Summary

  • Gary Lineker is to return to BBC screens this weekend after reaching a deal with the corporation

  • The BBC will begin an independent review of its social media guidelines, focusing on how it applies to freelancers outside news - like Lineker

  • Lineker takes to Twitter to say he is "immeasurably proud" to work for the BBC and "cannot wait to get back in the MOTD chair"

  • He also tweeted to say the past few difficult few days don't compare to "having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away"

  • The BBC’s current social media guidance will remain in place while the review is carried out

  • Director general Tim Davie acknowledges it contains "grey areas" and says enforcing impartiality is a difficult balancing act

  • He says he has not bowed to pressure from one political party or another

Live Reporting

Edited by Jeremy Gahagan

  1. Davie apologises and recognises 'grey areas' in social media guidance
    Breaking

    In his statement, BBC Director General Tim Davie apologises again for loss of BBC Sport programming over the weekend.

    He says: "Everyone recognises this has been a difficult period for staff, contributors, presenters and, most importantly, our audiences. I apologise for this."

    Davie also recognises the "potential confusion caused by the grey areas of the BBC’s social media guidance" that was introduced in 2020, adding he wants to "get matters resolved and our sport content back on air".

    He goes on to emphasise how impartiality is "important to the BBC and the public as a whole, noting the corporation has a "commitment to impartiality in its Charter and a commitment to freedom of expression".

  2. Lineker to return to air this weekend after BBC deal reached
    Breaking

    Gary Lineker and BBC management have reached a deal to get the presenter back on air, after the weekend's disruption to BBC Sport schedules.

    Director General Tim Davie says: “Gary is a valued part of the BBC and I know how much the BBC means to Gary, and I look forward to him presenting our coverage this coming weekend.”

    In a statement, Davie also announces the BBC will launch an independent review into its social media guidelines, with a particular focus on freelancers outside news and current affairs like Lineker.

    Gary Lineker says in the statement: "I am glad that we have found a way forward. I support this review and look forward to getting back on air."

  3. BBC cannot police views of all contributors - former BBC news director

    One of the main themes of this internal row, is former BBC News employees weighing in to offer their thoughts on how the BBC handles impartiality.

    James Harding, co-founder of Tortoise Media and former director of news at the BBC, tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme the corporation has got into a "muddle" over impartiality.

    He also cautions that the broadcaster cannot strictly control the views of every contributor.

    Harding says this is not even possible and adds - even if it was - the "principle is wrong", given people's right to freedom of speech if they don't work in news and could "diminish the BBC" as it would "deter people from joining" the corporation.

    Why do we care about impartiality? We care about making sure that a publicly funded broadcaster that delivers news and information that informs the country is impartial, but people can make up their own minds on political issues."

    But you can't get to a world in which the BBC is policing the opinions of every writer, director, musician, sports personality, scientist, business entrepreneur."

  4. Row part of a bigger 'muddle' on impartiality - ex BBC News boss

    Former BBC News director James Harding has been talking to the BBC's Today programme about the issue of impartiality.

    The row is part of a "bigger muddle on impartiality" in the corporation he said, and he stressed that the situation is "completely different" for staff outside news and current affairs who abide by different rules.

    “You can’t get to a world in which the BBC is policing the opinions of every writer director, musician, sport personality, scientist, business entrepreneur."

    "Not only can you not actually do it but the principle is wrong because it will actually deter people from joining the BBC, it will diminish the BBC."

    "But, even more importantly, there are freedom of speech principles here. Those people have lives beyond the BBC and should be able to give voice to what they say."

  5. How the chaos unfolded

    Gary Lineker poses for photographs with fans in the stands ahead of the Premier League match at the King Power Stadium, LeicesterPA Media

    Lineker attended a Premier League match at his beloved Leicester City on Saturday afternoon

    Here's a reminder of how some of the key events unfolded over the past few days:

    Friday

    • The BBC announced that Gary Lineker would "step back" from presenting Match of the Day until there was an "agreed and clear position on his use of social media"
    • In a show of solidarity, Ian Wright and Alan Shearer announced they too would not be taking part in the show. By the end of the evening, the MOTD commentary team also announced they had stepped down from their duties over the weekend

    Saturday

    • There was disruption across BBC Sport’s output after presenters, pundits and commentators backed Lineker. Football Focus, Final Score and football coverage on 5 Live was pulled from the air, while BBC One’s Match of the Day was only 20 minutes long with no commentary or punditry
    • BBC Director General Tim Davie apologised for the impact of the row on sports coverage but said he would not resign over it

    Sunday

    • Disruption of the BBC’s sports coverage continued for a second day
    • Lineker told journalists “I can’t say anything at the moment” in response to questions outside his home on Sunday afternoon
    • On Sunday evening, BBC News was told that talks between the corporation and Lineker were "moving in the right direction" but not all issues had been "fully resolved"

  6. When BBC News reports on the BBC

    It can look a bit complicated when we at BBC News are covering a major story about the BBC as a whole - especially when the corporation appears to be in something of a crisis.

    As the row over Gary Lineker being taken off air evolved over the weekend, many on social media commented on the surreal nature of journalists reporting on the actions of their ultimate bosses and colleagues over at BBC Sport.

    But with stories like this, BBC News journalists treat the BBC in the same way as any other organisation we would report on in any given week.

    And like with anyone else who works in the media industry, we have to ask BBC management or BBC services for responses, as well contact the BBC Press Office to request interviews or official statements.

    Occasionally our journalists approach senior BBC managers for unplanned interviews - known as "doorsteps" in the business.

    And one of our correspondents in the US, Nomia Iqbal, grilled Director General Tim Davie in a sit-down interview at the weekend (you can watch that below). He's since returned to London.

    Gary Lineker: BBC director general Tim Davie's interview in full

  7. Lineker talks 'heading in right direction'

    Gary LinekerPA Media

    Ongoing discussions between BBC senior management and Gary Lineker are said to be "heading in the right direction", sources have told BBC News.

    There are hopes of a resolution soon but not all issues are "fully resolved" at this stage BBC News understands, following unprecedented disruption to the corporations football coverage over the weekend.

    Presenters, pundits and commentators pulled out of in support of Lineker, who was taken off air for criticising the government's asylum plans.

    Paul Armstrong, a former Match of the Day editor, said there was a "lack of consistency" or "clear guidelines" for how impartiality applies to sports staff.

    He said he "wasn't in the least bit surprised" by the collective response, adding: "I don't know why BBC management didn't realise that these guys are a team… and that if you attack the captain, the others are going to withdraw their labour."

    The BBC has not commented further on behind-the-scenes efforts to resolve the situation, but Director General Tim Davie has apologised to licence fee payers for the changes.

  8. Hopes of resolution to BBC-Lineker row

    Jeremy Gahagan
    Live reporter

    We're awaiting further developments today with hopes of a resolution to the Gary Lineker row that's dominated the news over the past three days.

    The Match of the Day host was suspended on Friday after tweeting about the government's new Illegal Migration Bill, comparing the language used to launch the policy with "that used by Germany in the 30s".

    In the wake of his suspension, the BBC's sporting coverage on TV and radio was disrupted by walkouts by pundits, presenters and commentators acting in solidarity with the former England footballer.

    I'm here in New Broadcasting House with my colleagues Adam Durbin, James Gregory and Mattea Bubalo, so stay with us as we bring you the latest developments.