Former Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker has won the best TV presenter prize at the National Television Awards – months after he left the BBC following an antisemitism row.
Lineker, 64, apologised “unreservedly” in May after he shared a post on Instagram about Zionism which featured an image of a rat – a symbol used to represent Jewish people in antisemitic propaganda, including in Nazi Germany.
The former England footballer said in a statement that he would “never knowingly share anything antisemitic” and that he removed the post when he “became aware of the issue”.
He announced he was leaving the BBC days later, saying that “stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action”.
Lineker had presented Match Of The Day since 1999 and was the BBC’s highest-paid on-air talent when he stepped down.
Prior to the antisemitism row in May, Lineker already had a reputation for sharing political views on social media – something which went against the BBC’s impartiality rules.
This included posts about Tory migrant policy, Brexit, Qatar’s human rights record and a documentary about Gaza.
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Collecting his “TV Presenter Of The Year” award last night, Lineker said: “I think it demonstrates that perhaps it’s OK sometimes for us to use our platform to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice.”
Lineker’s win at the National Television Awards also ended Ant and Dec’s 23-year streak in scooping the best presenter prize.
Speaking at the winners’ press conference after the ceremony, the former Match Of The Day host said the presenting duo, whose real names are Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, are “brilliant” and that “it’s an honour to follow in their footsteps”.
Reflecting on life after presenting Match Of The Day, Lineker added: “I’m doing great. I’m enjoying having weekends off for the first time in my adult life, which has been great fun.
“I’m still watching loads of football, still doing the same sort of things, and I’ve got a new show coming up for ITV, which I start filming next week – The Box, which goes out, I think, probably next year.”
Read more:
Lineker’s most controversial posts
Lineker leaves Match Of The Day
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Asked if the award proves he has not been cancelled, he said: “I don’t think anyone seriously thought that I was cancelled at any point.
“It was obviously just a mistake and oversight. And I think everyone saw it for that.
“So I was never in the slightest bit concerned for that.”
Former England footballer Alan Shearer, a Match Of The Day pundit who worked alongside Lineker on the show, posted on X: “Yesssss @GaryLineker congratulations.”
The former footballer also beat competition from The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman, This Morning’s Alison Hammond and TV presenter and reality star Stacey Solomon to win the best presenter prize.
