UMVA has learned that Gary Lineker made a surprise appearance on ITV during Saturday night's World Cup coverage, leaving fans and colleagues alike wondering about his sudden defection.
The former England captain, known for his iconic football commentary, seemed to be promoting his new Netflix show, a daily World Cup program, as well as another ITV show called 'The Box', set to air in September. Lineker's appearance included a tour of the ITV studio, where he couldn't resist taking a few jabs at his former employers.
Lineker's cameo included a subtle dig at the BBC, where he used to work, when he complimented ITV's set, featuring the stunning Manhattan skyline in the background. This move has been seen as a bold statement, especially given the BBC's current World Cup coverage, which has been based largely from Salford's Media City.
On Sunday's episode of 'The Rest Is Football', Lineker faced questioning from co-host Micah Richards about his ITV appearance. Lineker insisted it was all about promoting his shows and exploring the ITV studio, but Richards wasn't buying it. 'Professional reasons?' Richards said, teasingly. 'Come on Gaz, you're better than that.'
Lineker had the last laugh, however, reminding Richards of his own extensive TV appearances. The conversation then cut to a behind-the-scenes segment showing Lineker at ITV, where he bumped into his old 'Match of the Day' colleague, Ian Wright. Wright playfully described Lineker's move as 'so cheeky'.
The segment also featured Lineker receiving a head massage from a backstage crew member, prompting him to quip, 'I never got this massage at the BBC.' The lighthearted jab seemed to drive home his point about enjoying his new surroundings.
