Kelly Cates is joining the BBC to host Match of the Day from next season in a major blow to Sky...
Kelly Cates Joins BBC To Host Match Of The Day
Posted: 12:00 GMT, December 15, 2024 | Revised: 16:50 GMT, December 15, 2024
According to Mail Sport, Kelly Cates is set to depart from Sky Sports to join a trio of presenters for Match of the Day.
The well-respected presenter, who is the daughter of Liverpool icon Sir Kenny, will join the BBC after the season wraps up, as Gary Lineker is leaving.
Cates is likely to team up with fellow hosts Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan, sharing the responsibilities of presenting Match of the Day and Match of the Day 2 among the three of them.
Sky's executives are reportedly very affected by the passing of the 49-year-old.
Nonetheless, the BBC has pointed her out as the top candidate to take over for Lineker once he departs at the season's conclusion.
Cates’ polished delivery of Sky’s Premier League coverage, along with her past work at the BBC, has certainly worked to her advantage.
Kelly Cates is departing from Sky to become one of the presenters on Match of The Day starting next season.
Mail Sport was the first to reveal the news before Cates hosted Sky Sports' Super Sunday program.
Gary Lineker, who has been hosting Match of the Day since 1999, is set to depart from the show next May after 26 years.
Cates' exit from Sky is a significant loss for the network, and the leadership is feeling quite troubled by the news.
Cates will be taking turns hosting MOTD with Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman.
She often appears on Radio 5 Live, previously hosted the show 606, and her joining the team is considered a major win—particularly with the increase in live games on Sky next season.
It's clear that the three of them have built a strong bond and are eager to collaborate. They are around the same age and have experienced growth during comparable times.
In Chapman's situation, dividing the responsibilities allows him to keep doing his radio work with the BBC, a pursuit he is clearly passionate about.
People familiar with the group describe them as modest, and they have no problem sharing the spotlight. In fact, the way they work together appears to be beneficial for everyone involved.
Lineker, who began hosting the main BBC program after Des Lynam in 1999, will conclude his tenure after 26 years. At 63 years old, he plans to depart from the BBC altogether following the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
It is clear that the management team, led by the new sports director Alex Kay-Jelski, aims to take the program in a new direction. As Mail Sport has reported, they are exploring the idea of incorporating a news segment into the show.
The BBC stated that they do not engage with rumors. Sky Sports chose not to make any remarks.
