BBC presenter Gary Lineker has been eyed up by ITV, amid the controversial row over his social media.
Final week, Leicester Metropolis and England legend Lineker turned embroiled in a storm when he tweeted {that a} Conservative authorities coverage in the direction of refugees was “immeasurably merciless”, calling into query the broadcaster’s impartiality pointers.
Lineker is the highest-paid earner on the Beeb and briefly “stepped again” from presenting duties on beloved highlights bundle Match of the Day this weekend, on account of the row over his use of his Twitter account – earlier than his reinstatement to duties this morning by his employers.
But the Mail (opens in new tab) have claimed that rival broadcaster ITV have considered the chaos over on Channel One as their “finest probability” to ever snare the 62-year-old for their very own – and that they had been ready to triple Lineker’s pay to be able to safe him.
In almost three many years of fronting the BBC’s sports activities protection, Lineker has all the time resisted the temptation of transferring to ITV – although this new row would have given the community a singular negotiating place.
Not solely would ITV be capable of provide him a wage that he wouldn’t need to disclose – Lineker at present has to reveal his pay, on condition that it’s paid for by the license payment – ITV haven’t any impartiality guidelines, that means that he may very well be free to tweet no matter he favored, freed from stipulation.
On Saturday, Lineker’s son, George, hinted on social media that his father could also be able to stop the BBC on social media, retweeting a put up (opens in new tab) by Spencer Morgan, the son of former Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan. “Similar to Dad, Lineker refused to be compelled into apologising for having his personal opinion,” Morgan wrote, including, “I understand how this story ends… in an unlimited wage improve”.
ITV’s present soccer line-up is anchored by Mark Pougatch, who additionally got here from the BBC to work on the community. Lineker beforehand had an exclusivity take care of the Beeb, which he negotiated to be able to current BT Sport’s Champions League protection.
Over the weekend, SportsLens (opens in new tab) claimed that the previous ahead was Evens to grow to be the following presenter of ITV behemoth quiz format Who Needs to be a Millionaire, following Jeremy Clarkson’s sacking.
