Don’t panic
Gary Lineker has acknowledged rumours of James Corden replacing him on Match of the Day, which should calm everyone who was worried it might actually happen.
In response to a news article suggesting Corden was a ‘strong contender’ to replace Lineker on the BBC’s flagship football programme after his announcement that he would be leaving ‘The Late Late Show’, Lineker quote tweeted the story, simply adding the ‘eyes’ emoji.
👀 https://t.co/OkYP1uBo5B
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) May 7, 2022
The rumours of Corden taking over on the Match of the Day sofa stem from a gambling company, OLBG, who have priced the Gavin and Stacey star at 4/1 to replace Lineker in his next venture.
Lineker has made no suggestion that he will be stepping away from the role he has held since 1999, so you don’t need to worry about Corden and his poundshop Gervais laugh ruining the sacred programme just yet.
Social media response
The reaction to the Corden rumours was mixed, with some claiming they would never watch the show again, while others questioned why the 43-year-old attracted such scorn.
“He’s very talented, I don’t know why people hate him,” one user wrote.
Another replied to that, explaining: “Because he is every bloody where. Even the Friends reunion which was nothing to do with him.”
Corden himself is yet to address the rumours, but speaking about leaving The Late Late Show, he said: “When I started this journey, it was always going to be just that. It was going to be a journey, an adventure. I never saw it as my final destination,” he said. “I never want this show to overstay its welcome in any way.”
“I always want to love making it. And I really think in a year from now, that will be a good time to move on and see what else might be out there.”
