Kelly Cates is expected to leave Sky Sports to become one of Gary Lineker’s successors as host of the BBC’s Match of the Day. Cates, the daughter of Liverpool great Sir Kenny Dalglish, is set to take up the role which will see her join Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan as the new regular presenters of the British broadcaster’s flagship highlights programme.

Current MOTD presenter and former England forward Gary Lineker will step down as the show’s host at the end of the 2024/25 Premier League season after 25 years in the role. Although he remains part of the BBC’s FA Cup coverage, he is ‘set to leave the BBC completely’ after the 2026 World Cup.

The BBC is reportedly lining up Sky Sports ’s Kelly Cates to replace Gary Lineker as the host of Match of the Day, in a dramatic format change for the show. Earlier this year, it was revealed that Lineker would be leaving the football highlights show, leaving viewers to speculate who would succeed him as the face of the series.