are white so you'd expect the ratios to be an even split, doesn't appear that way on many shows though.

 

[Javeaseagull]

82% of the UK are white so you'd expect the ratios to be an even split, doesn't appear that way on many shows though.

So you are looking for someone who is 82% white and 18% other? Good luck with that. Or it could be someone who gets the gig on ability. That could be good.

 

[hart's shirt]

With Alex Kay-Jelski at the helm of BBC Sport I can only see it heading one way.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Kay-Jelski#References

"Alex Kay-Jelski is a British sports journalist, currently the BBC Director of Sport. He was previously the sports editor of The Times and the Daily Mail newspapers, and the editor-in-chief of The Athletic.

In March 2019, Kay-Jelski wrote a column for The Times, in which he expressed the view that transgender women competing in women’s sports was "not a huge problem".

Kay-Jelski began his career as a graduate trainee and sub-editor at the Daily Mail in 2007. He was promoted to deputy sports news editor in 2009, before being named the sports editor in 2015—the first openly gay man in such a role. He left the Mail less than a year later to become sports editor at The Times.

Kay-Jelski was recruited in June 2019 to join the startup US sports website The Athletic. He also had appearances on Sky Sports and TalkSport radio.

In April 2024, Kay-Jelski was announced as the new BBC Director of Sport, replacing Barbara Slater."

 

[GT49er]

So you are looking for someone who is 82% white and 18% other? Good luck with that. Or it could be someone who gets the gig on ability. That could be good.

Facile comment.

The percentages mean that in a representative group of people 82% of them would be white, 18% other. Not one person who is 82% one and 18% t'other.

 

[Javeaseagull]

Facile comment.

The percentages mean that in a representative group of people 82% of them would be white, 18% other. Not one person who is 82% one and 18% t'other.

You are quite right, I thought it was obvious that I was taking the piss but apparently not.

 

[GT49er]

You are quite right, I thought it was obvious that I was taking the piss but apparently not.

Difficult to tell on NSC sometimes!

 

[Javeaseagull]

Difficult to tell on NSC sometimes!

It’s very difficult in the written word for which I have always maintained to others and have obviously fallen short in my own efforts! Another fail.

 

[WestYorkshireSeagull]

Nadem Onuoha is a good, composed and intelligent speaker on Radio 5 Live.
Think he could be a good outside candidate but I'd like it to be Chappers

 

[clapham_gull]

...doesn't appear that way on many shows though.

Have you tried counting ?

 

[Solid at the back]

If its Chappers I would be gutted to lose him from 5 Live. Steve Crossman isn't good enough to replace him, they've been testing the waters the last couple seasons, he now has the Sunday programme. He just doesn't have the chemistry that Chappers does and he tries to make too many un-funny jokes with his guests.

I'd like Kelly Cates to get the job.